Popcorn, Cola, & Mayhem

7/23/2012 Calling for sensitivity in this latest post is my top priority as an experienced safety person. First, I feel deep sorrow for those who lost their lives, the families, and all of the wounded in the Colorado shootings. It is a real tragedy for sure. What should we do moving forward in this matter as far as safety in movie theatres is concerned? Metal detectors on all of the doors? Armed, undercover police in all movie showings from now on? What can be done if anything to stop random acts of mass shootings in crowdedplaces? Can any of these events be averted? Do we have the technology to be able to head off acts of violence such as this? I do not have an answer for this but if anybody has any ideas please share them with me. What I would do from a safety stand point would be this: Any time an exit door, is opened in a movie theatre, regardless of what point the movie has progressed, the movie should be automatically be stopped, lights come on, and , near the movie screen,

How Much Is It Going To Cost?

This is the question that most employers ask when it comes to starting, running, or maintaining a world class safety program. The ironic but sad truth is that the answer is always this one after the dust settles from a serious or fatal workplace accident: It is always less expensive to prevent an accident than it is to pay out the fines and lawsuits resulting from a catastrophic accident or death. The Big Branch Mine in West Virginia can attest to this. The fine that they had to pay in the end would have been a fraction of the cost at the beginning,that it would have been to prevent the disaster. Look it up for yourselves. It was huge!
So the next time that your employer asks you, "How much is all of this going to cost"? Say to them, "Less now than after an accident occurs". This is ole "Dangerous Dale" signing out and saying, "be safe".

"Treacherous Technology"

Texting while driving? Hundreds are being killed on the nations highways because of this! Motor Cycles or Donor Cycles? Many, many accidents! Paying attention while driving? Sleep deprevation is the the number one cause of highway accidents from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.overtaking OVIs. Are we taking driving for granted? Do we feel so comfortable behind the wheel that we lose track of the danger? Do you know someone that has been in a car accident? So do I. I've been in five of them; 2 of them head on. 1 at 55 mph. A drunk driver hit us in a car head-on. Me, my two daughters, my Wife's uncle, and my Father-In-Law. Nobody was killed but it was a doozie. Cars can kill. Speed in cars can kill. Driving impaired can kill. Not paying attention while driving can kill. Be alert. Be sober. Be in control. Be safe.

Child Safety?

I was in the supermarket today and a thought came into my mind that was alarming. A child was crying and screaming like she had been hurt badly or something. As I turned around to see what in the world was wrong I was taken back by the thought about child safety. It was just another screaming kid that was unhappy sitting in the shopping cart as the Mother just walked along without a care in the world. We are so politically correct anymore that nobody in that store would even think about going up to that Mother and ask if something was wrong. We just stare and then look away as if to say; "It's none of my business". Mothers of long ago would have quieted that child down for numerous reasons: (1).Courtesy. (2). Bad Behavior. and (3). Safety. Why safety? Because there have been cases where people have taken children right out of stores and nobody said a word to the person. The reason that the child was screaming was because the person who had them was not one of their parents.Today, this could easily happen because nobody will ever interfere with such a child "Tantrum" because we see it all of the time, out in public and think nothing of it. So the next time you see a child screaming you may want to examine the person who is holding them to see if this is a parent or an abductor.

Hollywood Safety

How safe is it in the "Arts" field? Spiderman, The Play? Bruce Lee? Twilight Zone,The Movie? Wizard Of Oz? How safe is it to be in Movies? Accidents happen I know, but who is the watchdog for safety in these events? It's not OSHA. Then who? I'm just asking.

Bye Honey, I'm Going To Work.

The last thing you say before you walk out the door.In the car you go, forget the seat belt. I knew a guy who got trapped in one, and that is what killed him! Down the road you go, Oh wait, a text from Junior. Dude, he is so funny. I'll text him back. Ha. Whoa! I just about clipped that car. I'll just reach around into the back seat and get that coke with the cap on it. I didn't drink it all last night. Let's see if I can make it through that yellow light, I'm almost late for work. Fourth time this month.My boss is always on my case. It just causes me me to be stressed out, and when I get that way, I get careless and then it becomes unsafe. Doesn't my Boss know how distracting that is? I could get hurt. Now, who's this on the phone? Junior. What are you up to dude? No, I'm on the way to work and, wait a minute, this guys blowing his horn at me telling me to get off of the phone. Yea, up yours too buddy!
Read the above paragraph. Do you see how we live our daily lives? Reckless, dangerous,and hardly paying attention at all behind the wheel of a car. It is no wonder that we have so many horrible crashes on the roads of America. How many unsafe acts can you pick out in this paragraph? Please, just drive the car.

Snow!

Isn't the snow fun? For kids it is, for adults it is not. Why? Slips, trips & falls. Sled riding accidents. Automobile accidents. That white fluffy stuff causes a multitude of problems. The worst one: Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow. Every year it happens. Back strains from the same.Be careful out there. Looks can be deceiving. Winter safety is the most ignored safety of all. Do what ole "Dangerous Dale" does: Scoot and kick the snow, don't lift. Wax the old snow shovel front and back with spray car wax, it does wonders.Go side to side on the driveway, not length-wise, it is easier. Drink plenty of water BEFORE you start shoveling. Take little breaks every 15 minutes. Put a boom box out in the garage and turn on your favorite music, you'd be surprised how much less stressful the job becomes.