Cintas Announces Top Employee Health and Safety Tips for ...

CINCINNATI, Apr 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) ?
In recognition of National Public Health Week (April 2-8, 2012), Cintas
Corporation


/quotes/zigman/69904/quotes/nls/ctas CTAS
+0.38%



, the leader in first aid and safety
products and services, today announced top tips for maintaining a safe
work environment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), productivity losses related to employee health cost
U.S. employers more than $1,500 per employee each year, reaching an
estimated $260 billion in total losses. Solving or limiting common
occupational issues is instrumental in creating and sustaining a healthy
work environment.

(eqnx:)Often, the indirect costs of illness and injury that burden businesses
are several times higher than direct medical costs,(eqnx:) said Nancy
Petersen, Senior Marketing Manager, Cintas. (eqnx:)By understanding the
measures that keep individuals safe and in good physical shape,
employers can improve the safety of their workplaces, promote long-term
health and maintain productivity.(eqnx:)

Cintas(eqnx:) top tips for workplace safety include:

?
Provide basic first aid products and education: Teaching
employees the purpose and application of simple first aid supplies
ensures that help can be quickly administered during an emergency. To
maximize safety, keep a first aid kit or cabinet visible, easily
accessible and fully stocked with a variety of products.

?
Encourage workers to stay home when sick: Communicable diseases
such as influenza and strep infections can easily spread from employee
to employee through physical contact or proximity. (eqnx:)Presenteeism,(eqnx:)
which occurs when a person knowingly comes to work while sick, leads
to reduced productivity and puts others(eqnx:) health at risk. Encourage
employees to take a sick day or work from home if they are contagious
or feeling under the weather.

?
Make appropriate safety gear available: According to the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers must offer
personal protective equipment (PPE) when workplace hazards exist.
Train employees about the importance and proper use of PPE, such as
earmuffs and earplugs for reducing hearing loss due to noise exposure.
Eyewear, gloves and helmets should be worn when working near machinery
or sources of electricity.

?
Limit personal medications at work: Prohibit employees from
bringing their own medications to work. Sharing medication increases
the chance of an adverse reaction, drowsiness or slowed reflexes, even
if the medication is over-the-counter. Instead, employers should keep
individually packaged and properly labeled products for common
ailments, such as pain and allergy relief, in a first aid cabinet.

?
Welcome feedback about safety concerns: The National Floor
Safety Institute finds that slip and fall accidents account for more
than one million hospital visits annually. Encourage workers to
quickly report safety issues, such as a wet floor or equipment
malfunctions, to a manager to prevent accidents and keep employees in
the workplace.

?
Offer AED and CPR training: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) claims
more than 400,000 lives annually and almost always strikes outside of
a hospital. To help prepare your staff for a potentially life-saving
response in the event of a SCA incident, employers should have at
least one automated external defibrillator (AED) onsite and train
employees on CPR, First Aid and AEDs. In larger facilities where
multiple AEDs are needed, strategically place units so rescuers can
get to the unit and back within less than three minutes.

?
Implement a health program: According to the CDC, obesity and
related chronic diseases cause employees to miss more days of work
than employees in good physical shape. These conditions also result in
costly medical expenses. To help promote employee wellness, boost
productivity and lower insurance premiums, employers should form a
health program that engages and educates staff about ways to stay
active and healthy.

(eqnx:)Employers that proactively encourage safety and health have the
potential to significantly reduce injuries and illness,(eqnx:) added Petersen.
(eqnx:)Healthier workers will be more engaged and productive while also
causing fewer accidents, which is a win-win for the entire organization.(eqnx:)

To help workers and business operators identify the proper products and
programs required to maintain a healthy workplace, Cintas recently
released its new First
Aid Safety Catalog.

For more information on Cintas(eqnx:) first-aid and safety programs, please
visit
www.cintasfirstaid.com .

About Cintas Corporation

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly
specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs,
manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and
provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first
aid and safety products, fire protection services and document
management services to approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a
publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard Poor?s 500 Index.

SOURCE: Cintas Corporation

          Mulberry Marketing Communications         Andi Vance         312-664-1532         avance@mulberrymc.com 

Copyright Business Wire 2012

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Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cintas-announces-top-employee-health-and-safety-tips-for-national-public-health-week-2012-04-02

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