February 2017 OH&S

February 2017

  • RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: Respirators -- Mandatory or Voluntary, Know the Difference
  • HAND PROTECTION: How to Choose Gloves to Protect Against Arc Flash
  • HAND PROTECTION: Hands-On Safety
  • VISION PROTECTION: Fit Makes the Difference
  • ERGONOMICS: Workplace Stretching Programs
  • INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE: Essential Elements of Worker Protection
  • INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE: NIOSH Proposes RELs for Diacetyl and 2,3-Pentanedione
  • MACHINE GUARDING: Debunking the Top Three Myths About Industrial Machine Safeguarding
  • MACHINE GUARDING: Finding the Right Machine Safety Partner for Your Company
  • DRUG TESTING: Legalized Marijuana -- The Popular Perspective
  • DEFIBRILLATORS & CPR: A Safety Plan for a Silent Killer
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Cover Story

Training helps to eliminate improperly worn, poorly maintained, or nonfunctional equipment that leads to a false sense of security, which can be worse than no protection at all.

Respirators—Mandatory or Voluntary, Know the Difference

By Steve Adamavich

It's more important than ever for employers to stay focused on OSHA regulations—not only to avoid citations and costly fines, but also to protect the organization's most valuable asset, the employees.


Features

Focusing attention is a skill. Like any other skill, there are ways to develop it  -- and at any stage of life.

Hands-On Safety

By Charlie Braxton, Ron Bowles

Hand usage can affect cumulative trauma soft-tissue issues in the arms, neck, shoulders, and back.


AEDs should be easily accessible and continuously monitored and maintained to ensure constant readiness. (Physio-Control photo)

A Safety Plan for a Silent Killer

By Aric Vacchiano, Eddie Martin

Following a five-step plan helps you design a program to protect your team from sudden cardiac arrest.


On-site risk assessments and machine surveys are the critical first step in proper machine safeguarding; they help to identify tasks and associated hazards on a machine shop

Debunking the Top Three Myths About Industrial Machine Safeguarding

By Matt Brenner

Lack of understanding of OSHA machine guard regulations continues to make machine safeguarding one of OSHA's Top 10 violations.


To choose the best glove for a job, you need to understand Hazard Risk Category (HRC) and Arc Thermal Protective Value (ATPV). (West Chester Protective Gear photo)

How to Choose Gloves to Protect Against Arc Flash

By Amanda Green

You don't want to wear gloves that will burn, catch fire or not protect from heat. Beyond sustained injuries, ignoring the need for proper electrical PPE can result in huge fines.


The question is how today

Finding the Right Machine Safety Partner for Your Company

By John Peabody

Here's what EHS pros need to know about machine safeguarding.


NIOSH also recommended a short-term exposure limit for 2,3-pentanedione of 31 parts per billion during a 15-minute period based on a concern that peak exposures may have increased toxicity than the same dose spread out for a longer period of time.

NIOSH Proposes RELs for Diacetyl and 2,3-Pentanedione

By Jerry Laws

The agency recommends a recommended exposure limit of 5 ppb for diacetyl as a time-weighted average for up to 8 hours/day during a 40-hour work week and a short-term exposure limit of 25 parts per billion for a 15-minute time period.


Fit Makes the Difference

By Fred Elliott

BLS reported there were 23,730 eye injuries requiring time away from work in 2014, or 6 percent of all lost-time cases in private industry and state and local government employment.


The impairment argument is incredibly complex. Many employers use the term in workplace drug and alcohol policies but this may not be the most prudent choice as marijuana impairment cannot necessarily be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Legalized Marijuana—The Popular Perspective

By Nina M. French

As a safety manager, an HR director, or a company executive, remaining confused and silent toward the issue of legal marijuana may prove to be a very costly mistake for you and your company.


As a component of a WMSD prevention plan, task-specific pre-shift stretching and warm-up exercises can help acclimate the body for the demands of the active work day ahead.

Workplace Stretching Programs

By Mike Stearns

They are another tool in the musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention toolbox.


Although OSHA

Essential Elements of Worker Protection

By Langdon Dement

The more information you have about your own organization and workforce, the better the insight into how to reduce hazards to an acceptable level.


Departments

Visualizing a Comprehensive Safety Excellence Strategic Framework

By Shawn M. Galloway

Most organizations, both at the corporate and local site level can only effectively manage and execute against four to five major priorities per year.


Beyond Supercharging: How Do You Actually Upgrade Safety Actions?

By Robert Pater

Two methods for change may appear to have comparable components, even be called by similar terms, but may actually be done very differently. And everyone knows the difference.


Too Much Bad News in 2015 CFOI Data

By Jerry Laws

Dedication, communication, training, effective management and disciplinary action when necessary, and adherence to best practices and current standards are part of the answer.


Artificial Intelligence