February 2007
- Preventing Welders' Eye Injuries
- The Plane Truth About Confined Space Safety
- GHS Spells Relief for Indistrial Hygienists
- Rethinking Sudden Cardiac Arrest Response
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Cover Story
Features
By Larry M. Starr, Ph.D.
HOW a person thinks about a problem influences how he or she plans and responds. In most science--physical, biological, and social--analytic thinking is common. As established in analytic geometry, one axiom of this type of thinking is that "the whole is equal to the sum of the parts." Consider three examples.
By Robert Pater
Many professionals seek the holy grail of upgrading their Safety "culture." But just what is culture, and how can you strengthen it?
By Kenneth Lawrence
FORKLIFT trucks are an essential part of most industrial and supply chains around the world. However, statistics indicate they also present a very significant hazard to people occupying the same workspace. Forklift-involved injuries can be severe or fatal because the trucks are heavy and powerful vehicles.
By Jerry Laws
Are some trainers/companies thinking the new guidelines have discredited on-scene defibrillation or made it less important?
By Linda J. Sherrard
"I need ear plugs--what've you got handy? Can I have these?" This request startled me, coming as it did from a senior-citizen-age office worker whose regular work environment was one of the most tomblike in the building. So I began to quiz her on what she needed and how she planned to use the hearing protection, thinking maybe a music concert with grandchildren, some target practice, or leaf blower/lawn work was causing her concern. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
By Don Walker
SIX years ago in New York City, and again two years ago in New Orleans, responders had to collaborate and communicate in crisis environments where tried-and-true technologies were of little use.
By Shane McEwan
DURING the majority of inspections and maintenance performed on aircraft fuel tanks, personnel must enter the interior of the tanks. This type of entry is defined as confined space entry and is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In these spaces, personnel can be potentially exposed to dangers such as oxygen deficiency and enrichment, explosive gases, and toxic effects from fuels and maintenance chemicals.
By Jerry Laws
INDUSTRIAL hygienists and the American Industrial Hygiene Association reacted positively to OSHA's request for comments last September on implementing the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
Departments
By Joe Beck, Sheila Pressley
IF you think that you have trouble getting your employees to plan or are not pleased with the quality of their planning, you may be surprised at how little practice they have had at true planning. We have often commented that it seems teaching planning is one of the most difficult courses of instruction in our curriculum. It is clear students absorb the information, but is it equally obvious most just do not seem to incorporate it into their day-to-day activities nor in designing their careers?
By Marc Barrera
IN some industries, employees and equipment stay within the bounds of their company's location and are therefore easier to supervise and maintain. But in others, such as delivery, plumbing, taxi, and limousine services, the very nature of the business requires workers and equipment to leave the premises. This gives employers fewer options toward controlling many important variables that affect safety.
By Jerry Laws
I wince when OSHA's administrators say trimming the fat from the agency's twice-yearly regulatory agendas is a major achievement. What's left when the cutting is done is beyond lean; it's emaciated. Yes, the agendas should be realistic, but recent ones are painful reminders that little is being accomplished on the regulatory front and little is being attempted.