Video Script Samples I've written for clients

1. Client wanted 2-minute video script – some humour – somewhat like the Dollar Shave Club video based on this article  https://medium.com/@michaelellsberg/meet-the-28-year-old-who-is-building-utility-scale-renewable-energy-projects-41aaa184eb93

A year after College, Tao Kong had no real career direction—he was blowing in the wind. That’s when it hit him —Wind.

A friend in China with wind farms told Tao, here’s the plan, man—from green field to commercial operation in the US in 6 months.

Tao began a 275MW wind project in California. The times they were a changing. Renewables turned from a job—to his company—Alcen Renewable.

To Tao renewable energy versus fossil fuel is like this—Great Granddaddy liked horse-drawn carriages, it beat walking. But fancy motorcars came along and Great Granddad had to get one. But for us, it’s not just the times—the climate is a changing too.

Renewable energy has to flip the script on fossil fuels. I know you’re thinking—Fine, flip it. Still, the sun don’t shine and the wind don’t blow all the time. Yep, intermittency. But electrical storage —batteries that hold lots of electricity —solve that issue.

As far as costs—Wind is 1/3 less than coal. Levelized—both wind and solar are cheaper than natural gas. The price comparison between renewables and fossil fuels is distorted from not counting externalities and from fossil fuel subsidies —$5 billion a year in the US.  Without subsidies it’d cost $500 a barrel to extract US oil. Uh, that’s too rich for me. I’ll take fresh wind and sunshine, please.

The fundamental pulse of Alcen Renewable is developing utility-scale projects, but we also want to devise an ecosystem where startups and people in early renewable energy development can get venture funds for utility-scale wind and solar projects. A win win.

Then the conversation will flip from— renewable energy is too expensive —to —I own part of a project so I know it costs less and is more profitable than fossil fuels.

3. Short Explainer Video

Logo and Tag Line

•    Employee benefits help retain, motivate and incentivize workers.

•       Meals are a popular employee benefit, from on premise cantinas to out of office restaurants.

•       About 50 countries offer tax incentives for meal benefits. Also, global and local service providers manage access to meal benefits—but only for large to medium companies, who subsidize all or part of the cost. Small businesses, and employers in countries with no tax breaks for meal benefits are left out.

•       But not anymore. Join Incentives Inc. and give your employees meal benefits.

•       At Incentives, Inc. — a B2B marketplace platform of select merchants, employers leverage collective buying power, so offering employee benefits is as easy as pie.

•       Employers, employees, and merchants join Incentives Inc. through a mobile app or web portal

•       Employers, once you join, your workers will get benefits from all the merchants who accept Coinsentive tokens

•       Employees save money on food and get rewards from restaurants. Restaurants gain loyal customers and a big boost in business.

•       Employees—there is such a thing as free lunch, every workday. Ask your company to join today.

Food Service owners—boost traffic to your restaurant night and day, join now.

Employers—take this opportunity to stimulate and retain happy employees.

2.   An Ode To List —30 Second Video Script For Funny Occupation Phone Cases

Here’s to the Doctors…who spend years of their life to add more years to ours.

To the Engineers…who try anything they can think of until it works.

Here’s to the Lawyers…who tirelessly litigate, advocate, and arbitrate.

To the Programmers…who write code all day then debug it all night.

Here’s to the Graphic Designers…who never see shades of gray, just hex codes.

To the BodyBuilders…who build up six-packs they can’t drink.

Here’s to the Dancers…who stay on their toes

And the Sportsmen… who admit they missed third base, but insist they touched second.

With all they go through…they deserve to tell the world what they do.

3. Two Explainer Video Scripts For Incentives Inc.  – Two Videos – 30 – 45 Seconds Each

With Budget:

An employer creates a weekly budget for meals for their employees.

An employee suggests buying meals with tokens. The employer agrees and Incentives Inc. buys coincentive tokens.

The employee buys his meal with tokens from his pocket, minus a discount.

The employee’s balance is smoothly adjusted by the cost of the meal in tokens.

The employee gets a nice discount as a token.

The restaurant wants the tokens converted to local currency. So, on coincentive, Incentives Inc. quickly switches the tokens to money.

The employee wants to convert his discount token to local currency. So, Incentives Inc. sells it on coincentive. Now, the employee has money.

Without Budget:

It’s simple; the employer activates the token service for their employees. The employee buys a meal at a restaurant offering discounts with tokens.

With ease, Incentives Inc. gets tokens at coincentive for the restaurant.

With tokens, the employee gets the restaurant’s discount from the service provider just like that.

The employee asks Incentives Inc. to convert the discount tokens to local currency. In a flash, Incentives Inc. sells them to coincentive, and the employee has money.

One Of The Safety Series I Wrote On OSHA Standards With Humor And Character Creation

SAFETY MY DEAR WATSON

A six script series for safety training videos –

Series Trailer

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4q6W9MV8185cDBfU1BkX2VvN2M/view

Landscaping Safety

William Holmes here, you may have heard of me. What’s that? You haven’t. Oh, you’ve heard of my brother, oh yes, Sherlock.

Well, his popularity or fame, if you can call it that, is all due to that Dr. Watson. No one would know of Sherlock if it weren’t for his sidekick.

But I don’t need a sidekick. You see, I’m my own sidekick. Yes, that’s right.

As I said, I’m the smart one. Mum always said so.

You see, I take on cases Sherlock won’t. I look into mysteries that are more challenging and dangerous than those murders my brother solves.

I, William Holmes, am a safety detective.

Today we’re here to save the innocent landscaping crew that is working at the old estate of Ravenmore manor. We’re hot on the trail of despicable Landscaping Hazards.

Here’s our first dastardly culprit.

Cuts and Amputation

This hazard is ready to strike at a foot near the rapidly moving blades of a lawnmower or at a hand under the deck of a lawnmower or to yank someone into a wood chipper or worse. It’s up to us to put a stop to Cuts and Amputation. The loss of a finger, toe, hand, or foot is extremely painful. And, it can result in permanent disability…or death.

Here’s how we’ll put am end to this fiendish hazard:

·      Get proper training from your employer on all the equipment you’re using.

·      Stay a safe distance from saws, tiller blades, trencher blades, rotating brush-cutting blades, and sharp or moving parts in any other equipment.

·      Wear appropriate clothing, including personal protective equipment, like sturdy boots or shoes (steel-toed when required), long-sleeved shirts, long pants, gloves, and wear leg chaps when using chain saws.

·      Inspect all your tools and equipment before use. Make sure the safety guards and other safety devices are in place and undamaged.

·      Secure mowers and other equipment, so no one else can start them.

·      Don’t try to unclog a mower or other equipment unless the engine has been turned off and all moving parts have come to a complete stop.

·      Don’t leave power equipment unattended

·      Do not wear loose-fitting clothing. If you have long hair, tie it back and take off your jewelry, dangling jacket strings, and anything else that could get caught in a machine.

·      Never remove, disable, or bypass a safety device.

·      Immediately report any missing or broken safety devices to your supervisor.

·      Don’t rush or take shortcuts

The next landscaping hazards lying in wait for the crew at the old Ravenmore estate, are the shocking Electrical Hazards.

These hazards are the anti-social type. They want to be left alone. If you stay out of their way, you know, away from electrical currents, don’t come in contact with power lines, and ensure that any branches you cut off trees don’t fall on power lines. You know, just get out of the way of these electrical hazards…and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

But if you don’t, this deadly hazard will shock you, which can cause muscular spasms, and that might cause you to fall, and even break your bones. If any part of your body touches a live current, a jolt of electricity will course through you, which can cause imbalances or shaking of the heart, leading to respiratory failure or a heart attack. And the most common injuries it causes are severe burns. 

Here’s how you stop to this deadly hazard:

·      Keep your equipment, materials and yourself at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.

·      Call utility locates before you dig, to see if there are any underground public utility mains in that area.

·      Never assume a wire is safe to touch even if it’s down or looks like it’s insulated

·      Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water.

·      If you’re working in a damp area, be sue to inspect the electric cords and equipment to make sure they’re in good condition with no defects. Also use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

An old-fashioned type phone rings. William picks up.

Hello, yes, who is this?

Pause

Oh, professor Moriarty, how are you?

Pause

No, you have the wrong number. You don’t want me, you want my brother.

Pause

I assure you, I have nothing to do with the mystery of the Valley of Fear. I’m working on the case of landscaping hazards at Ravenmore manor.

Pause

The dangers of getting scratched by bushes you duck into to avoid the police when they’re in pursuit? Well, no, that’s not the type of landscaping hazard I meant.

Pause

I’m afraid I can’t help you with that.

Pause

Well, see here, there’s no need for threats.

Pause

Quite. Yes, that’s right. Call him. Very well then, good day.

He hangs up the phone.

So sorry for the interruption, I’m getting Sherlock’s calls for some reason. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, I was just about to uncover the next hazard. It’s a real rough one.

Lifting

Lifting, including moving anything heavy or using a shovel can place you in peril. This hazard is responsible for a lot of pain. Fooling with this hazard can also be costly. Before you see it coming, this menace goes for your back, shoulders, knees, or other body parts. These injuries can hang around for a long time, even for the rest of your life.

Here’s how we can “Take Care” of this hazard before it gets us.

·      Get trained by your employer in proper lifting techniques and always use those safe methods.

·      Use mechanical lifting devices, such as forklifts, skid-steer loaders, and overhead cranes, when available.

·      Use manual lifting aids, like dollies or hand trucks.

And that brings us to our next hazard, oh, it’s a real slippery one alright.

Slips and Trips

This notorious duo is lurking in your midst. Lying in wait…right beneath your feet. If you’re working in wet, muddy, uneven terrain or around hidden rocks, this hazard is just waiting for you to slip up. If you let Slips and Trips sneak up on you and catch you unaware they’ll leave you with sprains and pain. They might even break your bones. 

Here’s how to put an end to Slips and Trips before they stop you in your tracks

·      Remember that wet grass can be very slick, and that you need to slow down on muddy or uneven terrain.

·      Wear waterproof boots or shoes with good traction.

·      If you spill something, clean it up. If you spot a potential tripping hazard, eliminate it, if possible, or bring it to your crew leader’s attention.

We did it. Elementary! With brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and my special technique—the logic of cause and effect, you and I, William Holmes, the greatest detective, have kept the landscape crew at old Ravenmore manor safe from harm and probably saved their lives from fatal landscaping hazards …for now.

So, keep a watchful eye…stay on the case…and stay safe.

SAFETY, MY DEAR WATSON

HVACR Safety

Safety Detective, William Holmes, here, at your service.  I know, I know, you’ve heard of my brother. But we aren’t here to discuss Sherlock. We’re on a case. A highly important case. You see the Earl of old Ravenmore manor is upgrading to an all new Air Conditioning and Heating system and we are on the case to elude any hazards that are creeping about.

It’s a dangerous undertaking we have before us, because the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry has one of the highest rates of injuries of all occupations.

First, we have to shoot down a squadron of hostile hazards to safely install equipment.

·      Assume all electrical wires are live wires.

·      Turn the main switch to off before removing or replacing power fuses.

·      Don’t wear jewelry or coats with metal zippers when working on or near energized lines, panels, parts or equipment.

·      Don’t work near any circuit in service without installing barricades first.

·      When working outside, keep your shirt on to avoid dehydration and sunburn.

·      Drink plenty of water or clear liquids during your breaks

·      If you discover a wasp nest or beehive while you’re working, spray the nest with the long distance aerosol insecticide labeled—Wasp and Bee Insecticide. After that, test the nest with a stick to make sure all the bees or wasps are gone before continue working.

·      Don’t use a metal ladder within 50 feet of electrical power lines.

·      Don’t block the walking surfaces of working platforms, like scaffolds, with tools or materials that aren’t being used.

·      Use a stepladder instead of standing on sinks, toilets, or cabinets.

·      Don’t work on open sided floors or elevated walkways or platforms if they don’t have guardrails.

·      Prior to servicing piping equipment, open the gate valve to release pressure from the steam lines and turn off the boiler.

The next culprit, Hazardous Materials, can be deceitful. You can’t really trust them. You have to really keep your eye on them, but you need them, that’s all there is to it. So just watch out when you’re around Hazardous Materials.

·      Every time you use a chemical product for work, follow the instructions on the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet.

·      If you use chemicals labeled: flammable, corrosive, caustic or poisonous, wear personal protective clothing or equipment like neoprene gloves, rubber boots, shoe covers, rubber aprons, and protective eyewear.

·      If your protective clothing or equipment has split seams, pinholes, cuts, tears, or other signs of damage, don’t use it.

·      When you wear gloves, wash them in cold tap water before taking them off.

·      Only dispense Flammable liquids form bulk containers located in areas posted "Flammable Liquid Storage."

·      Don’t use any chemicals from unlabeled containers or unmarked cylinders.

·      Don’t drag any containers that are labeled "Flammable."

·      Don’t store chemical containers labeled Oxidizer with containers labeled Corrosive or Caustic.

Contaminated air is a suffocating hazard. To deal with that you need a true blue, dependable respirator to help you out. I know this one gets close, real close. It’s always in your face. I understand, but it can save your life. Here’s how you handle that:

·      Only use the respirator your employer issued to you

·      Shave regularly, so your facial hair won’t interfere with the respirator’s face seal.

·      Clean and disinfect your respirator after each use.

·      Use optical inserts provided by your employer, don’t wear contact lenses with your respirator.

·      Put your respirator away in its carrying case or carton when the work is done.

·      Inspect your respirators before each use. Don’t use it there’re any missing or distorted inhalation and exhalation valves, cracked face pieces, a lot of dirt on the face piece, a loss of elasticity in the straps, or any missing gaskets, and kinks in air supply hoses.

·      Do a fit test before you use it to make sure you can talk with it on, that it fits snug over your nose bridge, and there aren’t any air leeks

Old fashioned telephone rings and William picks it up.

Hello. Oh, Moriarty. Look here, if you want to speak to Sherlock you need to call him.

Pause

Yes, that’s right, I’m his brother, William.

Pause

I am too his brother.

Pause

Oh, I see. Mycroft. Why yes, that’s right Sherlock does have a brother named Mycroft and so do I.

Pause

 I’m surprised at you Professor Moriarty. According to Sherlock you are a criminal mastermind, but it seems your skills of deduction or sorely lacking. You couldn’t even figure out that Sherlock has more than one brother.

Pause

Actually, Professor Moriarty, I have more to say. I understand you told Sherlock that I was working with you.

Pause

You had no right to say such a thing. Furthermore, I can assure you that I would never work with you or help you in any way.

Pause

Well, I may be just a Safety Detective to you. But you, Professor Moriarty, are a despicable villain. In fact, you are as bad as a Confined Space hazard.

Pause

I don’t care if you don’t know what that is. It’s very bad. And I don’t want you calling me again. Furthermore, don’t bother Sherlock, Mycroft, or Dr. Watson for that matter.

Pause

Good day and good riddance to you too.

William hangs up the phone.

Some people. I tell you. Now, where was I before that rude interruption?

Oh, yes. You must stay on guard. Never let down your guard when you’re dealing with the big, gritty hazards of Machinery:

·      Make sure machinery has guards. Replace the guards before starting machines, or after making adjustments or repairs to the machine.

·      Do not change, take off, or bypass machine safety guards

And here’s how you can take charge of Lockout/Tag out hazards:

·      Don't take a lock off any equipment unless you put it there yourself.

·      Before you begin any servicing or repair confirm that the tag/lockout switch or control can’t be over-ridden.

·      Test the equipment to make sure the lockout switch is de-energized and not just malfunctioning.

Another danger you have to really watch out for is Heavy lifting hazards. They can be brutish. Don’t let these hazards get the best of you. Here’s how to take care of them:

·      Push the load for a second to test the weight of it before you lift it. If it’s too heavy use a hand truck, dolly, pallet jack, etc. or get a co-worker to help you.

·      Wear protective gloves if you lift anything that has sharp corners or jagged edges.

Swing Safely Into High Gear with:

• Face shields and goggles (including chemical goggles as needed) to protect your eyes and face from flying particles and liquids.
• A hardhat incase of falling debris.
• Earplugs for noisy environments.
• Gloves and arm protectors for handling sheet metal, glass or anything that could cut you.

·       Cloth gloves for handling hot water heaters or steam lines.

• Slip resistant shoes to prevent you from slipping.
• Suitable clothing for extreme temperatures.

·       Wear 100% cotton, flame resistant shirts or jumpers with long sleeves and protective hats when you’re working on or near live parts, lines, or panels.

We did it. Elementary! With brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and my special technique—the logic of cause and effect, you and I, William Holmes, the greatest detective, have kept the Air Conditioning and Heating Technicians at old Ravenmore manor safe from harm and possibly saved their lives from fatal hazards.

So, keep a watchful eye…stay on the case…and stay safe

SAFETY, MY DEAR WATSON

Kitchen Safety - Restaurant Hazards

William Holmes here, Safety Detective extraordinaire. And yes, I know, you’ve heard of my brother. But we don’t have time to discuss Sherlock. We’re on a case. An important case, indeed, as it has to do with a friend of mine.

My chum, Basil Dill, longtime chef at old Ravenmore manor, just retired from service and used his savings to start a bakery and café on Baker Street. He’s terribly excited about his dream business, but lately dangerous hazards have made their way into his restaurant, ready to cause trouble for him and his employees.

Basil’s hired me to investigate and see if I can detect these threats and rid his restaurant of them for good.

So, let’s get started on the case. Cuts and amputations are such a menacing culprit, lets start with them.

Big, shiny machines have a lot to do with these hazards. I know, these mixers and grinders and such seem friendly enough, and they make kitchen tasks easier, but you’ve got to keep your guard up.

Basil’s meat slicer and Bakery Mixer both need machine guards. That’ll stop any cuts from them as long as the guards are working properly.

Then there’re the mincers, choppers, dicers, slicers.

Don’t Fool Around With This Mix Of Kitchen Tools.

·  Keep your hands off. Use push sticks or tamps remove food from these sharp tools.

·  Don’t use your hands to stir the contents, guide food, or remove fallen spoons and such while these machines are on.

·      Never stick your fingers into a coffee grinder to get the beans to drop, just tap on outside and the beans will drop.

·  Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry, around these machines; they’ll really try to grab you then.

·  Before you run your hands all over these machines, to dissemble or clean them, turn them off. Totally unplug them.

Now let’s move to the Hot Stuff. Don’t get burned by these two-timing hazards, jumping from one steamy piece of hot equipment to the next. You know first it’s the stovetop, then the oven, and before you know it they’re over at the broiler. They’ll even move on to the grills.

Don’t Cook Up Any Trouble:

·      Keep built-in guard bars on all your hot surfaces, so workers will keep their hands off of them.

·      Turn those pot handles away from the burners. Don’t let them stick out over the edge of the range.

·      Don’t set hot coffee makers close to the edge of counters

·  Adjust burner flames to cover only the bottom of a pan.

·  Don’t fill pots too full or they’ll boil over. You know how they are.

·  Lift pot covers cautiously, don’t get zapped by a rush of steam.

·  Use tongs to lower food into boiling water.

·  Never leave hot oil or grease unattended.

·  Use Protective Clothing and Equipment. Use potholders, gloves, or mitts when checking food on the stove or broiler.

          

And When You’re Frying:

·  Use fryers that lower food automatically into the hot oil and that automatically dump used grease.

·  Use splash guards on fryers.

·  Dry off wet food and brush off ice crystals before putting food in a fryer basket.

·      Never fill fryer baskets more than half way and lower fryer baskets gently.

When You’re Sticking Stuff In The Microwave:

·      Don’t use metal containers, foil, or utensils in the microwave

·      When you take containers out of the microwave open them away from your face, to let that steam escape

·      If you notice sparks inside the microwave, immediately turn it off and unplug it.

Don’t Let The Pressure Get To You.

Show those Pressure cooker and steamers that you mean business:

·      Before you open pressure cookers or steamers, shut the steam off and wait a few minutes.

·      Stand to the side to open the steamer or pressure cooker door.

·      Wear oven mitts when you take hot trays out of the steamer.

·      When steamers are stacked, take the tray from the top one first, then the lower one, to prevent burns from rising steam.

   

An old-fashioned phone rings. William picks up.

Hello, Basil’s Bakery and Café, how can I help you?

Pause

Why yes, this is William. What can I do for you, Doctor Watson? Is Sherlock okay?

Pause

Oh, yes, of course, I’ll get some sandwiches to go before I leave and run them down the street to you.

Pause

Uhm, a peanut butter and bologna sandwich, you mean both together on one sandwich? Okay, and that’s on white bread. All right, and then one grilled cheese with a fried egg and pickles on rye bread?

Pause

I’ve got it. Yes, I’ll bring them to you as soon as I’m finished here. I’m a bit busy right now.

Pause

Yes, I am on a case at the restaurant.

Pause

Kitchen hazards.

Pause

Well, in fact, they can be quite dangerous.

Pause

All right then, see you in a bit. Good-bye.

He hangs up the phone.

Those sandwiches might be a bellyache hazard just waiting to happen. So sorry for the interruption, my brother lives just down the street and he and Watson are hungry.

Now, where were we? Ah, yes, we’ve put all those kitchen hazards in their place and saved the day but we’re not done yet. There’s more.

Restaurants are dangerous places you have to always beware. Don’t let hazards sneak up on you:

Dress For Success:

·      Use oven mitts or potholders

·      Use Kevlar gloves when cutting.

·      Wear sturdy, slip resistant shoes, in case hot liquids spill on them.

·      Wear gloves and goggles when cleaning up broken glass.

Don’t Slip Up

·      Use non-slip stable floor mats in good condition in areas that get wet. But remember, moving heavy mats can cause back injuries.

·      Clean up spills right away.

·      Clean floors regularly so grease doesn’t build up. Use a clean mop with approved floor cleaners.

·      Use warning signs to keep people off wet floors.

·      Use smaller bus pans and trays.

·      Lay out the dining room and kitchen without tight or blind corners and with plenty of room to avoid collisions.

·      Don’t carry items too tall for you to see over.

·      Warn other workers when you’re walking behind them.

Don’t Put A Strain On Yourself

·      Don’t overload trays or pans. And don’t carry more than you can handle.

·      Standing for long periods of time on a hard surface can cause muscle fatigue, back pain, and soreness in legs and feet.

·      Provide storage for heavy items on lower shelves to avoid reaching. 

·      Provide ladders and footstools of the right size, and keep them in good condition.

·      Design drive-through windows so workers don’t need to stretch to serve customers.

·      When walking or standing for long periods, use floor mats, take breaks, and rotate tasks if you can.

Don’t Forget Security

·      Keep parking lots well lit

·      Have more than one exit in case of an emergency.

·      Schedule at least two people per shift, especially at night.

·      Teach your workers what to do in case of a robbery or other crime or violent situation.

·      Leave a clear, unobstructed view of the cash register area from the street.  Post signs that the cash register only contains a small amount of cash.

·      Store large amounts of cash in a drop safe.

·      Don’t count cash in front of customers.

·      Use the buddy system for cash drops.

·      Keep working locks and alarms in good condition.

·      Install a silent alarm or panic button.

·      Use surveillance cameras or mirrors.

We did it. Elementary! We foiled the plans of viscous kitchen hazards and kept Basil and his staff safe by using our brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and the logic of cause and effect,

Well, I have to deliver some sandwiches to my brother, but until our next case, keep a watchful eye…and stay safe.

Safety My Dear Watson – ROOFING HAZARDS

William Holmes here, you may have heard of me. Yes, well, I’m Sherlock’s younger brother. But, you see, I am different than Sherlock. I take cases he won’t. I look into mysteries that are more challenging and dangerous than those murders my brother solves.

I, William Holmes, am a safety detective.

Today we’re hot on the trail of perilous hazards that roofers face,

including working at heights or falling through holes in the roof.

Our greatest weapon to fight these hazards is Fall Protection. Make sure your Fall Protection plan in top from by maintaining your Personal Fall Arrest System these standards:

·      The straps have to be of synthetic fiber.

·      If used with a body harness, the arresting force can’t be more than 1,800 pounds.

·  It has to be rigged to prevent a worker from free falling more than six feet or touching any lower level.

·  It must bring a worker to a complete stop and the resulting deceleration distance can’t be more than three and a half feet.

·  Its got to stand up against twice the impact force of a worker free falling six feet or the free fall distance that system allows, whichever one is less.

·      It has to be thoroughly inspected for wear and tear and damage before each use.

·      Needs to have locking snap hooks that attach to the D-ring in the center of the back.

·      The anchorage must support 5,000 pounds for each worker attached to it. Anchorages can’t be connected to platforms, guardrails or hoists.

Old fashioned type phone rings William Holmes picks up.

Hello, yes, who is this?

Pause

No, Professor Moriarty, I told you this is not Sherlock’s office. I’m William Homes, his brother.

Pause

No, you see, you have the wrong number.

Pause

Well, I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the case of the Valley of Fear. You’ll have to talk to Sherlock about that. I’m on the case of roofing hazards.

Pause

Well, actually it’s an interesting investigation. You see I’m a safety detective.

Pause

Well, I may just be a safety detective. But you’re a villain, so I really don’t care what you think.

Pause

Yes, well, I see that running on roofs and jumping from one to another when chased by the police would be a safety hazard, but I’m afraid I really can’t help you with that. No, safety hazards for roofers…Not criminals.

Pause

Well, that’s you opinion.

Pause

If he’s not there or can’t come to the phone, you’ll have to simply leave a message with Dr. Watson.

Pause

Yes. I’m sure Watson will get the message to him. The doctor’s quite dependable.

Pause

Yes, call him. Indeed. Good day.

He hangs up the phone.

Now, where were we? Ah, yes, roofing hazards. Here’s a new clue to stop these menacing hazards, it’s the letters L G S. (Let’s Get Safe)

L is for ladders:

Don’t use ladders on slippery surfaces unless the ladder is secured or provided with slip-resistant feet. And the top of the ladder should extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface

G is for Guard Rails:

During roofing work, don’t store materials and equipment within six feet of a roof edge, unless there are guardrails at the edge. Also, materials piled, grouped or stacked near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting.

And S is for Safety Nets:

Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the working surface and never more than 30 feet below them. And, the nets must be inspected at least once a week. Each mesh opening can’t be more than 36 inches or longer than 6 inches on any side.

All mesh crossings must be secured to prevent enlargement of the mesh opening. Each safety net or section must have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds. Connections between safety nets panels must be as strong as integral net components and be spaced no more than 6 inches apart.

Two more ways to stop these deadly hazards lurking about roofs are the combination of a warningline system and a safety-monitoring system. But, if a roof is 50 feet or less in width, a safety-monitoring system alone is permitted without warning lines.

 Warninglines:

·      Warningline systems must be set up 6 feet from the edge of the roof.

·      The lowest point, including sag, must be no less than 34 inches from the working surface, with the highest point no more than 39 inches from the working surface.

·      Stanchions, rigged with warning lines, must be able to resist, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds applied horizontally against the stanchion 30 inches above the working surface perpendicular to the warning line and in the direction of the floor, roof, or platform edge.

·      The rope, wire or chain must have a tensile strength of at least 500 pounds and after being attached to the stanchions must support the load applied to the stanchions.

·      The warning line has to be attached to each stanchion in a way that pulling on a section of the line between stanchions, won’t cause any slack in the adjacent section before the stanchion tips over.

·      The line has to be flagged at not more than 6-foot intervals with high-visibility material. Warning lines must be erected around all sides of a work area. When mechanical equipment is used, the warning line must be erected no less than 6 feet from the roof edge parallel to the direction of mechanical equipment operation and no less than 10 feet from the roof edge perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation. When mechanical equipment isn’t used, the warning line must be erected no less than 6 feet from the roof edge.

·      Warning lines must be 34 to 39 inches from the roof surface.

Safety Monitor:

·      A safety monitor must be on the same working level as the workers being monitored.

·      No worker, other than one engaged in roofing work (on low-slope roofs) or one covered by a fallprotection plan shall be allowed in an area where a worker is being protected by a safety-monitoring system.

·      All workers must be instructed to promptly comply with fall-hazard warnings issued by safety monitors. Mechanical equipment may not be used or stored in any area where a safety monitor is being used to monitor workers engaged in roofing work on low-slope roofs.

I’ve used my renowned powers of deduction to determine that these roofing hazards often catch workers unaware. It’s like they’re trying to cover up the dangers they pose. And that is how I found the last clue to catching these roofing hazards before they catch us. It’s covers. When using covers for holes in a roof’s surface, make sure they can support twice the weight of the workers, the equipment and the materials placed on them. 

Our case now comes to a close. It just took basic roofing safety and my brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and my special technique—the clear logic of cause and effect.

Unidentified voice off camera:  But that’s Sherlock Holmes’s special technique, not yours.

William:  See here, it is my special technique. Sherlock copied me.

Unidentified voice off camera:  Are you sure?

William:  Yes, I am as sure of that as I am that I am the greatest detective.

Unidentified voice off camera:  Whatever.

William:  No, it’s not whatever, it’s whodunit. The roofing hazards done it. They are the killer. Falls in the roofing industry kill about 50 workers each year. Roofing hazards must be stopped and we can do that now that we know how.

So, keep a watchful eye…stay on the case…and stay safe.

Safety My Dear Watson - KNIFE SAFETY,

Hello, it’s William Holmes, the worlds greatest detective at you’re your service.

Unidentified Voice off camera:  You mean Sherlock Holmes?

William:  Actually I do not. Sherlock is my younger brother. I am in fact, the world’s greatest detective.

Unidentified Voice off camera: Are you sure?

William:  Quite. And, I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, I take on cases other detectives don’t. I take the hard cases that are much more challenging and dangerous. You see I am a safety detective.

And today I’m on the case of knife safety. Knife hazards can occur any place at work. For instance, let’s say we’re at old Ravenmore manor and Mr. Cutt Thee Mustard is in the kitchen with the knife.

Mr. Cutt Thee Mustard is face to face with sharp, crafty hazards, just waiting for his knife to slip during cutting or trimming the roast beef. And then there is Ms. Plum Pudding, who works with him, she’s clutching a loaf of bread near her chest, and is about to slice off two pieces for a roast beef sandwich. Little does she know, she’s cutting the bread toward her body and is about to feel the cold steel of the knife blade. And, what of Mr. Green Thumb in the conservatory, or as I say, greenhouse, he’s got a pruning knife in hand, innocent enough, but instead of using it to prune a plant, he’s using it for grafting stalks, a job to big for it’s blade. Little does he know that knife is about to turn on him for that, it’s going to slip at any moment. And, then there is Mrs. Peacock Blue. She’s in the library with a knife, opening a new box of books that just came in. She unsuspectingly reaches across the box to cut it open, but all the while she is unknowingly sliding the point of the blade toward herself.

Unless, they catch these dastardly hazards and change the way they’re handling those knives, they will get cut. Sure it might just be a small nick, but just as likely, they could end up with a serious disabling cut.

Don’t make the mistakes Mrs. Peacock Blue, Mr. Pass the Mustard, Mr. Green Thumb and Ms. Plum Pudding are making. Keep your guard up against cutting hazards. 

DO NOT:

Pick up knives by their blades.

Try catching a falling knife.

Use knives with loose or broken handles.

Use knives as an ice pick or can opener.

Leave knives to soak in the sink.

Put your finger on the back of the blade of the knife.

Try to cut more than the knife can handle.

Just use a knife at hand like a pocket knife or some other tool with a sharp edge if you can’t find the knife you need. These could easily slip or you could use them incorrectly.

Use the wrong knife for the task you’re doing. For example, it’s dangerous to use a long, wide knife when cutting a small object like a lemon or lime. For those examples you’d use a paring knife instead.

Store knives in metal or plastic containers.

Use dull knives. A dull knife will cause you to use greater force, which increases your chance of several kinds of injury, such as cuts, amputations, stabbing wounds into your leg, arm or body, and increasing joint and nerve pain from repetitive motions that can be a warning sign of a permanent crippling injury. Using dull knives also makes work more difficult, slower and less inefficient.

The sound of an old fashioned phone ringing –

Just one moment

William picks up the phone

Hello, Oh, hello. How are you?

pause

What?

pause

Well, of course I’m not working with Professor Moriarty on anything.

pause

Why would you say such a thing? 

pause

Really?

pause

Are you going to believe him over your own brother?

pause

What?

pause

Oh, uhm, yes, well that’s true. I told a few clients I was the smart brother.

pause

Because it’s true.

pause

It is so. Mum always said so.

pause

Did too!

pause

Look, I can’t talk about this now, I’m with clients.

pause

Yes, we’ll talk later.

pause

Are we still on for dinner this evening?

pause

At Baker street?

pause

What are we having?

pause

Did you say oysters and a brace of grouse, with a choice white wine?

pause

Who’s cooking?

pause

Oh, Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper?

Pause

Make sure she uses proper knife safety in preparing the meal.

Pause

Well, you need to make sure because as her employer it is your responsibility to train her on knife safety and provide her with a safe environment to work in.

Pause

Well, that’s good then. Okay, I’ll see you at eight.

Pause

Yes. Good Bye.

He hangs up the phone.

I’m sorry, my brother called. We have dinner plans. So, right, where were we then?

Ah, yes. We can put an end to these fiendish knife hazards in old Ravenmore manor, and in all work places if we keep our guard up and:

·      Hold knives with the sharp points and edges facing away from you.

·      When carrying knives, make sure the tips are facing toward the floor 

·      Keep knives in sheaths or knife blocks when not in use. Never store the blades with the cutting edge exposed.

·      Install knife holders on worktables to prevent injuries to employees.

·      Put blade guards or knuckle guards on new knives to protect the employees’ hands from slipping on the table.

·      To pass a knife to someone, place it down on a clean surface and let them pick it up.

·      Clean knives immediately after use or place them in a dishwasher or a container labeled “For Knives Only”

·      Do not talk with co-workers while using a knife. When interrupted, stop cutting and place the knife down on a secure surface.

·      Don’t cut while distracted.

·      Avoid placing knives near the edge of a counter top

·      Always keep cutting tools sharp, never use dull blades.

·      If your job requires frequent knife use, or you’re doing heavy work, like cutting bones, consistently wear protective, cut-resistant clothing, such as gloves, sleeves, or aprons of steel mesh or Kevlar, furnished by the employer, to protect yourself from cuts and punctures.

·      Make sure you and all your coworkers are trained to safely use the various types of knives.

·      Try using ergonomic knives to prevent injuries caused by stress and strain on your wrists.

·      Hold the knife handle with flexibility and firmness following the movements and the pressure of your hand to work safer and more accurately.

·      For utility knives, use the ones with self-retracting blades if they’re available.

·      Try different knives to see what is most convenient to use. Certain tasks require different types of knives.

·      Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes incase a blade breaks.

·      If applicable use a knife with a shielded knife surface or a rounded tip blade.

·      Only sharpen knives if you are an experienced, trained worker. And when sharpening knives, keep your thumb beneath the knuckle guard rim protection on the handle of the sharpener, rather than on top of the rim where it may get cut.

·      Use a damp cloth under a cutting board to prevent movement of the board.

The case now comes to a close. We’ve kept the staff at old Ravenmore manor safe from the blade. It just took basic knife safety and my brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and my special technique—the clear logic of cause and effect.

So, keep a watchful eye…stay on the case…and stay safe.

SAFETY MY DEAR WATSON

Working at night / Extended Unusual Work Shifts.

Hello, William Homes here, at your service.

No. Not Sherlock. Well, yes. I mean, he is my brother. Sherlock is not relevant. Why yes I am a detective but I take special cases.

You see, I, William Holmes, am a Safety detective.

And our case today involves putting to bed some stealthy hazards that are lucking in the dark when we work at night. Well, since you are helping me on the case, I’ll leave the deduction to you. Here is your clue:

Humans are diurnal, not nocturnal.

Biologically we functions best during the day.

And, we sleep best at night. 

So, when would we usually do your best work, day or night?

Right you are. You’re an ace detective all right.

In fact, there is a high rate of on the job accidents that happen on night shifts.

Can you believe these include:

·      The Exxon Valdez oil spill

·      Three Mile Island

·      And Chernobyl

Ugh, I don’t want to be responsible for anything like that! Can you imagine? Sherlock would never let me live that down.

One of the biggest hazards of working at night is that tiresome wrongdoer…Fatigue.

I’ll tell you a secret about Fatigue. It’s a mean one all right but it’ll give you a break, it’ll ease off of you if you just listen to it.

You see when Fatigue catches up to you, all you need to do to outwit it, is to rest. If you rest there and then, Fatigue can’t hurt you. But if you don’t rest at that moment, it gets stronger, even more dangerous and it’ll not only diminish your work performance, it can hurt you.

Here are some of the tricky ways Fatigue gets you:

·       Weariness

·       Sleepiness

·       Irritability

·       A Lack Of Alertness, Concentration And Memory

·       Lack Of Motivation

·       A Stronger Susceptibility To Illness

·       Depression

·       Headache

·       Giddiness

·       A Loss Of Appetite

Fatigue attacks workers as indomitably as any workplace hazard. 

·   Chronic sleep problems, like difficulty sleeping and excessive sleepiness, in 60 to 80% of all shift workers

·   Stomach disorders are four to five times more likely to occur in these employees, who also have increased incidence of peptic ulcers

·  As well as a higher rate of cardiovascular mortality

·  And 80% of shift workers have chronic fatigue

There are also reports of increased divorce rates, and higher uses of drugs and alcohol.

Getting a good day’s sleep when you work the midnight shift or extended shifts is the easiest way to put these issues to bed. But how much sleep so we need?

Well, that’s been thoroughly investigated, and medical researchers deduced that the average person needs eight hours of sleep. However, sleeping needs differ slightly per person. And, there are other factors that affect our sleep:

·  Age

·  Gender

·  Medication

·  Stress

·  Level Of Physically Fitness

Here are some ways workers on unusual shifts can get a good day’s sleep:

·  Tell your family and friends you sleep in the daytime so they won’t disturb you in then.  If they’re suspicious that you may be a vampire, don’t worry about it. Vampires are very popular. A rumor like that could be a great boost to your social standing. I spread that same rumor about Sherlock, and you see how popular he is. Though, it may not be a rumor. My brother could actually be a vampire. I’m serious. He’s pretty weird.

·  Another thing you might try is turning your phone off so it won’t ring and wake you up.

·  Also, create a dark, dark, cool, quiet sleeping area—try using blackout curtains or a sleeping mask.

·  For some people split sleeping works well — sleep in three to four hour shifts immediately before and immediately after a night shift.

·  On at least one of your off days, try staying up to 3 or 4 AM and sleeping until 10 or 11 AM

·  Don’t drink anything with Caffeine 4 hours before bedtime

·  Get enough exercise, that’s a big help in adjusting to shift work and extended hours

The sound of an old fashioned phone ringing –

Just one moment

William picks up the phone

Hello, Oh, Sherlock, how are you?

Pause

Oh, you just want to talk?

Pause

Well, I’m really quite busy right now.

Pause

Actually, brother, Safety Detectives are often quite busy.

Pause

Well, if you must know, I’m working on stopping the next Chernobyl.

Pause

Well, if you knew anything about safety, you would know that comment makes perfect sense.

Pause

What do you mean you’re bored? Don’t you have a case to work on?

Pause

You don’t want to work, you just want to talk? That’s awfully peculiar of you.

Pause

What do you mean Watson won’t talk to you?  Pause

Oh, he’s not there. Well, where is he?

Pause

Sleeping. This time of day?

Pause

Oh he was up all night on a stake out. Oh, at old Ravenmore manor.

Pause

A cat bugler? After the Earl’s famous purple Diamond? You don’t say?

Pause

Did he catch him?

Pause

What do you mean, you caught him?

Pause

You were up all night on the stake out also?

Pause

No wonder you’re so cranky. You need to get to bed immediately.

Pause

I do not sound just like mum.

Pause

Of course you need sleep. That is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said.

Pause

Brother, you are another Chernobyl just waiting to happen.

Pause

I do know what I’m speaking about.

Pause

Yes, get in bed and when you wake up, I want you to get some exercise.

Pause

A jog would be perfect. Call me and I’ll join you, but only after you’ve gotten a good days’ rest.

Pause

Glad to hear it. I’ll talk to you later. Good-bye and sleep tight.

He hangs up the phone.

I’m sorry about that, but my brother needs to get some sleep. So, then, where were we?

Ah, yes, another danger in working at night or extended shifts are late shift work concerns such as a higher motor vehicle crash risk and prolonged exposure to hazards. Some others are:

•Loss of visibility

•Work quality

Staffing issues

•Cost – labor, materials, traffic control

•Logistics, supervision

•Worker & driver alertness

•Impaired drivers

•Higher speeds

•Driver confusion

•Work space intrusions

•Irresponsible worker behavior

There are added dangers for those working on roads or in construction at night. But we can combat them with:

•       Effective signs

•       Visible workers

•       Visible work vehicles and equipment

•       Effective temporary lighting

In addition Class 3 workers, like flaggers, roadway construction workers, utility survey crews, and emergency responders, etc., need to wear retroreflective high visibility apparel that meets the American National Standers Institute/International Safety Equipment Association. In addition you can protect these night workers by:

•       Using a lighting plan that provide temporary lighting with adequate illumination, and glare control. This will boost your employees’ moral, safety, quality, and productivity.

And protect Flaggers from nighttime working hazards by:

·  Providing temporary illumination for flagging stations.

·  Supplementing permanent roadway lighting.

·  Avoiding glare, shadows, backlighting

·      And using floodlight towers or other overhead luminaries.

So the case now comes to a close on the shadowy hazards of working at night and extended or unusual shifts. It just took my brilliant skills of deduction, keen observation, and my special technique—the clear logic of cause and effect.

So, keep a watchful eye…stay on the case…and stay safe.