February 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine

Employee involvement is key

Improving safety … one step at a time with YakTrax

YakTrax cleats slip over regular shoes to provide increased traction when the wearer walks on snow or ice. Photo by Richard Robinson

Slips, trips, and falls are a major cause of injury and accidental death in the workplace and home, according to the National Safety Council. And the Lab can attest that these types of accidents can happen even in the most safety-conscious environment.

Since June 2006, more than 50 people have been seriously injured from slips, trips, and falls on Laboratory property. Many of these falls occurred on snow and ice last winter.

To help employees stay on their feet during icy conditions and get around the Laboratory safely this winter, the Lab’s Voluntary Protection Program and the Institutional Worker Safety and Security Team purchased YakTrax snow and ice cleats and provided them at no cost to more than 3,000 employees who requested a pair.

YakTrax cleats slip over regular shoes to provide increased traction when the wearer walks on snow or ice.

The Voluntary Protection Program and the Institutional Worker Safety and Security Team also purchased extendable combination ice scrapers and snow brooms for clearing windshields on government vehicles. These winter-focused efforts are just some of the initiatives the program and team have undertaken to raise safety awareness across the Laboratory.

Los Alamos started its Voluntary Protection Program, based in the Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality Directorate, in June 2006. Since then, recordable injuries at the Lab have been reduced by 30 percent.

The Worker Safety and Security Team was formed last year by Director Michael Anastasio to promote workforce involvement at the Laboratory. The team has representatives from every Lab directorate to ensure that workers have an opportunity to become involved in improving safety and security.

For more information about the Voluntary Protection Program and its five core elements (management leadership, employee involvement, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training), go online to http://int.lanl.gov/esh/vpp/ (employees only).

For more on the Worker Safety and Security Team and a list of WSST subteams across the Laboratory, go online to http://int.lanl.gov/esh/wsst/ (employees only).

-Jaclyn Valdez