April 2018 OHS

April 2018

  • FIRE SAFETY: Fire Safety: Managing Risks for Industrial Hot Work
  • FIRE SAFETY: Taking Control with the Right Flow, the Right Extinguisher for Class B Fire Suppression
  • HAND PROTECTION: Chemical Growth Fuels Innovations in Hybrid Cut and Chemical PPE
  • HAND PROTECTION: Hand Protection -- Beyond the Glove
  • IH/GAS MONITORING: Are Poisons and Inhibitors Lurking in Your Workplace?
  • ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: The Hidden Dangers of Chemical Fertilizers
  • ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: The Future of Sustainability
  • WELDING SAFETY: Steering Clear of the Fire and Shock Hazards
  • FIRST AID TRAINING: Meeting OSHA's First Aid Requirements
  • FOOT PROTECTION: A Guide to Safety Footwear Regulations
  • FOOT PROTECTION: Selecting the Right Shoe Can Make All the Difference
  • INCENTIVES: IRF Trends Study Shows Focus on Culture, Wellness
  • HEALTH CARE: Using Software to Unlock Your Health & Safety Potential
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Cover Story

New hi-viz liners can act as an indicator when the outer coating is cut or compromised, prompting workers to replace their gloves before any harm is done. (Ansell photo)

Chemical Growth Fuels Innovations in Hybrid Cut and Chemical PPE

By Steve Genzer

Workers are speaking loud and clear—with increased cut risks abundant in today’s machinery-heavy workspaces, cut protection can be as critical a factor as chemical protection.


Features

The Hidden Dangers of Chemical Fertilizers

By Laura Buckler

Because the damage caused by chemical fertilizers is often long-term and cumulative, it may be wiser to consider alternative and sustainable methods of fertilizing the soil.


Eliminating the need for replacement is the most sustainable practice we can have as manufacturers. By design, durability is one of the most important factors in reducing environmental impact. (Nydree Flooring photo)

The Future of Sustainability

In the next five years, we'll see sustainability in commercial projects moving from a luxury to a requirement. Examining your product and its performance now will put you ahead of the curve.


Using Software to Unlock Your Health & Safety Potential

By Eric Glass

Looking at most "world class" health and safety organizations, technology plays a vital role in their success. They view software as one of many tools, not the sole solution.


When toe protection is needed, a safer approach for everyone in an industrial setting is to wear ASTM F2413-17 conforming shoes. (Red Wing Shoe Company photo)

A Guide to Safety Footwear Regulations

By Lori Hyllengren

Good shoes make better employees.


Routine tasks such as moving items in and out of bins can become hazardous if workers have to reach into barrels or other receptacles that contain sharp materials. (Magid photo)

Hand Protection—Beyond the Glove

By M.B. Sutherland

While hands may be protected with gloves, arms without proper protection are vulnerable to cuts, abrasions, and burns.


OSHA recommends as a best practice that employers designate one person the responsibility of choosing the types and amounts of first aid supplies, as well as maintaining them and the kit.

Meeting OSHA's First Aid Requirements

By Jessica Davis

Employers must evaluate their first aid response and preparedness programs based not only on OSHA compliance, but the needs of their workplace and employees.


Selecting the Right Shoe Can Make All the Difference

By Adam J. Levesque

Test results demonstrate that an employee is indeed safer while wearing a pair of safety-toed shoes.


Health effects of breathing welding fumes include eye, nose, and throat irritation; possible lung damage; various types of cancer; kidney and nervous system damage; and suffocation when oxygen-displacing gases are involved in welding in confined or enclosed spaces.

Steering Clear of the Fire and Shock Hazards

By Jerry Laws

Hot work should not be done where flammable vapors or combustible materials exist. Both the work and the equipment being used by the welder should be placed outside any hazardous area.


There are significant benefits of having healthier employees, both in savings in medical costs and related insurance premium reductions, and in productivity though better well-being and fewer sick days and time off.

IRF Trends Study Shows Focus on Culture, Wellness

By Jerry Laws

This year's Trends Study said the largest number of net increases reported by respondents was for including wellness components in their programs.


A Job Hazard Analysis is the most critical part of the job—this gives us an opportunity to go in the field with operations and review, recognize, and control hazards at the job site or in the area. (Priority One Safe-T, LLC photo)

Fire Safety: Managing Risks for Industrial Hot Work

By Jeremiah Q. Varner

A Job Hazard Analysis is the most critical part of the job—this gives us an opportunity to go in the field with operations and review, recognize, and control hazards at the job site or in the area.


To fight any fire effectively, the person operating the extinguisher must be able to move around easily and safely while holding the extinguisher. (Johnson Controls photo)

Taking Control with the Right Flow, the Right Extinguisher for Class B Fire Suppression

By Sam Boraas

Is your plant prepared for pressurized flammable liquids and pressurized gas fires?


Inhibitors, while not as destructive as poisons, still have a negative effect on the sensor. If combustible gases and inhibitors are present at the same time, the catalytic bead sensor may not detect the combustible gas. (Industrial Scientific Corporation photo)

Are Poisons and Inhibitors Lurking in Your Workspace?

By Ryan Thompson

Just because a poison or inhibitor wasn't applied directly to the instrument doesn’t mean that it may not have been exposed to something while in a tool box, storage locker, or anywhere else gas detection equipment may be stored.


Departments

Moving From Ergonomic Objections to Objectives

By Robert Pater

I recommend four ergonomic objectives that can apply to any company member who walks, lifts, pushes, uses tools, pulls, climbs or just sits or stands in place.


Enjoying the 2018 Safety Trade Shows

By Jerry Laws

Great customer service never goes out of style.


Self-Assess Your Current Safety Strategy

By Shawn M. Galloway

Culture will be why your compliance or advanced efforts fail. It will also be why your overall strategy succeeds or fails.


Artificial Intelligence