You can now watch two new videos on respirators and facemasks on the US Department of Labor’s YouTube site.  Respirator Safety which runs around nine minutes contains general instructions on how to properly put on and take off certain types of respirators.  It advises that specific instructions must be consulted from the manufacturer’s manual.  The [...]

Five days ago, in a non-contested decision in San Diego, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted two new regulations on communicable disease – the General Industry Safety Orders §§ 5199 and 5199.1 or the aerosol transmissible and zoonotic disease standards.

These are the first-ever standards in the country that protect workers in the health care [...]

Falls are among the most common hazard in construction sites. Every year, hundreds of workers get injured or killed after falling from scaffolds, windows, roofs and ladders.

But even with the right kind of fall protection system, workers are under threat by another kind of fall: falling or flying objects. By wearing hard [...]

Skin irritations, respiratory problems, and fire are among the most common hazards posed by painting operations. Besides adequate administrative and engineering controls, proper PPE (personal protective equipment) should be provided to workers to protect them from these hazards. Employers should seek the assistance of a Shipyard Competent Person (SCP), a Certified Marine Chemist (CMC), [...]

1.   MSHA Update: Fire Prevention in Mining Sites with Better Conveyor Belts
Better selection of conveyor belts may just save a life. As a matter of fact, they can save hundreds of lives in a mining site by preventing fire hazards. That is, if they have an improved flame-resistant quality.

The Mine Safety [...]

Changes are underway for the standards in respirator fit testing procedures.  Just recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed two revised fit test procedures for determining the effectiveness of facemasks.  Check out the TEST Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Jan. 21 Federal Register.

Related Links:
OSHA Announces Top 10 Most Cited Violations
Proper [...]

The construction industry benefits from the many wonders of laser technology. In construction sites, laser is used in leveling and elevations alignment applications, as well as in precision cutting and grading.

General Safety Measures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set general requirements for the use of laser. These requirements are under [...]

Among  various jobs in the maintenance industry, gardening is probably the most fun.  Not only can you work outdoors, you also get the chance to be in touch with nature. If you think about it, gardening can be one relaxing job.

But you can barely relax when you’re faced with hazards like heat stress, [...]

1.  Vehicle Safety During Winter:  Safe Use of Snow Chains
The holidays have come and gone yet we’re still left with the torturing cold of winter. For many of us, going on the road does not just mean shoveling up snow and getting rid of ice. It also means driving with double caution.
Driving slowly is [...]

In the U.S., there are about 7,000 warehouses employing more than 140,000 workers. Unfortunately, hundreds of fatalities also come from this industry. Injuries and deaths in warehouses are caused by improper use of forklifts, materials handling, inappropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and more factors that employers fail to address.
OSHA Citations
According to the Occupational Safety and [...]