Hazard resources for MySafetySign customers.
Resources
What are Confined Spaces?
Confined spaces are areas not intended for continuous human occupancy. This makes them dangerous, because they often won’t have safeguards to keep workers safe from falls, dangerous fumes, or temperature extremes. Making matters worse, many confined spaces are extremely difficult for emergency personnel to reach. According to OSHA, confined spaces with “a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment […]
Varying Degrees of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
What is ionizing radiation? Ionizing radiation is radiation that causes electrons to be knocked off of atoms, giving them an electrical charge. Ionizing radiation in very high doses can be dangerous, even fatal. (But on the upside, don’t worry, at least it won’t turn you into the Incredible Hulk!) The most common types of ionizing […]
Electrical Hazards: Don’t Get Shocked, Plan in Advance
Electricity is ubiquitous and dangerous. It can cause burns, falls, electric shock and even fatal electrocution. The best way to deal with electric shocks is to not get shocked at all. Be careful and be prepared! Inspect all tools, electrical systems and equipment before use. Remove anything damaged or defective from service. Use equipment according […]
How to Avoid Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
Workplace diseases aren’t just limited to the cold and the flu. Some diseases can also be spread by blood. HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are some of the most concerning of these diseases. Here are some good tips for avoiding occupational exposure to bloodborne diseases. First: plan! Good workplace planning is just as important […]
Beryllium Exposure Limit and Best Practices
Beryllium is a light metal commonly used in the aerospace industry, in jewelry (as a component of emeralds), in precision instruments, and in bomb disposal. Beryllium is a hazard to worker health and safety; OSHA estimates that 62,000 workers are potentially exposed to beryllium every year. Its primary risks are berylliosis, a chronic lung disease, […]
Minimize Hazards of Diesel Fuel Exposure
Diesel fuel is commonly used in generators, trucks, railway locomotives, and tractors. While it produces fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline, diesel exhaust is hazardous to health, as diesel engines emit particulates, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, and sulfur oxides. Diesel exhaust increases the risk of lung cancer, and can cause respiratory irritation, potentially aggravating pre-existing illnesses […]
Abrasive Blasting Hazards
Abrasive blasting is used to smooth and clean rough surfaces. It works by directing a high-velocity stream of an abrasive material, such as sand, crushed walnut shells, glass beads, dry ice, or baking soda, at a surface. First developed in the late 19th century, abrasive blasting is common to remove paint, chemical buildup, or contaminants […]
Asbestos: A Brief History
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral with incredibly useful properties that have been known since the Roman Empire. Charlemagne had an asbestos tablecloth; King Chosroes II of Persia had an asbestos napkin; and in the 19th and 20th centuries industrial-scale asbestos was used for everything from brake pads to lawn furniture to cement. Asbestos has lots […]