Back injuries are some of the most prevalent and hardest-to-prevent injuries on the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses.
Read MoreVison loss and severe eye injuries occur all too often in today’s workplaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each day, about 2,000 U.S workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. Due to the severity and frequency of these injuries, there is no room for shortcuts or excuses when it comes to protecting your eyes on the job.
Read MoreThe term “line of fire” is very common when talking about the hazards of a work task. Depending on the work being completed, there may be many different lines of fire or there could be very few. It is important to understand what the “line of fire” is and how to avoid being in it to avoid injuries.
Read MoreThere are many times when quick reactions put people in the line of fire where they can be hurt. A person sees a situation occurring and in an instant, their mind tells their body how to react. At work, an impulsive decision to jump in and try to help in a situation going wrong may be the last decision a person makes. It is important to consider what our first reaction may be to certain situations and attempt to fight the urge to react impulsively without thought.
Read MoreHeat stress creates many hazards in the workplace for those employees who have to work in a hot environment. Hot environments can create indirect safety hazards, causing employees to lose focus on their work task or become fatigued. Heat stress also causes more direct illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. According to a report published by the CDC, during 2004–to 2018, an average of 702 heat-related deaths (415 with heat as the underlying cause and 287 as a contributing cause) occurred in the United States annually.
Read MoreIf your workplace or job requires the use of a respirator, it is vital to understand and follow the proper procedures for using the respirator issued to you. Proper donning and doffing of the respirator are critical aspects of using this equipment. Donning means to put on and doffing means to take off. In addition to any required fit testing, a user seal check should be performed every time a respirator is put on. This safety talk provides a general overview of donning, performing user seal checks, and doffing common types of respirators.
Read MoreEffective communication is critical to every aspect of a successful job. Being able to work safely especially relies on effective communication between everyone involved in a work task or on a job. Effective communication requires having honest conversations, which includes bringing up and discussing issues as they arise.
Read MoreStrokes, just like heart attacks, are serious medical emergencies that occur all too often. They are the leading cause of serious long-term disability and are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Each year over 795,000 people experience a stroke in the US. Over 75% of stroke victims are over the age of 65 according to StrokeCenter.org.
Read MoreWorkplace violence is any threat, disruptive behaviors, intimidation, physical aggression, or act of violence in the workplace including homicide. Homicide in the workplace is currently the fourth leading cause of death on the job. In 2017 alone, there were 458 deaths on the job due to homicide. According to OSHA, over 2 million people report being victims of workplace violence every year.
Read MoreHeavy equipment is used on many different kinds of work sites all around the world. This equipment is very effective for the job it was designed to do, but it can also be very hazardous. Proper work planning as well as operating equipment within its designed limits are important basic steps for safe operation.
Read MoreThere are many different types of injuries that can occur while using a pressure washer. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 6,057 people went to an emergency room with injuries related to pressure washer use in 2014. While the pressure of the water can be considered the biggest exposure to risk during this work task, there are certainly many more hazards to be considered.
Read MoreThere are many reasons as to why incidents occur that result in property loss or injury on the job. Oftentimes, there have to be multiple failures in the safeguards that are put into place (or not put into place) for an injury to occur due to an exposure to a hazard. A major reason there is a failure in the safeguards that are supposed to protect employees is that individuals take the easy way out when completing the work task instead of doing it the right way. It is necessary to recognize the importance of doing tasks the right way every time and the consequences of not doing so.
Read MoreHydrogen sulfide, also known as H2S, is a gas found both in nature and also produced by many industrial processes. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, flammable, extremely hazardous gas with a “rotten egg” smell. There are many dangers if exposed to too much H2S gas in a short time (acute exposure) or a lesser amount over a long time (chronic exposure). Many workers have been overcome and killed in environments that have had a large amount of H2S gas present. It is important to be familiar with the characteristics of hydrogen sulfide and the effects it can have on your health.
Read MoreThere are many different sources of pressure individuals face at work for getting the job done. Time, or the lack of it, is a major driver in whether or not workers feel that they need to rush to get a job complete. It is important to plan work accordingly to avoid having to rush work tasks.
Read MoreWith all of the moving equipment, flying debris, and falling objects on a construction site it can be a very dangerous place for an individual on the ground. It is important to understand the specific hazards of the work for that day as well as the job site overall as ground personnel who will be on the job site. Furthermore, everyone needs to work together to eliminate or mitigate the hazards that result in struck-by incidents.
Read MoreCompanies that hold general housekeeping of work areas to a high standard usually have a better safety culture than those companies that do not. Housekeeping is an important part of a robust safety program. Poor housekeeping promotes inefficiency as well as leads to injuries and property loss.
Read MoreAn important but often overlooked aspect of safety is what we decide to wear each day on the job. Safety rules, weather, type of work, hazards of the work, and many other factors weigh in on what type of clothing is optimal for the tasks being completed that day. It is vital to consider the impact clothing can have on safety at work.
Read MoreThere has been much discussion about silica dust in the past few years. OSHA has issued a regulation to help protect workers from overexposure to this dust. It has been largely unregulated in the past, and because of this, many workers have been faced with overexposure to silica dust. The CDC reports that an estimated 1.7 million U.S. workers are exposed to silica dust on the job.
Read MoreSlips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. According to OSHA, slip, trip, and fall incidents cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicle incidents as a cause of fatalities on the job. These types of incidents can result in life-changing injuries to the employees who suffer them. These incidents are also very costly for businesses. HUB reports that the average slip and fall injury costs $20,000.
Read MoreAllergies are an issue that many people have to pay attention to every day both on and off the job. There are many sources of allergens that can cause an allergic reaction. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, food, drugs, latex, animal dander, insect stings, and mold. A few of these allergens may be an issue while on the job. It is important to know what you are allergic to as well as communicating it to others in case of an exposure resulting in an emergency situation. In this safety talk, we will discuss two common allergens that could be the source of a severe allergic reaction on the job.
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