On The Safe Side

A.J. Gallagher graciously donated items for our On the Safe Side Campaign. The promotional items are meant to be a reminder to continue to be on the safe side at all times. If you have not received your promotional item, please contact your building administrator.

The Golden Safety Cone Award is to recognize employees in our District who have demonstrated excellence when it comes to safety. Each building has their own Golden Cone. Anyone can make a nomination, so if you see someone being SAFE, please nominate them! Nominations can be sent to the Safety Cone Ambassador at each building. Please contact your building safety committee for more information.

Check out these Golden Safety Cone Award winners!

• Rugs or mats with curling edges
• Rugs that are folded over or are bubbled
• Ensure materials are stored in the proper place and not on the floor (book bags, coats, shoes, etc.)
• Small objects & debris on the floor should be picked up promptly (pencils, scrap paper, garbage)
• Remove cords running across the floor

• Never stand on tabletops, desktops or other furniture to reach high places
• Use a ladder or step stool to retrieve or store items that are located to a ladder or talk to your maintenance/ janitorial staff if you are unsure how to use it
• Do not use ladders that have loose rungs, cracked or split side rails, missing rubber foot pads or are otherwise visibly damaged
• Keep ladder rungs clean and free of grease and remove buildup of material, such as dirt or mud
• When performing work from a ladder, face the ladder and do not lean backward or sideways from the ladder
• Allow only one person on the ladder at a time
• Do not stand on the top two rungs of any ladder
• Do not stand on a ladder that wobbles or leans to the left or right
• Do not try to “walk” a ladder by rocking it — climb down and move it

• Do not block your view by carrying large or bulky items; use a dolly or hand truck or get assistance from a fellow employee
• Cut away from your body when using knives or case cutters
• Use proper tools when cutting paper or opening boxes

• Keep the paper cutter handle in the closed/locked position when it’s not in use
• Do not use paper-cutting devices if the finger guard is missing
• Position hands and fingers onto the handle of the paper cutter before pressing down on the blade
• Use a staple remover, not your fingers, for removing staples
• Turn off and unplug office machines before adjusting, lubricating or cleaning them. Do not use fans that have excessive vibration, frayed cords or missing guards
• Turn the power switch of the equipment to “off” when it is not being used
• Open one file cabinet drawer at a time
• Close drawers and doors immediately after use
• Use the handle when closing doors, drawers and files
• Put heavy files in the bottom drawers of file cabinets
• Do not balance the chair you are sitting in on its two back legs

• When you miss out on sleep, it can affect more than just your productivity: fatigue can lead to decreases in cognitive performance, vigilance, accuracy and judgement, among many other effects
• Chronic sleep deprivation can cause a number of serious health risks, such as depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses
• Losing small amounts of sleep over time can be detrimental. A person who sleeps 6 hours a night for 2 weeks performs similarly to someone who loses one full night of sleep
• Driving while fatigued can be similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Driving on 4-5 hours of sleep means you are four times more likely to crash
• Up to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, which are major drivers of fatigue. Left untreated, sleep disorders can contribute to decreased productivity, lead to higher rates of absenteeism and even exacerbate other health problems.
• A typical employer with 1,000 employees can expect to lose more than $1 million each year to fatigue
• Not sure if you’re fatigued? Microsleeps and yawning are usually the only visible symptoms of fatigue, but hidden symptoms can include decreased vigilance, attention, memory and concentration

• A: Alcohol: While drinking alcohol may make you feel drowsy, it can actually interrupt your circadian rhythm and cause poor-quality sleep. It can also make you more prone to snoring and sleep apnea.
• C: Caffeine – As a stimulant, consuming caffeine can disrupt your sleep patterns. Avoid it for as long as six hours before bedtime.
  
• E: Environment – Keep your bedroom cool and dark. Consider blackout curtains and turning down the thermostat.
  
• S: Screens – The blue light from TVs, phones, tablets and other electronic devices can keep your body from producing melatonin, the hormone that helps you relax and get to sleep. Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed.
  

Insurance, Workers' Compensation, Safety and Benefits

Email: hagemak@live.siouxcityschools.com
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6692

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.

Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.