Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Noise isn’t just loud and annoying on the job. It can be a safety and health problem as well—a problem OSHA requires you to do something about. Understanding and applying OSHA standards is at the heart of any safety and health program. When the safety issue is hearing conservation, the standard you need to understand […]
OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178) establishes safety requirements relating to the design, maintenance, and use of forklifts as well as the training and evaluation of forklift operators. Compliance with the regulations, however, often raises important questions. Here are some that have been fielded by BLR’s safety experts. Does OSHA require a specific […]
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among workers in the United States. OSHA does not have specific regulations covering motor vehicle safety, but our Safety Training Tips Editor offers these tips for keeping your employees safe while traveling to or from work . Encourage employees to take these precautions when commuting by […]
Yesterday, we talked about the hazards of compressed gases. Today, we look at the precautions your employees need to take when handling and storing compressed gas cylinders. You just can’t be too careful with compressed gases. And when you have a high standard of care, you also need a high standard of training to ensure […]
Compressed gas cylinders in the wrong hands can be killers. They have the potential to burn, explode, or release toxic vapors. Don’t wait for an accident to wake the sleeping giant in your workplace. Train employees now about compressed gas safety. Compressed gas cylinders may look perfectly safe to your workers, the gas all contained […]
MSDSs provide essential safety and health information about the chemicals in your workplace. But they can only do their job and help protect against chemical hazards if employees actually use them. The MSDS should be the main resource employees rely on when they have questions about chemical hazards and precautions. But do they actually consult […]
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requires you to have an MSDS for every hazardous chemical in your workplace, ensure employee access to MSDSs, and train employees to use them effectively to protect their safety and health. Rudimentary forms of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) have been available since the 19th century. Some experts trace their […]
OSHA says that most electrical servicing and repair tasks should be limited to workers who have been fully trained on electrical hazards and procedures. Today our Safety Training Tips editor tells you what the rest of your workers need to know about electrical safety. Who’s “unqualified”? Because of the potential for fatal accidents when electricity […]
Yesterday we talked about paint hazards and safety training requirements. Today we continue with a look at some specific training points. The chemicals that help make paint flow, set, and dry effectively, or that make painted surfaces smooth or durable, can create health and safety problems that can have a dangerous impact on your workplace […]
Even the most common substances can be hazardous if they’re used without taking commonsense precautions. While paint is not a particularly high-risk substance, it does contain ingredients that can cause health and safety problems. And certain types of paints, such as those containing polyisocyanates, are even more hazardous. Although OSHA doesn’t single out paint as […]