Tag: Respiratory Protection

Safety Onboarding: A Crucial Part of an Employee’s First Few Days

Your safety onboarding program says a lot about your organization and the importance it gives to safety. Make sure your new hires are getting the right message. A new employee’s first few days on the job are a crucial time for conveying essential safety information and establishing a proper orientation to workplace safety. During that […]

PPE? Yes, Sir!

When you can’t eliminate a hazard any other way, it’s your duty under the law to provide apparel or gear to protect the worker from that hazard.

Steps in the Hazardous Waste Decontamination Process

The steps in the decontamination process vary depending on the hazards involved, the equipment available, and the terrain and circumstances. However, this list is typical of what would be set up for a complex decontamination. Station 1: Segregated Equipment Drop Deposit equipment used on-site (tools, sampling devices and containers, monitoring instruments, radios, clipboards) on plastic […]

A Primer on Toxic Substances

Toxic substances are found in many facilities, and employees can suffer a variety of illnesses as a result of unprotected exposures. According to Understanding Toxic Substances, a guide for employers and employees published by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries: "The toxicity of a substance is its ability to cause harmful effects. These effects […]

How to Comply with PEL Requirements

Yesterday, we explained how to calculate PELs. Today, we talk  about how to comply with them. To achieve compliance with PELs, OSHA says a facility must determine and then implement administrative or engineering controls whenever feasible. Engineering controls involve the use of: Exhaust and general ventilation Enclosure of the source of emissions Process and equipment […]