Page 21 - OHS, September 2023

What to Consider While each accident is difffferent, oblique or angled impacts to the head are a far more common accident scenario than linear impacts. Research has found that the human brain is more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion, meaning concussions caused by rotational motion occur at lower levels of energy than those caused by linear motion 6. Yet, there are still steps that workers can take. The first step is to wear a helmet that is firmly attached to your head. Second, ensure the helmet meets the latest standards and is best suited to your line of work. Third, find a helmet that’s comfortable for you. The helmet that you’re most likely to wear is one that is most pleasant to wear for long periods of time. Lastly, check if your helmet has a tested rotational motion mitigating system installed. Thanks to research and new technology, for example, a number of helmets equipped with a system that allows the helmet to move relative to the wearer’s head, designed to help redirect rotational motion that could potentially be transferred to the head in angled impacts. While the helmets of today are not too different from when they were first invented, there are ways that workers can do to help reduce the risks of TBIs and rotational motion. The first is education: It’s impossible to know how to keep yourself from harm if you’re not fully aware of the risks involved. Second, prioritize safe PPE usage and ensure that your equipment is up-to-date with the latest standards. Lastly, understand what rotational motion is, its risks, and what options are available that are designed to help mitigate its impact. While the construction industry will continue to face jobsite risks, employers and employees alike must have a deep understanding of the PPE available to them. Joe Brandel is the Business Development Manager for North America Industrial Safety Market at Mips, which specializes in in helmet-based safety. He has been in the construction and industrial safety business for longer than 20 years. Specializing in head protection, hand protection, fall protection and other personal protective equipment, Joe has provided training for large and small companies throughout the Midwest. REFERENCES 1. www.bls.gov/spotlight/2022/workplace-injuries-and-job-requirements-for-construction-laborers/home. htm#:~:text=Workers%20in%20construction%20and%20extraction,falls%2C%20slips%2C%20and%20trips. 2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21665064/ 3. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4535168/ 4. Gennarelli et.al. (1987). “Directional dependence of axonal brain injury due to centroidal and non- centroidal acceleration,” in Proceedings of the 31st Stapp Car Crash Conference (Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers). 5. Gennarelli et. al. (1972). “Pathophysiological responses to rotational and translational accelerations of the head,” in Proceedings of the 16th Stapp Car Crash Conference, 1972 (Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers). 6. Kleiven, S (2007). “Predictors for traumatic brain injuries evaluated through accident reconstructions,” Stapp Car Crash J, vol. 51, pp. 81–114, Oct. 2007. The LION BullsEyeTM Digital Fire Extinguisher Training System allows you to conduct extinguisher training anywhere. Pair it with the LION R.A.C.E. StationTM to help reinforce the Rescue, Alert, Confine, Extinguisher method and better prepare your trainees to respond to an actual fire emergency. WWW.LIONPROTECTS.COM/FIRE-SAFETY-TRAINING-TOOLS www.ohsonline.com SEPTEMBER 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 21