Disqus - Latest Comments for lwalter

Re: Distracted Driving Report Claims Cell Phone Use Contributes to 24 Percent of All Crashes | EHS Today

lwalter — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:06:44 -0000

Thanks for your comment. Research shows that speaking to a passenger while driving is a different experience — and a safer one — than speaking on a cell phone while driving. When we speak to a passenger, we have another person in the car capable of observing the road and offering input — from pointing out the correct exit to offering a warning about an upcoming traffic jam or red light. When we speak to a passenger, our attention is still focused on the environment in the car and on the road.

Cell phone conversations, however, take our attention elsewhere — to the removed person on the other line. This causes “inattention blindness” as part of our brains are engaged in the phone conversation rather than on the road right in front of us. We see the road without actually “seeing” all of it and thus miss crucial details that could have tragic consequences. The University of Utah conducted studies with a driving simulator to compare drivers engaged in passenger conversations and cell phone conversations and found that the cell phone drivers indeed were more distracted.

Re: Steering Clear of Distracted Driving | EHS Today

lwalter — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:40:53 -0000

Many people believe they are the exception to the rule, but this can be a dangerous fallacy. Here's what Dr. David Strayer, a lead distracted driving researcher who found that distracted driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving, had to say on this issue:

“You don't instantly crash on the road while talking on the cell phone. And you don't instantly crash when you're drunk, either ... In the long run, if you do it enough, you're going to put yourself at risk.”

and

“We have a tendency to overrate our own abilities ... We think we're better-than-average drivers and we think we're better-than-average multitaskers.”

http://ehstoday.com/safety/...

All I know is that I wouldn't want to be on the highway next to someone who is texting, no matter how convinced he might be that he's being safe.

Re: Safety Incentive Programs: What Works?

lwalter — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:38:09 -0000

Thanks for your comment. If you look at the article's dateline under the title, you'll see it was published Aug. 11, 2004. Web searches and related article links often turn up older articles on EHSToday.com -- many of which our readers still find relevant and useful.

Re: Life Saver: 5 Facts about CPR and AEDs | EHS Today

lwalter — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:09:33 -0000

You are correct, my elbows should be locked. During my skills training, Joni Nowak corrected my technique and had me stand on a box to be in a better position. Thanks for your comments!

Re: America's Safest Companies Questionnaire

lwalter — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:31:26 -0000

Yes, Rod, please feel free to use this questionnaire for the 2012 cycle. You may copy and paste it to a Word document or otherwise fill it out as is most convenient for you. Thanks and good luck!

Re: VPPPA Supports OSHA�s Position on Incentive Programs | EHS Today

lwalter — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:17:14 -0000

This is Laura Walter, the senior editor of EHS Today. I personally approve the comments for this site. We have to filter out a lot of spam, which is why we review comments this way. Rest assured that your comment has been posted. Thanks.

Re: America's Safest Companies Questionnaire

lwalter — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:59:03 -0000

UPDATE from EHS Today: We have selected and contacted the 2011 America's Safest Companies winners. We had a particularly strong pool of applicants this year and would like to thank all companies that applied. Due to the number of entries received, we are unable to comment on specific applications. We will announce the 2011 ASC winners on November 1. Thanks again from the entire team at EHS Today.

Re: America's Safest Companies Questionnaire

lwalter — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:05:23 -0000

Hi Mary,

We are still reviewing the applications and hope to contact the winners within the next few weeks. Thanks!

Laura Walter
Senior Editor
EHS Today

Re: ASSE 2010: Stop Chasing Ghosts in Accident and Fatality Prevention | EHS Today

lwalter — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:44:50 -0000

Thank your for your comment. SafeStart is not an EHS Today advertiser. Larry Wilson presented this session at ASSE 2010 and EHS Today reported on it as part of our comprehensive show coverage.

Re: OSU-OSHA Safety Day: Managing Crane Safety

lwalter — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:04:18 -0000

John Merrill is the general manager for the crane division at Maxim Crane Works.

Re: OSHA Revises Field Operations Manual for Compliance Officers

lwalter — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:58:18 -0000

The manual is now available at http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/...