|
|||||
|
Capt. John DeFillippo, CHMP, EMT-B The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. It’s never too late and kids should learn to treat the water with respect at an early age. As a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, an EMT and a licensed captain working in marine salvage, I’ve seen my share of tragedies on the water. Sadly, nearly all were avoidable. Here are some tips to Top Ten Things You Need to Know About…HEAT STRESS 1. Our bodies get stressed by heat and then are unable to cool down by sweating. Looking for Safety & Health Training Services? Let the buyer beware! Not all companies that offer EH&S training services (and therefore not all trainers) are created equal. There is a wide range of quality out there and shopping by price or not checking references and qualifications can result in a nasty surprise. Let’s face it, training is an investment in time and dollars and you want a return. Many savvy managers are auditioning potential trainers before hiring them, Sweatshop Conditions in Global Garment Factories – Efforts to Eliminate these Conditions Last week I was fortunate to have attended a series of presentations about eliminating sweatshop conditions in global supply chains at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference. The goal of these presentations was to inform the occupational health and safety professionals about projects that focus on improving health and safety conditions at factories in the developing regions of the world. I found the reports of the Swine Flu Webinar: Planning, Prevention and Response EHSWire.com contributing writer Dale Wilson, CIH LEED AP, touched on the Swine Flu subject last week in his post – “The Swine Flu Panic: Were You Ready?: Pandemic Response Planning for Businesses”. In this post he spoke about many issues that were either left out, or pushed back in their level of importance by the media concerning work related scenarios. A May 15th Webinar, My interest in bilingual safety training started the day I entered a construction site in which a number of Spanish-speaking employees were working in a trench excavated from green soil. As a health and safety professional, my attention was immediately drawn to them. I asked if they knew what the green soil was and they said “No se”, which means, “I don’t know.” Well, I did! The “green soil” was contaminated with hexavalent chromium (CrVI), a known carcinogen. After John Quatermas – EHS Consultant Working as a Health & Safety Officer (HSO) at a hazardous waste site presents many challenges. It is our job to insure that workers on the site perform their activities in a manner that protects them and the public from injury or illness. Each hazardous waste site has its own unique dangerous conditions, which must always be considered – dirty soil, contaminated groundwater, containers of hazardous materials -contaminates vary from location The Importance of Following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 In their attempts to increase workplace efficiency, employers and employees alike sometimes forget about a few basic safety requirements. Most commonly overlooked is OSHA’s Hazardous Communication (HAZCOM) standard which requires employers to provide employees with information “concerning chemical hazards and the appropriate protective measures for safe handling practices”. HazCom is an important part of work place safety because it provides employees with the basic Meeting OSHA Fire Safety Requirements Many people don’t realize that OSHA requires annual fire safety training. This includes mandatory, hands-on training for all company employees that may have to use a portable fire extinguisher. Failure to comply with these standards can subject employers to heavy fines. Many company owners and executives are surprised to learn about these requirements when it is already too late. As an employee, be aware; employers who believe that such things as a “DO NOT TOUCH” The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR 1910.120 – Hazardous waste operations and emergency response requires workers who work at hazardous waste sites who may be exposed to safety and health hazards1 to receive initial and refresher training from qualified instructors. Initial training must be completed prior to work on hazardous waste sites. The following training discussion follows OSHA guidance in interpreting the standard. OSHA-approved |
|||||
|
Copyright © 2012 EHSWire - All Rights Reserved |
|||||