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 lb., manually transporting, decanting, or otherwise handling drums is not only physically demanding, but a potentially dangerous task for any workers. In the...
If you look up the word ‘toxic’ in most any dictionary, you’ll find that it means “poisonous.” Most people want nothing 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, such...
There is absolutely no reason for anybody to get hurt, disabled, or killed while using a ladder. Yet it happens every day. Somebody steps on the safety sticker that says, “This is not a step!” and ends up with a broken leg. Another worker puts a ruck under one of...
Are you using a red plastic gas can? If so, you may be living with a ticking time bomb. Deadly explosions causing catastrophic burn injuries and deaths are occurring across America due to the absence of a flame arrester in the canister. Gasoline is an extremely flammable liquid fuel. It...
At times, workers may be required to work in hot environments for long periods. When the human body is unable to maintain a normal temperature, heat illnesses can occur and may even result in death. It is also important to consider that hot work environments may exist indoors. Workers exposed...
Compressed air is present across just about every industry. Companies use compressed air for many applications, from running huge equipment to powering simple air tools. Compressed air is a valuable utility, and it is a safe power source when used properly. As with any other energy carrying power source however,...
Man-lifts and scissors lifts are two pieces of equipment that many workers cannot imagine working without. This equipment, if used correctly, provides quick and safe access to work areas that at one time could only be reached from scaffolding or a crane’s man-basket. These lifts, collectively called “Aerial Work Platforms,”...
Back injuries are the most common injury in the workplace and the cause of most missed work time. An injury can be caused by strain, spasm, or sprain to the ligaments or muscles of the back. This can happen due to lifting something that’s too heavy or overextending (overstretching) the...
Employees often bring their cell phones to work, a choice that could potentially cause numerous hazards on the job. Cell phones can be a dangerous distraction in the workplace. Just like other workplace distractions such as horseplay and chattering with coworkers, cell phones can cause us to lose focus on...