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...
Noise is unwanted sound that can affect job performance, safety, and your health. Psychological effects of noise include annoyance and disruption of concentration. Physical effects include loss of hearing, pain, nausea, and interference with communications when the exposure is severe. Hearing protection is essential when noise exposures can’t be controlled...
Solvents are so common in many work places that workers forget how dangerous they are. A solvent can be generally described as a substance, usually a liquid, that is used to dissolve another substance. Although solvents can be used safely, health problems can result from skin contact with solvents or...
Confined spaces can present conditions that are immediately dangerous to workers if not properly identified, evaluated, tested, and controlled. OSHA has developed a new construction standard for Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA)— any space that meets the following three criteria: • Is large enough for a worker to...
The holidays are one of the most festive, and therefore, most decorated times of year. It is during this brief period of time that we literally deck the halls with as many lights and decorations as we can stand. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also one of the busiest for...
The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Many accidents could be avoided if drivers took time to learn and practice these tips for driving safely during snowy and icy conditions. Perhaps the deadliest danger of all is “black ice.” Black ice is ice that forms on...
Every single year there are 735,000 Americans who suffer heart attacks, according to the CDC. Out of that number, 525,000 of them are first time heart attack victims. Heart disease and heart attacks are an unfortunate reality in our country. There is a good chance that sometime in your lifetime...
Anyone who operates, cleans, services, adjusts, and repairs machinery or equipment should be aware of the hazards associated with that machinery. Any powered machinery or electrical equipment that can move in a way that would put people in danger is a hazard that can be prevented by following locking or...
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, there were 1,480 workplace injuries from electrical shock and 1,100 injuries caused by contact with electric current that resulted in burns. The most common electric shock hazard, ground faults, can cause severe electrical shock or electrocution. In...
A hazard is defined as an incident, a thing likely to cause injury, a chance of being injured or harmed, or a possible source of danger. Hazards are present on every jobsite. They include falls, flying debris, lacerations, electrical, confined spaces, noise, use of tools, fire, illumination, scaffolds, ladders, aerial...