Loading ...February, 2006
Tips to Avoid Getting Burned
With spring still at least three weeks away, you can expect to get more mileage from those portable heaters. Just be careful. Electric or fuel-powered heaters create hazards such as electrical shock, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and explosions. In 2001, two out of three reported home heating fires and associated [...]
Whats the Difference Part 1 of 3
In his Jan. 19, 2006 article about fall protection, Dave Gouthro referred to “voluntary” standards published by organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Some of you expressed confusion. Aren’t ANSI fall protection standards mandatory, you asked. We promised to explain the difference between an OSHA rule [...]
The Unreturned Phone Call
Dear SafetyXChange Members,
The unreturned phone call is a part of life, something that people have had to live with since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. But it assumes a special significance when it happens while we’re conducting a job search. You desperately want to call back the employer or contact; but [...]
Reflections on Safety and Business Values
On January 2nd, 2006, 12 coal miners lost their lives in West Virginia. A 13th suffered critical injuries. Before the month was through, two more West Virginia miners lost their lives after fire trapped them in the mine they were working in. Now, as is usually the case after events [...]
Explaining Measuring Methods, Part 3 of 3
Last week, we looked at four of the six methodologies used by occupational biomechanics practitioners — kinesiology, modeling methods, anthropometrics and bioinstrumentation. Let’s now look at the other two: mechanical work capacity and motion and time evaluation. (Editor’s Note: There’s a glossary of occupational biomechanics terms in the Tools section [...]
Nick O’Shay Faces His Critics
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nick O’Shay is a fictional character. But the points he makes are real. And so are the responses he provokes from SafetyXChange members. Here’s one of them.
The Background: In last week’s article, Nick talked about his encounter with a power company executive who tried to use industry standards as [...]
It’s a Great Time to Test the Job Market
Dear SafetyXChange Members,
You probably know that overall U.S. GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2005 was tepid. But the job market is sizzling. Let me briefly sketch it out for you.
Confidence Is Soaring
ExecuNet has developed a Recruiters Confidence Index (RCI) to measure how placement professionals view the state of the [...]
My 10 Pet Peeves
Falls on construction sites are a common and serious hazard. Many of the supervisors I’ve worked with run their sites with meticulous regard for safety. But, then again, others don’t. When I visit their sites, I shudder at all the hazards I spot.
Let me tell you about 10 of my biggest pet peeves. I’m [...]
Part 2 of 2, ANSI Z.10 and the American Way
Last week’s article took a brief look at two of the leading safety management systems: OHSAS 18001 and ILO-OSH 2001. At the end of the piece, I made reference to the recently published U.S. standard, ANSI Z.10. Let’s now take a closer look at the new American standard.
Does the World Need ANSI Z.10?
Many organizations [...]
Explaining Measuring Methods, Part 2 of 3
Last week, we looked at the discipline of occupational biomechanics and explained why companies turn to it to reduce workplace injuries. This week, we’ll look at the various methodologies used by practitioners of occupational biomechanics.
Methodology Areas
The methodology used by occupational biomechanics practitioners is divided into six general areas:
Kinesiology
Modeling methods
Anthropometrics
Bioinstrumentation
Mechanical work capacity
Motion and time evaluation
Each of [...]
