Workplace Values

Social Networking Common Sense

Facebook (or any social network) is an easy way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones, but it can be a nightmare for anyone's work and social life.

Be careful what you post. While it's okay to vent, remember that if you are venting about your boss, co-workers, job, or place of employment and even if he or she isn’t on your friend list it doesn’t mean it won't get back to them.

Also, any information learned about your co-workers on Facebook, please keep to yourself.

Facebook can be used for good as well as evil. The same rules apply in Social Network etiquette as to any online communications: Common courtesy, decency, good manners, and the golden rule (respect).

Please don’t use Facebook to bully, harass, spread rumors, in other words saying something you wouldn’t say in person.  If you’re on Facebook at work – don’t forget you’re still on the clock even if you’re using your personal cell phone.

 For Self-Protection:

As with all things, there’s such things as too much information; the airings of grievances are best done over email, telephone or in person.  Over sharing on Facebook can be a problem, since everything is public and you don’t know who is reading your comments.

Likewise you should never announce on your Facebook wall, where you plan to go or who you plan to go with.  Cyber stalkers (or burglars) are a real threat and lets them know where you are in real life. You could find yourself in a compromising or dangerous situation. Keep as much personal information as possible off of your profile page such as your birth date (or at least omit the year) it’s probably not a good idea to share identifying information such as where you work or your home address or phone number.

Above all else, before you post anything on a social network, stop and ask yourself this: would I announce this in the newspaper or on national television? Would I do this on television? If the answer is no, then don't post it because you can't take back what you posted. Repeat this to yourself several times and you'll be ok.

 — Sharon Goolsby

Safety Update

RIGGING: Rigging looks like an easy operation that doesn't seem to require any particular skill or experience.  Don't be fooled.  Many people have lost fingers or hands, or suffered more serious injuries because they thought they knew the art of RIGGING. To avoid injuries on the job, follow these rules: 

Get your signals straight.  Appoint one member of the crew to act as a signal person and instruct the crane operator not to accept signals from anyone else.  The signal person must not order a move until getting an "all ready" from each crew member.   Each worker must be in the clear before giving an "all ready" to the signal person.  If you must hold on to the chain, sling, or choker to maintain tension, be sure your hands and feet are out of the way of pinch points before giving an "all ready."  ALWAYS CHECK FOR OVERHEAD POWER LINES. 

Protect your hands.  If it isn't possible to release the chain, sling, or choker, be sure you hand is clear of pinch points.  Keep your hand far enough away so that a frayed wire or splinter on the cable can't catch your glove and jerk you hand into a pinch point. 

Watch out for rock and roll.  It's almost impossible to position the hook exactly over the load's center.  Watch out for swing or roll.  Anticipate the direction of the swing or roll.  Never place yourself between material, equipment or other stationary objects and the load.  Stay away from stacked material that may be knocked over by the swinging load. 

Stay out from under the load.  Never get under a suspended load.  Keep out from under the crane's boom. 

Set it down carefully.  When it's necessary to guide a load, use a tag line or hook.  If you have to walk with a load, keep it as close to the ground as possible.  Inspect the spot where the load is to be landed.  Remove unnecessary blocks or other objects that might fly up when struck by the load.  When lowering or setting a load, keep your feet and all other parts of your body in the clear.  Set the load down easily and slowly.  If it rolls on the blocking, it will shift slowly and you can get away.  Toolboxtopics.com 2011