August – German Leon Diaz

Diaz is an outstanding worker and has been a part of Ocean Companies for many years. His work ethic is contagious. He inspires others to work just as hard as he does. He is always on time, rarely missing a day, and putting forth hard work makes him the perfect example of a hard working, dedicated employee who we wish to honor with the employee of the month status for August.

September – Sherwin Phillips

Throughout his time as a QC Tech Sherwin has shown the desire to learn new things, leadership when he has been responsible for making decisions, and always willing to work any day at any time. These qualities make him a great asset to Ocean Companies QC department. With that, we would like to honor Sherwin with the employee of the month status for September.

Congratulations to the both of them for their exemplary work at Ocean Companies

The BBQ will be held at Ocean Center out by the Go-Kart track starting at Noon on September 3, 2012. We hope to see you all there =)

Come celebrate Independence Day today at the Maritime Museum in Westport, WA. They will be having an Old Fashioned 4^th celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. where there will be games for the children, hotdogs, strawberry short cake, a plant and bake sale, clowns, face painting, live music and more. Our local Coast Guard and other military personnel will be opening the event with the posting of the colors and the National Anthem.

At dark, or sometime around 10 p.m., the Ocean Companies, along with the City of Westport is hosting a fireworks show from Firecracker Point. Like in years past, people will be sitting on the docks, in boats, or in the port’s parking area watching the wonder and beauty of pyrotechnics lighting the night sky.

Mireya Baez has been with Ocean Companies for 9 years and we are glad to have such a wonderful employee. Mireya Baez is a dedicated employee that has maintained great attendance and a great attitude. She has been willing to help out with extra work wherever she can can with a positive outlook and friendly smile.

Congratulations to Mireya Garcia Baez for making April 2012′s employee of the month.

Ocean Companies Safety Tip of the Week

SPOTLIGHT ON FORKLIFT SAFETY

In Washington State you must have training to be able to drive a forklift or any other “Powered Industrial Truck”, also known as a PIT.  You need both classroom training as well as driving, and the training needs to involve the specific equipment you may be driving. You need to treat your forklift license just as you do your state driver’s license. If you’re driving the PIT, you have the license on you. If you haven’t been trained on a piece of equipment and been given a certificate, stay off of it. It’s the law.

The first thing you need to do, EVERY DAY, is to perform a visual inspection of the PIT you will be using. The Forklift Safety Guide, put out by Washington State, has a sample checklist to use while performing your inspections. Check to see if everything is in working order so you, the driver, and anyone you are working around is not in danger.  Make sure the fluids and fuel are at acceptable levels.

Wear your seatbelt whenever you are on the PIT, even if you are not moving. There are no exceptions.

If there is more than one forklift operator working in your area, make sure you keep an eye on them and know their work patterns. Keep your work pattern as close to the same as you can. Keep the speed down, there are always people walking around, so watch for pedestrians all the time. Don’t let anyone surprise you or someone could get hurt. Use your horn when going around blind corners and when approaching an intersection. Avoid sharp turns and raise and lower your forks only when you are stopped. Keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times.

Never pick up a load heavier than what your PIT is rated for. Never, ever, add extra weight to a forklift’s counter balance so it can pick up a heavier load.

Pedestrians need to know a forklift driver’s view is very limited, never assume the driver can see you. Make sure you have eye contact with the driver before walking in their area. To be doubly sure, give them a shout out. I value my safety, so when I have to go around a forklift, I raise my voice and say something like “Going behind you”, and when I’m past them, I let them know, “I’m clear”. It’s a courtesy that can save your life.

Whether you have a load or not, keep your forks 4” to 6” off the ground when you’re driving or about ankle high and slightly tipped back for safety. Before you pick up a load, make sure it is stable and secure. The lower you carry a load, the more stable it is. If you can’t see over your load, drive in reverse, looking over your shoulder. If there is an incline, always keep your load uphill. When you leave the PIT, lower your forks to the ground, place it in neutral, set the brakes and shut it off.  Even if you’re only going to be off for a short time, unless you’re standing beside it the whole time.

A forklift weighs almost twice what it can pick up, where we work; most of our pallets weigh over 3,000 pounds. That means, in order to lift that amount, our forklift weighs around 3 tons. To give you a visual, that’s about the weight of 2 Toyota Camrys. That’s a lot of weight

Sources: L&I, UCSU

- Cherie

Jose Angel Villa Valdez has been a hard working and dedicated employee of Ocean Companies since 1999. Jose is a member of Sanitation and has always been trusted to complete his tasks on time. He also always offers to help others outside of his normal responsibilities and he does so with a great positive attitude. His great personal qualities and commitment to his duties has earned him the Ocean Companies Employee of the Month award.

Congratulations to Jose Angel Villa Valdez!

SPRING CLEANING

Spring has finally arrived, although you may not be able to tell by the weather. This is the time people clean out their garages (how else are you going to find your lawn care items) and do a deep clean in their house. The place that needs it the most usually gets forgotten: The workplace!

A clean work area is proven to be a more productive work area, because it makes it easy to lay your hands on the things you need when you need them. It helps to create a calm outlook.

However it’s not just the top of the desk; we are talking cleaning out file cabinets, bookshelves, and desk drawers. Clean out your emails by deleting the things you don’t need and opening folders in your inbox for the ones you want to keep and sort them.

You don’t have to do it all in one day. Start with just one drawer and work your way around the office. Just be sure to set small increments of time to be devoted to the task.

It’s not just offices that have to be cleaned. During the spring cleaning at work, walk through the processing areas and make sure all electrical panels are closed; all exits, hallways, and fire extinguishers are not blocked. Make sure all chemicals are secured and labeled, even secondary containment (e.g. buckets and spray bottles with chemicals in them even if they are empty, but had chemicals at one time). These are mandated by OSHA, so don’t take it lightly.

Sources: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, theguardian, Dr. Mimi Hull  

- Cherie

SAFE (AND SANE?) BICYCLING

As I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out a topic for this week, we had one of our fleeting five minute sun breaks and bicycling came to mind. As I started my research for the article, I remembered driving home from Aberdeen one night in late February, and as usual, it was dark and rainy out. We were approaching the Elk River Bridge as a car crested the top of the bridge coming in the opposite direction. If it hadn’t been for that car, we would not have seen the person riding a bicycle halfway up the bridge and dressed in all black with no reflectors or bright clothing. He did, however, shine a very small flash light behind him a couple times after the other car had passed and our hearts were racing. That memory clenched my resolve to write this article.

It is spring, no matter what the weather tells us, and eventually we will be able to get outside and do some biking. Don’t wait for the sunshine to get your bike and accessories ready for that first ride of the season. Keeping your bike and bike riding equipment in top working condition and fitting properly will make your rides safer and more enjoyable.

GET THE RIDER READY: Many cities and counties have passed laws that all ages of bicyclists must wear helmets. Aberdeen, Washington passed the law in 2001 and they enforce it. A bike helmet reduces the risk of head injuries by as much as 85 percent in case of an accident. Make sure the bike helmet is neither too loose, nor too tight. Children should have their helmets refitted each year as they grow. You should also replace a helmet that has been damaged in any way. Cracks or scratches in the helmet’s surface will reduce the amount of protection it will provide.

Avoid baggy clothing that may get caught in the chain, gears, or spokes and cause a painful crash. Even baggy shorts and shirts can put you in danger. If your pants have wide legs, use a large rubber band, a boot blouse, or pant leg bands to keep your pants from being pulled into the bike’s mechanisms.

Wear bright clothing, preferably with reflective tape on it. This is good for visibility during both day and night riding. You can pick up fluorescent orange vests with reflective tape at most sporting goods stores. Sometimes you leave the house fully intending on returning home in the daylight, only to get distracted and get home way after dark. Now having said that, I confess to having used a white plastic bag attached to my coat in the past so I would be visible at night.

Know your hand signals. They are the same signals you would use in your car. To turn right, raise your left arm straight out from your shoulder and bent towards the sky at the elbow. To turn left, bring your left arm parallel to the ground, straight out from the shoulder. To slow or stop, raise your left arm straight out from your shoulder and bend it at the elbow towards the ground.

GET THE BIKE TUNED UP: If you are getting a child’s bike ready for riding, have the child stand straddling the bar in front of the seat. It should be 2 to 4 inches below the child. DO NOT buy a bike taller knowing they will grow into it. A bike that is too tall can be hard to handle and increase possible injuries in a crash, while a bike that is too small is harder to control.

Checking the adjustment of the seat is something everyone needs to do. While sitting on the seat, check to make sure the height and position enable the rider to pedal without any trouble. Make sure after adjusting the seat that it is secured so it won’t slip down or swivel side to side. If the seat is worn out and the padding is showing, you can repair it or purchase a new seat and replace it easily.

Test your brakes every time you get on the bike. The bicycle should come to a stop using only moderate pressure. Sometimes they will just need to be adjusted, but they may be worn out and need replacing.

If the tubes are flat, riding the bike can damage the tire and/or the rim. Make sure your tires are adequately inflated. Just as a car’s tire can affect your car’s performance a bike will perform better with proper inflation. Each tire has its own optimum air pressure, but after some research, I found the amount of pressure changes with a heavier rider, so I would advise you find out what is best from your tire manufacture.

The spokes of a bike are there to add strength to the rim, transfer your leg power from the hub to the wheel, and to support your weight on the wheel. It is important to make sure there are no bent or broken spokes and when you run your fingers over them in a firm manner, they should make a twanging noise. Replace or tighten any that are not in good shape or your rim may be off balance and cause other spokes to fail.

If your chain has any broken links, or is rusted, it is best to replace it. If the chain is in good condition, it should be tight with adequate tension. A chain may be the single most important part of the bike. Without it, you just have a big push toy.

Your pedals should be securely attached and spin easily and should not slide around on the pedal bar.

THINGS TO ADD TO YOUR BIKE FOR SAFETY:

• Washington State law requires “either a red light or a high quality red reflector (visible up to 300 feet from behind)” attached to the back of the bike when riding at night.
• Washington State law requires a “white headlight (visible at least 500 feet ahead)” when riding at night.
• A mirror will help you see traffic coming from behind you and make you feel more secure.

KNOW THE RULES:  In Washington, bicycles are legally considered “vehicles” and must obey the rules of the road (e.g. signs, signals, speed limits, and lane markings). I remember coming down a long hill when my brother and I were teenagers and my brother getting a speeding ticket for doing 45 mph in a 35 mph zone.

The following are some safety tips from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT):

• Obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Always ride with traffic, never against.
• Follow lane markings – Don’t turn left from the right lane and don’t go straight from a “right turn only”.
• Choose the best way to turn left: either like an auto where you move into the left turn lane, signal, and turn left; or like a pedestrian where you ride to the crosswalk and walk your bike across.
• Don’t pass on the right. You’re smaller than a car and harder for them to see.
• Keep an eye on the road behind you, either carefully looking over your shoulder, or using a mirror.
• Always be prepared to brake with both hands. A one-handed brake may cause an accident.
• Always wear your helmet
• NEVER wear headphones while riding a bike!! You need to be able to hear the traffic around you!
• Dress for the weather. If you must wear rain gear or a poncho, make sure it won’t get caught in the bikes moving parts. Wear layers of clothing so you can adjust as you need to, and be sure to wear bright colors.
• Use hand signals, as a matter of law, courtesy and self-protection.
• Make eye contact with drivers. Assume they don’t see you until you are sure that they do!
• Watch for road hazards like sewer grates, gravel, ice, sand, debris railroad track and parked cars with people in them. They just may open a door in your path you could crash into.
• Use your lights at night. It’s the law!

Washington is one of the top bicycle friendly states in the country by being a leader in our efforts to improve conditions for cyclists. There are literally thousands of miles of bike trails and routes in our state and you can find out where by going to www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/statemap.htm. Bicycling is a fun way to get exercise and to battle the soaring gas prices, but be sure you have everything in place to do it safely.

Sources: WSDOT, BicycleSafe, livestrong

- Cherie

Ocean Companies Safety Tip of the Week – Earthquakes

What To Do When an Earthquake Hits

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend a table top exercise, or a “what happens if” on a major earthquake hitting the South Beach area of Grays Harbor, Washington and I learned a lot. The exercise was put on by our LEPC, or Local Emergency Planning Committee and was attended by many fire departments, ambulance personnel, elected officials, city employees, local business representatives and private citizens.

During an earthquake, remember to DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON. Drop to the ground, get under a table, desk or anything that will save you from the debris falling from the ceiling, and hang on to the legs of whatever you are under until it stops shaking. If there is nothing for you to crawl under, drop to the ground, cover your face and head with your arms, and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from anything glass, outside doors or walls, and anything that could fall, such as light fixtures. Do not run to another room or use a doorway.  If you are outside when things start shaking, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. If you are driving, stop as soon as it is safe and stay inside your vehicle.  When things calm down, get out of the building as safely as possible or where ever you were when the earthquake hit, move to high ground and stay there until someone of authority (e.g. a policeman, fireman, city employee, etc.) tells you it’s safe to leave.

Have you ever heard the word liquefaction? According to Dictionary.com it is “the act or process of liquefying or making liquid” or “the state of being liquefied.” When the ground shakes, sand come up through the cracks and gravel in a seemingly liquid movement creating a mess on the roads that sometimes brings traffic to a stop.  This was a major factor in Christchurch, New Zealand on February 22, 2011 and Japan on March 11, 2011.  Between liquefaction and road/bridge damage, it could be near impossible to get out of town. If we are hit by a large earthquake in any of the surrounding areas, we may be stuck here for days before help from outside the area could arrive.

The most important thing you can do for your family is to develop a “Family Plan for Disasters”. Write it down and go over it with your family, kids included! February 28, 2012 marked the eleventh anniversary of the 6.5 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake that shook Western Washington, caused over 2 billion dollars in damages, and injured over 400 people from Seattle to Grays Harbor County. In honor of this anniversary, Grays Harbor Emergency Management sent out the following list of things your plan should include:

• Have a contact number for a friend or relative living in another state. There is a real possibility that phones may be out for the whole state, Eastern as well as Western, if we are hit hard.

• How will your family communicate with each other if separated? One idea may be leaving a note inside the front door and/or one at a community gathering spot. Go to those places and have your family members actually touch where they may leave a note so they will be familiar with the location of where the note will be.

• Does your child’s school have a disaster plan and do you know what they’ll do?

• Does your employer have a disaster plan?

• Have a “Go Kit” for each family member and each pet. Each kit should be contained in a waterproof backpack.

1. For people: 2 bottles of water, 2 energy bars, pocket sized rain parka, pocket sized emergency blanket, flashlight, small am/fm radio, jacket or sweatshirt with hood, laminated copy of prescriptions, small pack of sanitary wipes, hand sanitizer, band aids, gauze, medical tape, and laminated copy of emergency contact numbers and addresses of friends and family (in another state if possible)

2. For pets: 2 bottles of water, towel, pocket sized emergency blanket, 2 pet food meals in disposable pouches or cans, pet leash and or harness, laminated copy of most recent vaccination record for each pet.

• Have copies of important papers in one spot, e.g. birth certificates, mortgage papers, credit card numbers, prescriptions, phone numbers of family and friends (in another state if possible). Place these in waterproof containers and if possible, send copies to an out of state friend or relative for safe keeping.

• Have some cash in small bills to purchase needed items. Remember, without power, ATMs, debit and credit cards will do you no good.

• Take the time to call your insurance provider before the impact of a natural disaster. Make sure of the things you are covered for, but mostly for what is not covered by your policy.

• Find out about your county’s notification system and how to sign up for it.  If you live in or near Grays Harbor, you can sign up for the Grays Harbor County Notification System by clicking here and filling out the form.

• Obtain an “All Hazards Weather Radio”.

• Know all your surrounding neighbors.

• If you have a medical problem, make sure your local ambulance service knows about it.

• Teach your children EVERYTHING!!

There is so much more to know and it might be a good thing for you and your family to look into what to do to prepare for emergencies. But if you don’t do anything more than just get your plan together, you’ll already be ahead of where you are right now. Think, plan, do!

Sources: Grays Harbor County Department of Emergency Management, ShakeOut.org

- Cherie