OSHA requires employers to identify and protect against breathing hazards. Engineering controls are the preferred form of protection, e.g., ventilation, using less toxic measures, and enclosing operations that create air contaminants. When air measurements reveal that engineering controls haven’t brought air hazards to safe levels, employers must provide employees with...
Your respirator may be the most important tool of your job. It protects your most precious asset— your health. Yet, more often than not, respirators find their way to the bottom of tool bags where they become damaged and/or very dirty inside and out. Both of these conditions compromise the...
Air that’s contaminated or lacks oxygen can be very harmful to your health. Inhaling chemical vapors, gases, or fumes and dust can irritate and even seriously damage the lungs, respiratory systems, or other organs, sometimes fatally. Lack of oxygen can cause death in minutes. Wear the respirator designed to protect...
Air that’s contaminated or lacks oxygen can be very harmful to your health. Inhaling chemical vapors, gases, or fumes and dust can irritate and even seriously damage the lungs, respiratory systems, or other organs, sometimes fatally. Respirator Basics: Respirators must always be inspected prior to donning. The inspection should check...
Nearly every type of work or occupation has the potential for causing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Factors that Contribute to the Development of WMSDs Include: Force – the strength to perform a task; Repetition – the frequency or number of times a task is performed during a shift; Posture – positioning...
‘Ergonomics’ literally means “the rules of human strength.” Engineers interested in the design of work environments originated the word in the 1950s. Today, the purpose of ergonomics in the workplace is to create a better match between workers, the work they perform, and the equipment they use. A good match...
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. Most workers take good hearing for granted. Hearing loss can...
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. Here’s How to Protect Your Hearing: Reduce the noise reaching...
About 100 workers are killed each year as a result of forklift accidents. Basic Forklift Safety Practices: Here are a few common safety rules to follow during forklift operation: Use the seat belt. It will keep you secured in the seat in the event of a tip over. A parked forklift...
Forklifts are excellent labor-saving devices. They save time and reduce the likelihood of injury associated with manual material handling activities. However, forklifts can become very dangerous if operated by a reckless or untrained operator. All operators should receive safety training prior to being allowed to operate a forklift. Forklift accidents...