Electricity is essential to daily operations in nearly every workplace, from offices and warehouses to construction sites and manufacturing facilities. While it powers productivity, it also presents serious hazards when not handled properly. Electrical incidents can result in shocks, burns, fires, or even fatalities. Promoting electrical safety in the workplace...
If you look up the word ‘toxic’ in most any dictionary, you’ll find that it means “poisonous.” Most people want nothing to do with poisonous materials, but many people work with them every day. In fact, toxic materials have thousands of uses in industry. Many of the benefits we enjoy,...
Chainsaws are an efficient and productive portable power tool used in many industries. They are also potentially dangerous if not used correctly and carefully. Proper operation and maintenance greatly reduce the risk for injury when using chainsaws. Any tool powerful enough to slice through wood can do the same to...
Batteries are used to power our automobiles, trucks, tractors, and construction or power equipment. There are different types of batteries such as lead-acid batteries, gel cells, and lead-calcium batteries. Most batteries contain sulfuric acid and lead. Because batteries contain chemicals, chemical reaction by-products, and an electrical current they can pose...
Hard hats are commonly used in many types of workplaces to protect employees from head trauma caused by falling objects, striking their head against an object, or electrical hazards. The hard hat is a piece of personal protective equipment designed to individually protect an employee when all other methods of...
Conveyors are used to transport materials horizontally, vertically, at an angle, or around curves. Hazards depend on the type of conveyer, the material conveyed, the location of the conveyor, and how close the conveyer is to workers. Conveyors eliminate or reduce manual material handling tasks, but they introduce amputation hazards...
Corrosive materials are present in almost any workplace, either by themselves or contained in other products, such as cleaning agents. Materials with corrosive properties can be either acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH). Common acid corrosives include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, and nitric acid. Common alkaline/bases include...
Industrial drums of any size pose a significant workplace risk for anyone employed in warehousing or material handling occupations. With the average 55-gallon drum weighing between 400-600 lbs., manually transporting, decanting, or otherwise handling drums is not only physically demanding, but a potentially dangerous task for any worker. In the...
H2S is a colorless, flammable, explosive and highly toxic gas. It may have a rotten egg odor, but it can also become odorless because it deadens your sense of smell, and you may not notice it after prolonged or repeated exposure. H2S can be found in many industries, including the...
Fire can be one of our deadliest enemies. It can mutilate us, kill us, and destroy in a few minutes what took a lifetime to build. Fire can take away our workplaces and our jobs. How can fires be stopped? The answer is prevention. However, to prevent fires, we must...