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Arc Flash Protection: What Does OSHA Require?

By Ana Ellington, Legal Editor A number of OSHA standards are cited in relation to arc flash hazards. The NFPA 70E national consensus standard is a comprehensive standard that contains detailed information on how to protect workers from arc flashes. Employers must consider and adopt NFPA 70E when employees work on an electrical system. NFPA […]

Managing Aerosol Cans: Safe Use in the Workplace

It’s very likely that you use aerosol cans at your facility. They are pervasive in workplaces and in society as a whole. However, aerosol cans present significant environmental and safety hazards. We’ll take a look at some of these concerns and also offer some tips to reduce the use of aerosols.

Chemical protective mask

How to Calculate PELs for Air Contaminants

To protect workers from harmful exposures to air contaminants, you have to be able to calculate exposure limits accurately. Here is a review of the formulas used to calculate PELs. OSHA has developed 470 PELs (permissible exposure limits) for various forms of approximately 300 chemical substances. The PELs provide numeric standards that determine how long […]

Traffic cones at a worksite

Types of OSHA Citations and How Much They Cost

OSHA issues different types of citations, depending on the nature and severity of the violation. Penalties are proposed based on the type of violation. If you receive OSHA citations following an inspection, penalties may vary depending on the type of violations. Note, however, that in settling a penalty, OSHA says it has a policy of […]

But It Wasn’t Flammable Before! GHS Changed the Meaning of ‘Flammable Liquids’

A chemical that meets the definition of “flammable” requires special precautions in handling, use, transfer, and storage. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has changed the definition of “flammable” throughout its general industry and construction standards to align them with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Most employers […]

8 Core Elements of a Safety Culture

A safety culture is an essential element of an safe and productive workplace. A successful safety culture is based on 8 core elements. The term “safety culture” reflects the commitment of personnel to safety at all levels of the organization. Safety culture has been defined in a variety of ways, such as: “The way we […]

Long Hair, Loose Clothing, and Hazardous Equipment: A Deadly Combination

Two recent fatalities highlight the risk of entanglements involving hazardous equipment. No one knows for certain why Michael Smith was trying to go up the down escalator at the Powell Street BART station in San Francisco on April 19, just as no one knows what caused him to fall. But once his hair and clothing […]

5 Steps Employees Can Take to Improve Safety Performance and Prevent Accidents

Improving safety performance and preventing workplace accidents is a challenge, but it’s one that’s made much easier when employees lend a hand. If you can get your employees to take these five simple steps every day, you’re well on the way to improved safety performance and zero accidents. 1. Identify hazards: If employees don’t know […]

hazmat

How to Use the Hazmat Segregation Table

You can’t just load a truck and send it off down the highway without knowing the nature of the hazardous materials (hazmats) that will be transported together. You need to confirm that the hazmats you’re loading on a motor vehicle, transporting by highway, or storing are compatible.