Amputations are some of the most serious workplace injuries and have long-lasting consequences impacting quality of life. Amputations can be caused by a variety of activities and equipment and occur most often when workers operate unguarded or inadequately safeguarded machinery. Dangerous Machinery Machinery that poses amputation risks includes mechanical power...
There are dangers inherent in working with or around tubular and compact fluorescent bulbs. These kinds of bulbs contain small amounts of metal mercury sealed inside. Metallic mercury poses health risks from both skin exposure/contact and inhalation of mercury vapor into the lungs. Metal mercury is liquid at room temperature...
Every Belt – Every Ride In 2004, a campaign called “Every Belt – Every Ride” was launched by OSHA in conjunction with the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the NHTSA). The main object of the campaign was to encourage federal workers to wear seatbelts every time they ride in...
OHSA and the EPA encourage employers to conduct a root cause analysis when an incident or near miss occurs to investigate the reason why it happened, and to prevent a similar occurrence from happening again. A root cause analysis allows an employer to discover the underlying and systemic causes of...
Workers in construction are at risk for exposure to crystalline silica, a common mineral found in construction materials like concrete, brick, mortar, sand, and stone. If you have ever seen a sidewalk being jackhammered, and concrete dust blowing in the air, you have probably seen respirable crystalline silica. When workers...
A “whistleblower” is a person who informs about illegal, unsafe, or unhealthy activities that another person, group, company, or organization is doing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has a Whistleblower Protection Program that enforces the provisions of more than 20 laws protecting employees from retaliation for reporting workplace...
Although we’ve seen it in the cartoons and in the movies a million times, not many people actually slip on banana peels. But while the results may produce a few chuckles in the theater, falls are nothing to laugh at. In fact, some estimates put the number of disabling injuries...
If you’ve ever been the first one on the scene at an automobile accident or have been working next to someone who had a traumatic injury at work, then you know how important it is to know what to do. So often in the stress of the situation we forget...
Pinch points are places where a body part or a piece of clothing can get caught up in machinery, between equipment or between a lid and a container when closing. Pinch point injuries can be very serious, resulting in the loss of limbs or even death. Each year, workers suffer...
In the workplace, ‘good housekeeping’ is the term used for keeping the worksite clean and free of hazards that can cause injury. This isn’t just a matter of appearances – it is a safety issue. There are, of course, many advantages to good housekeeping. A neat, clean workplace makes it...