CARDIAC arrest, the equal opportunity killer, took 1,261 Americans' lives yesterday, most of them before they reached the hospital.
THERE are hundreds, if not thousands, of available fall protection systems and temporary anchors that end users can buy, install, and use when and where they are required. For example, a worker can use an ANSI-approved anchorage connector (strap) in conjunction with an ANSI-approved energy absorbing lanyard and ANSI-approved full body harness to create a compliant fall arrest or fall restraint system in any number of situations.
MANY industries must maintain rigid adherence to mandatory safe practices in machine maintenance and operations. For workers in laboratories, paper and wood products, chemicals, recycling operations, automotive assembly and repair, and many other settings, successful lockout/tagout is essential to safety and survival.
THE issue of hearing protection in the process industries--food processing, tobacco, and pulp and paper--is more complex than in other industries.
ALTHOUGH there are many employees who are compliant and wear safety shoes, far too often the employee does not truly understand the importance and value of the shoe. Ultimately, it is incumbent on the employer to direct the employee to footwear that will provide an adequate level of protection in relation to the job hazards he or she may encounter.
MANKIND has been utilizing material technology to protect its hands, feet, and other body parts from the hazards associated with living and working since cavemen first wrapped themselves in skins. Occasionally, advances in the material technology associated with personal protective equipment have even presaged dramatic changes in social and political structure.
WITHOUT a doubt, highly trained people and corporate dedication to safety are the key elements of any good ergonomic program in industry.
IN the past 30 years, the United States has enacted several laws addressing workplace safety, including specific regulations for air, fire, construction, and occupational safety.
IN our time, it's hard to find a company that does not seek the tools to develop a world-class safety system. Now more than ever, businesses understand one of the most vital components of success is protecting the safety and health of their employees.
THE article "Eight Steps to Selecting Health & Safety Software," published in the January 2004 OH&S magazine, provided a guide to help you select the best software solution to fit your needs. This article takes the next steps: how to ensure a successful implementation of the software.
MOVING raw materials and finished products through a facility is a common process in industry. Throughout the process, operators routinely lift/lower, push/pull, and carry an object, presenting a significant challenge to health and safety professionals.
FIRE extinguishers are a common sight wherever you travel, from government buildings to businesses to restaurants.
NFPA 70E-2004, published in April of this year, is the new "how you work on it" standard in electrical safety. With the coupling of NFPA 70E's work practice standard and the "how you build it" approach of the NFPA 70 National Electric Code's (NEC) construction standard, industry now has a more complete picture of how to protect employees who are exposed to shock and arc hazards.
Editor's note: Hair, saliva, and sweat testing technologies for drugs are moving toward approval this year for programs that test federal employees. Getting a federal OK is important not just to companies marketing these alternatives, but to employers generally.
OF all the dangers inherent to confined space work, it's the invisible threat of atmospheric hazards that poses the greatest risks to employees.
PERMIT-required confined spaces are death traps if entry teams don't take proper precautions.
WHAT matters is not how much you wear, but what you wear to stay dry and comfortable while working in hot, wet, or cold conditions. When a workers' body overheats or drastically cools, it makes him or her lose concentration and greatly affects his performance. Wearing the right apparel helps with productivity and safety.