December 2015 OH&S

December 2015

  • PROTECTIVE APPAREL: How to Stay Safe and Warm This Winter
  • PROTECTIVE APPAREL: Vertical Manufacturing of Flame-Resistant Cotton and Cotton-Rich Fabrics
  • HAZMAT: Health Care Hazmats: There's More on Site Than Just Bloodborne Pathogens
  • IH/GAS MONITORING: Atmospheric Testing and the New OSHA Construction Confined Spaces Standard
  • FIRE & EMERGENCY TRAINING: #1 Priority When Disaster Occurs: Everyone Goes Home
  • WELDING: Welding Safety and Health Considerations
  • ELECTRICAL SAFETY: Understand the Dangers of Electrical Shock
  • FACILITY MAINTENANCE: Review Flood Maintenance Procedures to Reduce Slip and Fall Incidents
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Cover Story

Identifying employees who understand the duties and responsibilities of a first responder and who are seriously committed are key to your recruiting success and building a higher-performance response team that can execute under extreme pressure.

#1 Priority When Disaster Occurs: Everyone Goes Home

By Chris Koester

When an amazing safety-first culture exists, the result is a waiting list of employees wanting to be on the emergency response team.


Features

Incidents involving floor contaminants (wet or dry) aren

Review Floor Maintenance Procedures to Reduce Slip and Fall Incidents

By Karen D. Hamel

Incidents involving floor contaminants (wet or dry) aren’t isolated to entrances or production areas.


Train all workers about the hazards and about maintaining clearance from overhead power lines.

Understand the Dangers of Electrical Shock

By Fred Elliott

Electricity is one of the most common causes of fires and thermal burns in homes and workplaces.


Like bloodborne pathogens, hazardous chemicals can be present throughout a health care facility. Although it takes time to check each department, room, and closet, it really is one of the most effective ways to find materials that may otherwise be missed.

Health Care Hazmats: There's More On Site Than Just Bloodborne Pathogens

By Karen D. Hamel

Sanitizing, disinfecting, and cleaning chemicals are likely to be found throughout the facility. It is important to know the particular brands and styles that are being used to verify that proper precautions are being taken.


Once a fabric has been manufactured, it should be inspected and tested for quality assurance and to ensure that the fabric meets or exceeds the ASTM and NFPA standards for flame resistance. (Mount Vernon FR photo)

Vertical Manufacturing of Flame-Resistant Cotton and Cotton-Rich Fabrics

By Craig Tutterow

Wear trials can help guide you in selecting the right fabric by providing a more comprehensive evaluation of important factors such as performance, comfort, and applicability.


The primary objective of outerwear in cold weather is to provide warmth. However, sub-zero work have the potential for exposure to an electric arc or a flash fire event.

How to Stay Safe and Stay Warm This Winter

By Jake Hirschi

The primary objective of outerwear in cold weather is to provide warmth. However, many sub-zero temperature industrial workplaces also have the potential for exposure to electric arc or a flash fire event.


The rule states that before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere must be tested with a calibrated direct-reading instrument for oxygen content, for flammable gases and vapors, and for potential toxic air contaminants.

Atmospheric Testing and the New OSHA Construction Confined Spaces Standard

By Steve Bonino

Subpart AA of 29 CFR 1926 will help to prevent construction workers from being hurt or killed by eliminating and isolating hazards in confined spaces at construction sites.


The amount of exposure to individuals can depend upon work practices, ventilation, and location.

Welding Safety and Health Considerations

By Greg Zigulis

The amount of exposure to individuals can depend upon work practices, ventilation, and location. Will the work be done in wide open areas, inside a building adjacent to other work processes and people, or potentially even in a confined space?


Departments

Mindfulness: Moving Beyond Trends Toward Performance

By Robert Pater

Leaders can help build a more mindful workforce.


Behavior-Based Safety: A Visual Workflow Model

By Shawn M. Galloway

Successful organizations concentrate on a few specific precautions identified by data that will focus efforts to prevent injuries and incidents.


Increasing Safeguards for Crude Oil Trains

By Jerry Laws

The July 2013 derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, of a crude oil train triggered many federal actions in Canada and the United States as crude oil shipments by rail skyrocketed.


Artificial Intelligence