Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Yesterday we looked at the continuing threat posed by tuberculosis (TB), the occupations most at risk of infection, and some steps you can take to help prevent the spread of this disease in your workplace. Today we’ll look at policies you can implement to protect your workers against all communicable diseases. While TB is one […]
Tuberculosis (TB) kills almost 2 million people a year worldwide. While U.S. TB rates have declined, the threat is real. Here are some tips for preventing its spread in your workplace. If you think of tuberculosis (TB) as a disease of your parent’s or grandparent’s generations, or as a present-day threat only in third-world countries, […]
On Wednesday and Thursday, we looked at ways to protect workers’ skin from chemical and other workplace hazards. Today our Safety Training Tips editor discusses the importance of reading — and understanding — chemical warning labels. OSHA requires labels on chemical containers. The Hazard Communication Standard requires chemical manufacturers and distributors to label chemical containers […]
Yesterday we saw how frequent hand washing may lead to a higher incidence of contact dermatitis (an irritation of the skin caused by chemicals). We turn now to the larger issue of skin protection in general, and look at a resource that explains your legal obligations as well as best practices for limiting occupational skin […]
“Wash your hands!” your mom exhorted. And now you, as a safety professional, probably preach that to your workforce – you know that good hand hygiene is a fundamental of workplace safety. But where do you draw the line? In the healthcare setting, frequent hand washing is essential to prevent the spread of potentially serious […]
Yesterday we looked at the safety measures outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147. Control of Hazardous Energy—better known as OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard). Today we’ll delve into the training requirements of that standard. The importance of lockout/tagout (LOTO) training cannot be overemphasized. Consider: Compliance with the LOTO standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each […]
It’s easy to assume that machines are safe once they have been shut down. But that assumption often leads to tragedy. Here are some key aspects of OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard that can help safeguard your workforce Veteran safety professionals know that simply turning off or unplugging a machine before maintenance, repairs, or retooling is not […]
Let’s face it – the workforce is aging. Our Safety Training Tips editor provides some tips for keeping older workers motivated – and safe. Look around your workplace and chances are you’ll see more photos of grandchildren on desks and at workstations than ever before. All those late middle-aged and older workers need training and […]
Today we look at the training requirements of OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, and at a tool that can help you meet those training mandates. Yesterday’s Advisor reviewed the surprisingly large number of occupations and tasks that entail risks from bloodborne pathogens (BBPs). We looked at measures you can take to limit your employees’ exposure to […]
The dangers of bloodborne pathogens extend far beyond the realms of health care and emergency response. Here’s what OSHA says you must do to protect your workforce. Regular readers of this column know that we harp on the fact that the dangers of bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) are not limited to healthcare workers. Many other employees […]