Flammable liquids are those with a flash point of less than 100 degrees Celsius. This is the lowest point at which the liquid produces enough vapor to form a flammable mixture with air. Red labels that also contain a fire symbol are used to identify flammable liquids. Flammable liquid vapors...
Foot protection means guarding your toes, ankles and feet from injury. Believe it or not, your feet have 26 bones for support and 38 joints for movement in each foot. Feet also have blood vessels, ligaments, muscles, and nerves, which is why it hurts when you stub your toe or...
Failing to properly use and maintain electric-powered tools causes thousands of cuts, punctures, pinches, amputations, and electrocutions each year. Tools can seriously injure or kill the user if not properly maintained or used. Everyone who uses tools must learn to recognize the hazards associated with the different types of tools...
There is absolutely no reason for anybody to get hurt, disabled, or killed while using a ladder. Yet it happens every single 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 rock under one...
In the workplace, ‘good housekeeping’ is the term used for keeping the worksite clean, neat, and free of hazards that can cause injury. This isn’t just a matter of appearances – it’s a serious safety issue. In fact, we can easily earn OSHA’s “seal of disapproval” – a citation for...
It used to be thought that only children were exposed to lead poisoning hazards which occurred mostly from eating lead-based paint chips from doors or windows in the home. This is no longer the case. Studies conducted over the past few years now suggest many adults are exposed to lead...
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 co-workers. Cell phones can cause us to lose focus on...
Air Sampling is required for two distinct purposes: evaluation of the hazards of the permit space and verification that acceptable conditions exist for entry into that space. A confined space is one that is large enough to enter and perform assigned work in. It has limited or restricted ways to...
What are the best ways to prevent cold stress injuries and illnesses, and what is the best clothing to wear in cold environments? Cold stress isn’t just a hazard for outdoor workers. Anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk for cold stress. This could include an indoor...
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...