February 2012 Blog Posts (30)

Came across this on the Justrite website yesterday and thought it might be of use to you all...

Those of you who follow my blog know that I don't use it as a glorified commercial for our eCommerce website. I believe in providing good, accurate, up-to-date information to build trust and help everyone be…

Most people who have no experience, and some who do, don’t ever think of concrete as something that can cause severe burns. Think again. As these photos demonstrate, concrete can cause serious skin burns and yet very often those who work with concrete wear no protective gear whatsoever, exposing themselves to serious health issues related to the high alkaline content of concrete.…

The flu virus is thought to thrive in cold weather, so it’s no surprise that during this unseasonably warm winter, we’ve had an equally mild flu season. Doctor visits for the flu have been below average this winter for New Mexico, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But don’t think you’re in the free and clear. Typically, flu season peaks in February…

http://ehssafetynews.com/2012/02/16/world-trade-center-crane-collapses-accident-halts-construction-photos/

A worker’s perception of safety in the workplace and the work-life balance that businesses establish with their employees have a significant effect on the numbers of on-the-job injuries according to a recent University of Georgia study.

“We’ve known for some time that certain occupations are more dangerous than others due to a variety of physical and other hazards. But in the last 20 years, there has been growing evidence that management and organizational factors also play a critical…

What's In Your Drain?

Fifty Catch Basin Inserts. 2 Weeks.

This Stormwater Minute is mostly visual. After all, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. And this is a perfect example. The photo above shows what was removed from 50 catch basin filters after 2 weeks in storm drains in the southern California area.…

Free is good, right? Especially when it comes to something that might otherwise take you a whole lot of time to put together. Today I want to make you aware of a free app you can download and customize, to make you workplace audit much, much simpler.

Completely free, fully customizable workplace audits for every…

Okay, technically this isn't a "workplace safety" post but it does relate to health and it comes from the CDC website. It's also surprising so I'm going to post it.

According to the CDC website, Bread is where Americans are getting most of the sodium that they ingest. Considering the fact that 90% of us get more than the recommended levels of sodium intake, that's pretty significant.

The…

One of the biggest issues on the jobs I walk usually start by looking at housekeeping. Is about training everybody on how to clean after themselves and not at the end of the day. If managers did the math it would reduce cost at the same time. Think!

The U. S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is apparently tired of OSHA dragging its feet on the combustible dust standard it promised to address as early as 2003 and has yet to act on.

In two separate statements, both of which can be found on the CSB website. Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso speaks out about OSHA's failure to address the issue despite promises to do so.

Rafael…

Icicle danger: BEWARE OF Death by Icicle!

Icicles and rooftop snow are the latest danger facing the public this winter. Freezing temperatures across the country have led to the build-up of ice and snow on cell towers, buildings and roofs - with emergency services called into action to deal with some of the dangers.…

You have probably already read in many newsletters that the true success of any structured corporate safety program begins with the employee "Buy In". With that said, let us take a minute and focus on the process of "Culture Based Safety". I for one am a dedicated safety professional that has, over the years, been fortunate enough to thoroughly evaluate the safety performance of both management level as well as the field worker level. I can now - through years of such evaluations say…

What can we do to help safely thaw these frozen pipes and prevent it from freezing during cold winter weather? Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those…

Effective as of February 1st 2012 (2 weeks ago now), the new crane rule went into effect.

In the wake of several crane accidents and fatalities, not to mention the cost of damages, OSHA has put together a new rule for crane inspection, maintenance and operation. If you haven't been aware of this new rule, don't panic yet. While it went into effect at the beginning of the month, you've got until…

HelpingSaveLives In Afghanistan with Operation Lightsabre Truck Accessories

A major U.S. off-road parts and running boards distributor is buying lights to send to soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Companies supporting the troops such as these are helping save lives overseas by donating bright lights that help Soldiers see dangerous IEDs before they…

Well, president Obama release the FY 2013 budget yesterday and with regards to OSHA, the main points had to do with an increased funding for the whistle-blowers' program and a decrease in money for personnel through the consolidation of three different regional offices which would effectively eliminate some redundant positions.

1. The Whistle-blowers' program: OSHA would receive an additional $5 million to help fund all the investigations that are currently backlogged. What this is…

I can still remember what they used to say "I actually drive better when I'm high because I'm more focused" or something very like that. They were talking about how they drive while under the influence of cannabis.

A new study, published in the "British Medical Journal" (you can view the abstract on the…

More people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires with any other single cause. Because tobacco is designed to stay alight, cigarettes can easily start an accidental fire.

• Keep your home, business, co-workers and family safe from fire.

• Use your common sense – know the risks and make sure when you put it out, it really is out!

• Take extra…