Lifting Safely Back injuries can be extremely painful and long-lasting. They can keep you in bed for extended periods of time and they may occasionally even require surgery. For some people, back pain doesn’t really ever go away. Back strains and injuries can happen anywhere, but a great many of...
Housekeeping for Safety Lack of proper housekeeping on the job is one safety hazard common to all construction projects until after final cleanup. Good housekeeping is one item that can help improve not only the safety on the job, but also the morale and productivity of the job. Housekeeping is...
Eye and Face Protection Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. No matter where we work, flying particles, dusts, splashes, or flying objects are apt to expose us to potential eye injury. Fortunately, we can protect against these hazards by using the appropriate protective eyewear for...
Rigging Safety Rigging is a critical part of construction work. Rigging is used to lift heavy materials to heights with cranes and other devices. Riggers also act as signalmen. Improper rigging of a load or a rigging failure can expose riggers and other workers nearby to a variety of potential...
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Safety Individuals who are infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) may not show symptoms and may not know they are infectious. For this reason, all human blood and body fluids should be considered as if infectious, and all precautions should be taken...
Fuel Transfer and Static Electricity Safety Some workers may not be aware of this, but static electricity can become a huge threat in the workplace, especially when working on or around fueling operations. If there is a discharge of static electricity while fuel is being dispensed, there is a possibility...
Welding Galvanized Steel Safely One of the most significant health hazards in the welding process is the generation of fumes and gases. Do you weld on galvanized metals? Zinc is the coating used on galvanized metals and, when you heat the metal, it produces vaporized metal droplets, which are called...
New Hazard Communication Requirements In May of 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it was revising the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The revision aligns HCS with the United Nations’ global chemical labeling system or Global Harmonization System (GHS). The alignment will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and...
Working Safely with Corrosives Corrosive materials are present in almost any workplace, either by themselves or contained in other products, such as cleaning agents. Common acid corrosives include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, and nitric acid. Common alkaline/bases include ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Cement...
Portable Grinder Safety Portable grinding wheels are designed to operate at very high speeds. If a grinding wheel shatters while in use, the fragments can travel over 300 miles per hour. The potential for serious injury, material damage, and other losses from these shooting fragments is great. To ensure that...