Most blisters are caused by prolonged repeated friction of a location on the skin. Blisters shouldn’t be punctured unless they’re extremely painful or prevent walking or use of the hands. Unbroken skin over a blister provides a natural barrier to bacteria and decreases the risk of infection. Cover a small blister with an adhesive bandage, [...]
The human body is a magnificent cooling machine, ridding itself of excess heat through blood circulation and sweat, to maintain a cool temperature of 98.6 degrees. However, as the temperature and humidity levels increase these cooling methods become less effective putting the worker at risk of possible injury or even death. This article will examine [...]
Should there be an RSHA? Most of us are familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. It’s the organization that regulates and monitors safety in the workplace, but should we have a group that does the same for your home? If we had a Residential Safety and Health Administration, or RSHA, it [...]
There are no hard and fast rules for lifting safely. Every load a worker must carry and every environment where manual material handling occurs requires unique consideration. However, to avoid musculoskeletal injuries, a few simple principles can help ensure workers move heavy loads without causing harm. Plan The most often overlooked step in moving a [...]
OSHA’s respiratory protection standard was ranked as the fourth most cited violation in 2012 with 2,371 violations issued. Respiratory Protection, or CFR 1910.134, was created by OSHA in 1982 in an effort to protect workers from respiratory hazards. The standard consists of the following 13 subsections: A. Permissible Practice- This section defines a hierarchy of [...]
In response the September death of a California wine worker the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued a warning about the dangers of anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is used under pressure as a liquid refrigerant in many wineries across California. The chemical is extremely hazardous to a person’s health, if released [...]
Halloween is upon us. Despite retail displays of snowmen and Santas hot on the heels of candy corn and jack-o-lanterns, most of us are “in the moment” enough to look toward Thanksgiving rather than Christmas after the ghosts and goblins have gone away. Still, the point remains: For the remainder of the calendar year, there [...]
While the focus of National Fire Prevention Week is on preventing residential fires and to encourage fire prevention and fire response education for children and families, fires and explosions were responsible for 143 occupational fatalities in 2011, and the threat of fire to business equipment and buildings demand business owners and HSE professionals consider the [...]
The U.S. Department of Labor released its 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries recently, and while workplace deaths were down, the data presents some interesting reminders about workplace safety and workplace violence especially as related to gender and family. First, women are far less likely to die from work injuries than men. Even after correcting [...]
As summer draws to a close, employers should remain aware of heat-related hazards workers, especially outdoor workers, still face. Employers also need to know and share how to prevent illness or injury. Heat-related illness occurs because of the body’s inability to self-regulate its temperature. The body’s best tool to keep itself from getting too hot [...]
