Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Despite your best efforts, there’s probably something in your workplace right now that an OSHA inspector could cite. Maybe it was lower on your list of priorities, or maybe it was just something that you had missed—but the important thing, once it’s cited, is to get it taken care of quickly. Always move a cited […]
Yesterday we looked at the hazards of methylene chloride, a common paint-stripping chemical with many industrial uses—and many hazards, including cancer. Today, let’s talk about how to protect workers from exposure to this narcotic, corrosive, carcinogenic chemical.
Methylene chloride (also called dichloromethane) is a solvent with many uses, including paint stripping, polyurethane foam manufacturing, and cleaning and degreasing. You might not think that a chemical you can buy at your local home improvement store for use at home would be all that dangerous, but don’t be fooled. Methylene chloride is hazardous enough […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we looked at three ways to make sure that your introductory training works for your workforce. But training is never a one-and-done proposition. Build a training program that continually reinforces your safety message with three more fundamental strategies.
Do you sometimes feel like your training sessions have become a dog and pony show, requiring you to play the manic comedian in order to keep your trainees engaged and interested? Maybe you’re working too hard. Here’s what your workers really need from your training sessions. Workers don’t need you to put on a Broadway-quality […]
Yesterday, we discussed what EHS metrics are, what they can do for your EHS program, and how to choose good metrics. Today, we’ll talk specifics. What kind of metrics have worked well for EHS programs? What indicators should an EHS manager look at?
Is your safety program effective? How do you know? If you base your assessment solely on recorded injury and illness rates, you may not be getting the full picture—especially if you’re having a bad year. And if you do nothing more to evaluate your safety program, how will you defend it against OSHA citations, not […]
Yesterday, we looked at forklift maintenance—particularly, at the training required for workers who perform repair and maintenance on forklifts. Today, we’ll look at a few more requirements that might apply, as well as some rules for maintenance locations and replacement parts. Additional Training for Forklift Maintenance Workers Some topics are specific to forklifts, but other […]
When it comes to forklift safety, a lot of emphasis is placed on operators and their training. But maintenance is also critical to forklift safety—and workers who perform forklift repairs and maintenance face hazards that must be addressed with worker training and attention to the work environment. Identifying Maintenance Issues There are two ways to […]
Chemical accidents involving ammonium nitrate are rare, but have the potential for significant property destruction, injury and death. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) all have regulations in place, they apparently are not adequate to prevent accidents or ensure emergency response is prepared. […]