Benzene Safety Benzene is acutely toxic if absorbed through the skin or if the vapors are inhaled. Symptoms of exposure to high concentrations of benzene vapors include euphoria, giddiness, breathlessness, and irritability. It may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. Contact may also bring on a headache,...
Respirator Protection Respiratory hazards in the workplace should be controlled whenever possible using engineering, work practice, or administrative controls. However, if these controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employees may need to utilize respiratory protection. Respirator Basics: Respirators must always be inspected prior to donning. o...
Emergency Eye Wash and Deluge Showers Let’s hope you never need one, but if you do let’s hope it’s clean and accessible. If you get foreign particles in your eyes or a chemical spill on your body, an emergency eyewash station or deluge shower is the most important initial step...
Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide poisoning in the workplace can be a serious problem. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death if it goes unnoticed in the air. It has been called the “silent killer” because without the proper safety equipment,...
Safety Signs Safety signs provide us with vital hazard information in a number of ways; through colors, words, and pictures. Signs tell you where the hazards are and how to protect against the danger. Safety signs come in all sizes, colors, and shapes. Knowing what these signs mean and following...
Power Tool Safety Accidents involving portable power tools happen all the time. You’ve all heard of cases where a chip flew off a drill and hit someone’s eye, or of someone getting a shock because a tool had a faulty ground. And then there’s the person who lost a finger...
Safe Storage and Disposal of Oil or Solvent-Soaked Rags The accumulation of oil or solvent-soaked rags in the normal daily function of a shop or manufacturing environment can be a major safety issue. Oil-soaked rags are a spontaneous combustion hazard because as the oil oxidizes, heat is released. If the...
Pinch Point Safety Each year workers suffer approximately 125,000 caught or crushed injuries that occur when body parts get caught between two objects or entangled with machinery. These hazards are also referred to as “pinch points.” The physical forces applied to a body part caught in a pinch point can...
Heat Disorders – Dehydration Hot conditions put your body under a lot of stress. Physical activity stresses the body even more. When heat is combined with physical activity, loss of fluids, fatigue, and other conditions can lead to a number of heat- related illnesses and injuries. Death is even possible....
Handling 55-Gallon Drums Safely With the average 55-gallon drum weighing between 400-600 pounds, manually transporting, decanting, or otherwise handling drums is not only physically demanding, but also a potentially dangerous task for any worker. Risk Factors: At least four serious injuries can occur if a 55-gallon drum is not handled...