When the Music Stopped!

When the Music Stopped...

by Chaplain Jim Higgins, LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad

For those who are unaware, at all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.

I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium that we use for movies as well as memorial services and other large gatherings.  As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when The National Anthem began before the main feature.  All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-to-22-year-olds back in the States?  I imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, only if they had stood for The National Anthem in the first place.

Here in Iraq 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again, and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention.  Again, though, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1,000 soldiers standing at attention to do? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.

 No!!. . . You could have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to stand at attention.

Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:

"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star-spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq, and I wanted you to know what kind of U.S. Soldiers are serving you! 

Remember them as they fight for us!

Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad.  Many have already paid the ultimate price.

Shared by Bruce Douglas

 

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing” Edmund Burke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 January #3

Beware of the Slip, Trip and Fall Hazards
The two most dangerous kinds of floor surfaces are most common in winter: frozen and wet. Both are treacherously slippery but thankfully, there is something you can do about.

A few things to remember:

-Watch the temps many days will get warm enough to melt and then refreeze icy spots so be extremely careful at Dawn & Dusk.  If you have to be out in the hours of darkness take a flashlight with you to light your way.

-It is important to slow your speed and to take smaller steps to maintain your balance and avoid slips, trips and falls. It is also advisable to do the duck walk or walk like a penguin with your toes pointing at an outward angle for better balance.

-Invest in properly gripping footwear and clean you boots/shoes regularly.

-Use extra care climbing up and down ladders, going up and down stairways and always use 3 points of contact\control.

-Finally, keep your eyes focused on your path – that way you will be able to spot and mitigate any hazards that are in your way.

 

Fall Protection leads the way on OSHA’s Top 10 violations

OSHA announced its most frequently cited violations for fiscal year 2016 and for the sixth year in a row, Fall Protection is number one.

Speaking at the 2016 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress & Expo, Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, and Tom Musick, associate editor for Safety & Health magazine, presented the preliminary data.

“The Top 10 gives employers a place to start for finding and fixing hazards,” Kapust said during the presentation. Rounding out the top 5 were Hazard Communication in the second slot, followed by Scaffolding at No. 3, Respiratory Protection in fourth and Lockout/Tagout at No. 5.

“Every year, the OSHA Top 10 serves as a guide for employers to address the biggest safety risks facing their employees,” Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of NSC, said in a press release. “We look forward to working with employers to reduce these incidents and ensure every workplace is on a Journey to Safety Excellence.” Here is the rest of the list. 6. Powered Industrial Trucks: 7. Ladders: 8. Machine Guarding: 9. Electrical - Wiring Methods: 10. Electrical - General Requirements:

Mobile Equipment and Vehicle Hazards

Ground personnel must remember to watch out for equipment & vehicle traffic. Look both ways when crossing a roadway and be on constant lookout for overhead work as well. Big cranes can move suspended loads over a wide radius so it is important to pay attention on job sites. Never assume an equipment\vehicle operator sees you and never walk in front of moving equipment. All equipment creates blind spots for the operator & larger equipment takes longer to stop.

Equipment & vehicle operators must keep an eye out for other equipment in addition to pedestrians. Typically, we yield to the larger equipment. Sometimes, when an equipment operator sees you they may signal you to walk or drive in front of them.

Parking lots pose another hazard to both drivers & pedestrians, whether coming to work or heading home. Many people are thinking about what they’re going to do later in the day or that evening -- some are on cell phones others may be conversing with co-workers. So, it is critically important that drivers use caution when pulling out of parking spots (check your mirrors and proceed slowly). Stay Safe - Focus on what you’re doing.

Dehyration a Concern in Winter too!

Stay Hydrated Cold weather can lead to more problems if we ignore it. The common cold, frostbite and hypothermia are some of the well-known dangers stemming from cold working conditions. However, it is important to remember that cold working conditions can also lead to dehydration, something that workers should bear in mind to ensure they drink enough water.  Physical labor can help workers stay warm, but workers should still take breaks routinely. It is always best to break in heated or wind-sheltered areas so they can get a chance to warm up. It is also important to dress in layers as some days the winds will die down and the sun will come out. When that happens, you’ll want to be able to peel off a layer or two to avoid getting overheated and minimize sweating. If clothing becomes wet from sweat the cooling process can lead to chills.    Warm it up Be sure to let your vehicle warm up a few minutes before heading off to work on frosty mornings.  Defrost or scrape your windows so you’ll have good visibility. Watch out for other drivers who may not take time to defrost or scrape their windows – they may not see you. And Keep headlights on from Dusk to Dawn.   Why did the chimp sell his banana store? He was tired of all the monkey business.