Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

 Tornado Safety

Growing up in St. Louis and Fort Lauderdale, we were taught as kids what to do in case of a Tornado.  We had more Tornado drills than Fire Drills in our school.  I have seen the damage and destruction that these horrible storms cause.  Unfortunately, I have personally witnessed three funnel clouds.  Thank God they all remained in the sky and never touched ground.

As a Safety Professional, I continue to strongly encourage Employers, Family and Friends to understand and RESPECT the power and furry of a Tornado.  

The best defence is always a good offence..

  • Plan ahead,
  • Educate your family and friends
  • what to look for,
  • how to react
  • what to so if one should happen to strike do,
  • Have the necessary emergency supplies available.

 

Know the signs of a tornado:

Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things that people describe when they tell about a tornado experience

  • Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.
  • A Sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky
  • A strange quiet that occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm
  • Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base
  • Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern or converging toward one area of the sky.
  • A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer. The sound of a tornado has been likened to that of both railroad trains and jets.
  • Debris:
           a) dropping from the sky.
           b)  being pulled upwards, even if no funnel cloud is visible
  • Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
  • Day or night: Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
  • At Night: Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in
     
     

 What To Do...

If you see a tornado and it is not moving to the right or to the left relative to trees or power poles in the distance, it may be moving towards you!

In a house with a basement:

  •  Avoid windows.
  • Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag.
  • Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.

In a house with no basement, or an apartment: 

  • Avoid windows.
  • Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.
  • Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.
  • A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection.
  • Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.

 In an school, workplace, office building:

  • Follow the emergency procedure or plan if one exists.  If you are a visitor, follow the direction of the employees in charge of the workplace.
  • If a plan doesn't exist:
    • Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible.
    • Then, crouch down and cover your head.
    • Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly.
    • Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

 

 In a car or truck:

  • Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado.
  • If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light:
    • You may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado.
  • If the tornado is very close or the traffic is heavy:
    • Park the car as quickly and safely as possible.
    • Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building.
  • If in the open country,
    • run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you).
    • Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms.
    • Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
 

In the open outdoors:

  • If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building.
  • If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Look for culverts and ditches with out water in them.
  • Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

 

 In a shopping mall or large store:

  • Do not panic. Follow the direction given to you by the personnel in charge of the location.
  • Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.

 

AFTER THE TORNADO...

  • Keep your family together and wait for help to arrive.
  • Provide First Aid to those who are injured.
  • Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them.
  • Watch your step to hazardous or sharp object in the debris..
  • Stay out of any heavily damaged buildings; they could collapse at any time.
  • Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby.
  • Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews.

For more information on Tornados, please click here

 

From the Courts (from Ontario Newsroom)

Algoma Tubes Inc., a Yukon metal pipe manufacturer, was fined $55,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

 On December 17, 2008, at the company's Sault St. Marie facility, a worker opened a door, slipped on a wet surface and fell to the ground. The worker suffered a fracture to the arm.

Algoma Tubes Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the floor was kept free of hazards.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime

Picture of the Week

I would hurry up and paddle!