We don’t often think of mental health as a workplace safety issue, but it is. When workers are struggling, it impacts their health and safety. It may be surprising that the construction industry has one of the highest occupational rates of suicide in the United States. In this industry, in...
A chemical fume hood is critical in a lab. A well-designed hood, when properly installed and maintained, offers a large degree of protection to the user, provided that it is used appropriately, and its limitations are understood. When Using a Fume Hood: Never allow your head to enter the plane...
We all hope we never need an eyewash station, but if an accident should happen, we want the station to be clean and accessible. If a foreign particle enters the eyes, an emergency eyewash station is the most important initial step in first-aid treatment. Chemical burns to the eye are...
There’s one hand tool that demands your respect over many others in the workplace, a tool that can cut you to the bone in and instant….the utility knife. In fact, nearly one-third of all injuries attributed to manual workshop tools in the US involve knives with retractable blades. Accidents Involving...
Many people have been seriously injured or killed by machinery and electrical equipment. Often, these tragedies happen because people carelessly try to repair or maintain the equipment without making sure its energy source has been shut off. Common Causes of Accidents: The machine or piece of equipment was not completely...
Welding is a routine job on many worksites. However, this common task has hazards that can result in serious injury and property damage. Welding operators, as well as bystanders, can be directly affected by these hazards. Fires on industrial sites are caused by a variety of activities including welding or...
We travel a lot during the holidays. Traveling often includes sitting for periods of time, waiting, or driving or flying to our destinations. According to the CDC, the act of sitting for a long time without getting up and moving, or walking around, can increase the probability of blood pooling...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. How Germs...
Knowing which route to take during an emergency is important. So is talking to employees about possible situations in which they might need to escape and muster in a planned location. Everyone should be prepared for an evacuation emergency, even if it does not seem likely to happen. Fire drills...
Ethylene Oxide is a flammable, colorless gas with a faintly sweet odor that smells like ether at toxic levels. Above its boiling point of 51.3°F, it is a gas, but below that temperature it is a liquid. It is mainly used to make other chemicals. Large amounts are used in...