Safety Tips
Working the night shift may cause cancer
All the potential hazards in the workplace, artificial light could be one of the most frightening for those working the night shift. Alongside other environmental factors like diesel exhaust particulates, “shiftwork involving light at night” was nominated last month to be formally reviewed for potential inclusion on the National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens. This […]
9 ways to keep workers safe during peak mosquito season
Mosquito-borne diseases kill more people than any other illness. Their bites can infect victims with diseases like malaria, dengue and yellow fever. In the U.S, encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) are the major diseases caused by different species of mosquitoes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly 300-1500 cases of […]
Summer sounds can bring hearing loss
What are the sounds of summer? For many of us, it means the chirping of birds, but also the whirl of lawnmowers and the din of jackhammers as construction season kicks into high gear. It also means there will be many people exposed to excessive, potentially dangerous levels of noise who aren’t used to thinking […]
Safety awards: a high-five program that changed a company
Not all safety incentive programs need to be expensive or complicated. At Rocky Mountain Masonry, a daily high-five routine has helped educate and inspire workers, earning the company the 2013 Charles A. Cain Safety Award. The award was presented by the Utah’s Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) for innovative safety practices. The workers also meet for five minutes […]
Less safety culture, more work accidents
Does your company have a safety program, safety culture or safety climate? If you’re not sure, that could have a direct and damaging impact on your health. The relationship between safety culture and work accidents: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Developing strong safety cultures has the single greatest impact on accident reduction […]
Heat safety: A universal issue that requires an individual approach
This is the time of year when we start to hear about heat emergencies, and the need to keep hydrated and cool, especially if you work outdoors in the sun. A combination of high temperatures, high humidity and physical exertion can raise the body’s temperature to a point that it can’t be cooled by […]
Back to the basics: a comprehensive guide on PPE
What is PPE? PPE or Personal Protective Equipment is any clothing, substance, or equipment designed to protect a person from risks of injury or illness. Unfortunately, PPE is often disregarded by workers because it’s cumbersome or unavailable. A survey by Kimberly-Clark Professional found that “89 percent of safety professionals said they had observed workers not wearing safety […]
Welding fumes increase risk of hearing loss
Welders are routinely exposed to arc flashes, intense heat, and blinding light, putting them at risk for vision loss and burns. However, recent findings show that welders are also at a high risk for hearing loss. While an obvious reason seems to be their noisy work environment, prolonged exposure to welding fumes could also be […]
Carbon Monoxide poisoning at home: The silent killer
Frayed or worn out electric chords, wet floors, fireplaces without mesh screens, and smoking in bed are some safety hazards at home that are easy to identify and fix. However, another hazard is lurking in our homes, invisible, and far more dangerous. Recently, Walker Sandford, a property management firm in Glasgow, Scotland threw light on […]
Construction safety culture starts before work begins
Construction safety culture is a must for any company’s success and well-being. Construction is one of the most dangerous industries, simply due to the nature of the work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field sees the second highest number of fatalities every year, ranking just behind transportation and warehousing. Last week, ACE Construction, […]
Where to look for asbestos in older homes
During the peak of asbestos use in the United States, nearly every building was constructed with asbestos products. Almost every pre-1980 home was built with these hazardous materials, including shingles, insulation and tiles. Many of those same products remain in place today, where they pose exposure risks to current contract workers who are hired to […]
