An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface formed by earth removal. A trench (trench excavation) is a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width...
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...
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, if it is used appropriately, and its limitations are understood. A fume hood is a ventilated enclosure in which gas, vapors, and fumes are...
Hearing protection devices (HPDs) such as earmuffs and earplugs can be an effective measure to protect hearing in noisy work environments. However, hearing protection devices are only effective if they are properly sized and carefully fitted into or over the ear. There are several common types of hearing protection devices:...
Hearing loss is the No. 1 sensory disability in the world. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. Whether you work at a sports venue, on a tarmac, or operating a jackhammer – hearing loss is...
Electric pallet jacks make quick work of moving loads around the workplace. Pallet jacks protect your back from strains and injuries by moving heavy and awkward loads and objects that would be unsafe to lift manually. But, as with any powered tool, if used improperly, electric pallet jacks can become...
Did you know that over 2/3 of all accidents involve housekeeping in some way, shape, or form? Approximately 2.5 million disabling injuries happen in the service industry every year with a cost of over 100 billion dollars. In recent years OSHA has issued more than 1,100 citations for violations of...
Electrical extension cords are responsible for thousands of injuries each year, resulting hospital emergency room visits. Many of these injuries, fractures, lacerations, contusion, or sprains, involve people just tripping over an extension cord. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords...
Safety signs are too important to be ignored. They provide us with vital hazard information in several 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...
With the fall and winter holidays approaching, we should give some thought to activities that include both indoor and outdoor decorating. It is the time of year that we literally place lights and decorations on every place we can put them. Unfortunately, this wonderful, festive time of decoration is also...