No matter whether our work activities take us outdoors or indoors, we can be at risk from being stung by flying insects like bees, wasps, hornets. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH publication 2010-117), stings from these flying insects may result in severe allergic reactions...
What is a blind spot? It is the area around a vehicle, or any piece of equipment, that is not readily visible or noticeable to the vehicle operator, either by a direct line-sight view or using any internal or even externally placed mirrors. Problems with blind spots are mainly found...
In construction activities, nail guns have replaced the common hammers in wood framing. They are very easy to operate device and powerful. They boost productivity for most nailing tasks. But nail guns are still a leading cause of injury among residential carpenters and are responsible for an estimated 37,00 emergency...
Did you know the tick exposure can occur year-round? Ticks seem to be more active during the warmer months of the year (i.e., April through September, according to the Center of Disease Control. Prepare Before Going Outdoors Where to expect ticks: Ticks live in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas, or...
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Every year mosquitoes affect people and, it seems, every year more and more viruses and parasites are directly related to mosquito bites, e.g., Zika, Dengue, West Nile Virus, and Dirofilariasis (dog heartworm). Overseas travelers should be prepared to prevent mosquito bites because...
Venomous spiders, including Black Widows and Brown Recluses, can be found in the United States. These spiders can be dangerous to workers; they are often found both inside and outside workplaces. Spiders are usually not aggressive, and most spider bites occur because the spider becomes trapped or unintentionally touched. It...
Whenever you operate a powder-actuated tool (PAT), safe work practices must always be followed. These tools are designed to drive nails or other fastening devices into material such as concrete, steel, and masonry, which are not easily penetrated. These devices use explosive charges similar to a firearm. Since the charge...
Mobile woodchippers chop up branches and trunk pieces from tree trimming operations. Workers feed materials through a hopper where the materials are grabbed by a feed mechanism. The materials then pass under rotating chipper knives moving at rates of 1,000 and 2,000 rpm until the tiny pieces are discharged out...
Overhead shop cranes move heavy items in manufacturing and production areas. Although shop cranes are useful, “overhead” can sometimes be “out of sight and out of mind” when it comes to safety. Workers need training on crane hazards and operation, and they should never forget the safety hazards moving overhead....
Drug abuse is spinning out of control in today’s American workplaces. Upwards of ten percent of all employees have problems with chemical dependency. Substance abuse and/or addiction in the workplace is extensive, affecting every industry at all employee levels, and is a situation that will not solve itself. Any person...