Loading ...September, 2008
Getting Money for Ergonomics Improvements, Part 1 of 2
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic back pain, cost companies a fortune in workers’ compensation costs, lost work days and decreased productivity. But ergonomic improvements that can reduce or eliminate MSDs aren’t cheap. And, despite the growing body of studies demonstrating that MSDs are easier and cheaper to prevent than to [...]
Barack Obama
With all that’s taking place in the nation right now, OSHA issues aren’t going to get very much from either candidate in the run up to the election. But whoever wins the White House on November 4 will have a significant impact on the future of OSHA. With that in mind, SafetyXChange will profile the [...]
THE CANADIAN ELECTION
We haven’t forgotten that Canada is also holding a national election. Next week, we’ll profile the positions of the major parties on health and safety.
Glenn Demby
Co Editor-in-Chief
SafetyXChange
Fire Safety, Pop Quiz
Question
True or False: Smoke is the cause of the majority of fire-related deaths.
Answer
True.
According to Fire Prevention Canada, hundreds of Canadians die in residential fires every year, but low on the list of killers during a fire are hot flames.
While the residents of a house are sleeping, a fire may smolder for hours, robbing the air [...]
Who’s ‘Qualified’ to Work Near Electrical Hazards, Part 3 of 4
Last week, we looked at what triggers the requirement that work be performed by a qualified person. Now, continuing our analysis of the scope of the electrical regulations and standards, let’s examine what it means to be “qualified.”
What Makes a Person ‘Qualified’
To be qualified, a person must be familiar through training or experience with the [...]
Electrical Safety Compliance Checklist
There was an error in my 10-point electrical safety compliance checklist of last week:
The Location: Item 7
The Error: The item, “Are electrical tools and equipment in wet or damp locations protected?” cited the wrong part of the OSHA standard.
The Correction: The proper citation, as one of our members pointed out, is 1910.304(f)(5).
The Apology: I apologize [...]
The Contributions of Thomas Edison
As every school child in America knows, Thomas Edison was one of the world’s great inventors. And as Jersey kids like me know, he was from New Jersey—Menlo Park, NJ. What’s less well known about Edison is that he was one of the earliest pioneers of electrical safety.
In 1880, Edison submitted a paper to the [...]
How Will the Election Affect OSHA?
It’s too bad that occupational health and safety isn’t a major political issue in the upcoming presidential election. The next president will have a major impact on safety and the safety profession. How would a McCain or Obama Administration affect OSHA enforcement? SafetyXChange will attempt to answer that question next week. On Tuesday, we’ll profile [...]
Richard Nixon & the Legacy of OSHA
Nothing about Richard M. Nixon was simple. Not the man; not the presidency; and certainly not the legacy he left on OSHA.
On the one hand, the Nixon Administration founded OSHA. In addition to signing the law that brought OSHA into existence (the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970), President Nixon made great efforts to [...]
Getting a Job with Uncle Sam, Part 1 of 2
John McCain and Barack Obama aren’t vying just to be your next president. For some of you, one of these two candidates might also be your next employer. If you’re thinking about seeking a job with the federal government, here are some of the things you might want to consider.
Why Work for the U.S. Government?
In [...]
