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...
Unplanned release of a chemical can have devastating effects. Skin and eye burns, damage to the lungs, fire and explosion, corrosive damage to materials, pollution of air, soil, and water, and danger to the public are just some of the possible consequences of a chemical spill. Chemical spills can be...
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms, normally carried in infected blood and bodily fluids, that can cause diseases, some fatal, such as Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. Bloodborne pathogens must find a direct route of entry into the body for infection to be possible. Bodily fluids can also splash...
Working outside in the winter can be a dirty job, but many of us have to do it. Are you ready for winter work? Anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk of cold stress. Prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures may cause serious health problems such...
Safety with Power Tools 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...
Electric Pallet Jack Safety 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...
Compactor and Baler Safety Compacting and baling machines have uses in many industries, but are involved in a number of fatalities and serious injuries. Often, lack of proper lockout/tagout procedures is to blame. Many workers have been killed while attempting to clear a jam from an operating compactor or inadvertently...
Compactor and Baler Safety Compacting and baling machines have uses in many industries, but are involved in a number of fatalities and serious injuries. Many workers have been killed while attempting to clear a jam from an operating compactor, or inadvertently activating equipment that was not properly de-energized. Safety precautions:...
Automated External Defibrillators According to OSHA there are 220,000 victims of sudden cardiac arrest per year in the United States. Of these, about 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur in the workplace. Are you prepared to save someone’s life in these instances? Waiting on emergency personnel to arrive only results in...