The agency clarifies that a cylinder that contains 20.9 percent oxygen and 79.1 percent nitrogen, which is essentially compressed air, presents no greater oxidation hazard than that of the atmospheric air already present in the workplace and would therefore not be considered an oxygen cylinder or an oxidizing compressed gas for the purposes of 29 CFR 1910.101.
A new study finds the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses, and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a "compromise circadian phase position," which may result in increased performance and alertness during night shifts while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on days off.
"Employees who were removing asbestos-containing materials at this site lacked basic safeguards that must be in place before performing such work," said Robert Kowalski, OSHA's area director in Bridgeport, Conn.
The association says that at other times when fuel costs have risen, it has seen a corresponding increase in heating-related fires, and with today's combination of much higher energy costs and much higher unemployment, "we fear that . . . more people who are unable to pay for heating oil or utilities [will] use more dangerous ways of heating their homes."
Located in the Pocono Mountains, the facility performs metal fabrication for the military and has approximately 589 full-time employees.
"Partial measures don't get the job done," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, N.Y. "Proper lockout/tagout training and procedures must be implemented and maintained completely, effectively, and continuously to safeguard employees against possible injuries."
Ideally, the workplace would be hazard-free and safe from potential injuries and accidents. However, many operations involve a certain amount of risk that cannot be controlled through engineering measures, administrative controls, or personal protective equipment. These situations require careful measures to prevent workplace accidents and injuries. The value of safety signs in these situations shouldn’t be ignored.
This article is an attempt to briefly cover the most common differences between types of sprinkler systems. Most sprinkler systems fall within one of four categories.
Dust explosions are thought to be a relatively common occurrence in a variety of industries. Plants equipped with pneumatic handling systems, which use compressed air to move factory materials and items, and air filtration systems have an inherent dust explosion risk associated with the operation of these machines.
Here it is December, and we’re talking about hot work. No, we aren’t talking about working when it’s hot—but, sometimes, we have to. We’re talking about working on equipment, making it hot, and having to be careful with the heat we generate and the surrounding environment.
The commission describes the new POS as a modern-day cash register system similar to those found in major retail stores that provides for more secure transactions and improved financial monitoring capabilities.
Available to both graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in occupational SH&E or a closely related field, the $1,000 award will be part of the Foundation's 2009 scholarship package, and the first recipient will be announced on April 1, 2009.
The Labor Department's semiannual regulatory agenda says the required review of the standard's potential impact on small businesses will be finished in February 2009.
New runways at three of the nation's busiest airports mean countless travelers will experience fewer delays and better service during the Thanksgiving holiday travel season, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced recently. Peters noted they were the latest in a series of measures the administration was taking to improve air travel.
Sediment-laden storm water was repeatedly observed discharging from the construction site to nearby Chaffins Brook, which is ranked as a "Class A" waterway by Massachusetts.
"Because exposure to high levels of nitrates causes a wide range of illnesses and environmental damage, communities need to know when these chemicals have been released," said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems Division director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region.
The combination allows the distributor to merge two U.S. supply chains into one, cutting costs and enabling faster growth, Grainger officials said last week.
Among the plant's areas of excellence are a comprehensive program to analyze, identify, and address hazards associated with each job and task, along with discussion and correction of near-miss incidents, OSHA notes.
Meanwhile, fall protection in construction accrued the highest total penalty amounts of all the categories in FY 2008.
According to DOE studies, nearly 25 percent of industrial electricity demand comes from industrial motor systems, and energy savings of 20 percent or more are possible with systems optimization.