

Slick surfaces can form on stone patios, paths and decks and stairs following a rain shower.Look for air-conditioning units sticking out of windows, low-hanging branches, rocks hidden under shrubs or brush, unrolled garden hoses, and depressions in lawns that can lead to head injuries or slips and falls. Before conducting perimeter or lawn care treatments, take a 3D view of the property.Midyett recalled an example of a dog’s unpredictability when a dog that appeared friendly approached a technician as he exited his vehicle, but bit the technician a 20 minutes later. Barking dogs, “beware of dog” signs and unsecured fenced in backyards should raise a red flag with technicians.Here are some of the red flags technicians should look for when doing a safety assessment: “Whether it is a new account or a home or business you serviced for years, take the time to look for hazards that may have been introduced since the previous visit,” says Midyett. Midyett encouraged technicians to take a few minutes to walk around the property before starting service to perform a safety assessment. “Slips and falls are common, but increase when technicians get lax about their surroundings or are not familiar with the account.” “Animal bites are preventable with consistent training and good communication,” Midyett said. Linda Midyett, vice president and loss control director for the Dallas, Texas-based insurance firm, attributes the increases to several factors, including inconsistent training and technicians becoming complacent with safety procedures, as well as the lack of familiarity with new accounts. Falls/slips from a different level – 7 percent (2021) vs.Cuts, punctures, scrapes – 11 percent (2021) vs.Bitten by animal – 13 percent (2021) vs.PestSure compared worker injury claims of its insureds between 20 and discovered that animal bites cuts, punctures and scars lifting and slips/falls from a different level all increased. The European Forest Fire Information System estimates Spain has seen 284,764 hectares (704,000 acres) burn this year - four times higher than the average since records began in 2006.Workplace injuries in the pest management industry can occur on any job, making workplace safety a top concern for both employees and managers. Up to early August, 43 large wildfires - those affecting at least 500 hectares (1,235 acres) - were recorded in the Mediterranean country, while the average in previous years was 11. This year, wildfires in Spain have burned four times more land than they did during the last decade. Spain has been hit harder than any other European country by forest fires this year, according to the European Commission’s Copernicus Earth observation program. Regional government head Ximo Puig has requested a report from the firefighting services to clarify why the train was allowed to proceed through an area that was burning. The train had inadvertently headed into the fast-spreading wildfire. In Spain’s Valencia, meanwhile, four people were still hospitalized after suffering severe burns Wednesday when several passengers tried to jump off a train that had stopped and tried to go back amid surrounding flames. He also announced that the Civil Protection Agency will get additional funding to hire another 500 firefighters. Portuguese Interior Minister Jose Luis Carneiro said the armed forces would provide extra forest patrols on those days. The measure, which grants authorities special, temporary powers such as barring people from woodlands, is a response to forecasts of inland temps above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) beginning Sunday in what could be the country’s third heat wave this summer. Portugal is in the grip of a severe drought and has also seen devastating wildfires this summer. In neighboring Portugal, the government on Friday announced a nationwide three-day state of alert beginning Sunday. Efforts to bring it under control Thursday failed and strong winds have made the fire “very aggressive,” the Valencian regional government said. The wildfire has already scorched more than 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) along a 137-kilometer (85-mile) perimeter. MADRID > A wildfire burning out of control in Spain’s eastern province of Valencia has become one of the country’s biggest fires this year, and 35 aircraft were deployed to fight it as the blaze entered its fifth day, authorities said Friday.
