If you operate, clean, service, adjust, or repair machinery and equipment, be aware of the hazards to which you are exposing yourself. Powered equipment could put you in danger, something that can be prevented through lockout/tagout/tryout procedures. Before working on or near any energized equipment, perform an inspection of the...
It is important to understand how occupational hearing loss can occur and how it can be prevented. Occupational hearing loss can occur when you are exposed to loud noise or ototoxic chemicals while at work. Noise is considered loud (hazardous) when it reaches 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) or higher. A-...
We expose our eyes to increasing amounts of artificial blue light every day when we use our electronic devices, like a tablet, smartphone, laptop, flat screen TVs, and other digital devices. They all have one thing in common, they each will give off blue light. The colors in the visible...
Arc Flash is a type of electrical explosion/discharge resulting from a connection through air to ground or another voltage phase in an electrical system (i.e., when a wire contacts a grounding system). The temperatures at the source of an arc flash can reach 20,000 degrees Celsius (36,032 degrees Fahrenheit) –...
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...
Many workplaces contain spaces that are “confined” because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter into, work in, or exit from them. In many instances, employees who work in confined spaces also face increased risk of exposure to serious physical injury from hazards such as entrapment, engulfment,...
DRPGMs are designed to alert workers to toxic gases, oxygen-deficient, combustible atmospheres existing in workplace environments. Some examples of these include permit-required confined spaces, manholes, and other enclosed spaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require the use of gas monitors for permit-required confined spaces, hazardous waste operations,...
Each year many people are injured or blinded by work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the use of properly selected eye and face protection. No one goes to work expecting to damage or lose their eyesight. Yet, an estimated 2,000 workplace eye injuries that require medical attention...
Backover incidents are not infrequent in the workplace. They occur when a vehicle is in the action of backing up and strikes or runs over a worker who is standing, walking, or kneeling behind the vehicle. These incidents can be prevented. How Do Backover Incidents Occur? The reality is that...
In industry, we typically have a warehouse where we receive products and goods, and from which we ship production items. Warehouse workers can face many kinds of hazards, but with proper design considerations, planning, and training these hazards can be controlled and warehouse work remain safe. Warehouses often contain a...