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How to Determine Safe Stacking Heights
Last week, Catherine Jones, editor of SafetyXChange, received the following question from a SafetyXChange member in response to her article on stacking mismatched items:
“I enjoyed reading your article about stacking oddball sized materials. I have a question. In the article you mentioned that materials should be stacked to a safe height. Is there any guidance [...]
Practice Makes Perfect
You know the old joke about the guy in New York City who’s lost and turns to a police officer to ask: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
The officer’s response: “Practice, practice, practice.”
The same principles apply to emergency evacuation. How do we safely get out of a building?
Answer: Practice, practice, practice.
The Importance of Practice
Anyone [...]
What Every Worker Should Know About Ammonia
Ammonia is a common hazardous chemical used in all kinds of settings. In hospitals, laboratories and other healthcare facilities (my professional backyard), ammonia is contained in compounds called quaternary ammonium salts, which because of their strong disinfectant properties are used as high-level cleaners and disinfectants on floors and on certain medical [...]
How to Conduct Better Fire Safety Inspections, Part 2 of 2
Last week, we discussed the benefits of creating a questionnaire for fire safety teams to use when conducting inspections at your facility. Let’s now look at how to use and create such a questionnaire. And, if you’re a member of SafetyXChange, you can access our model questionnaire in the Tools section.
How [...]
How to Conduct Better Fire Safety Inspections, Part 1 of 2
Eliminating fire hazards is a central part of any workplace safety program. Among the most basic tasks are to ensure that: exits are free and unobstructed; there are appropriate fire extinguishers on hand; and workers are trained how to use the fire extinguishers in case of fire. These seem like simple and straightforward requirements. But [...]
What Employers Should Know about Contact Lenses, Part 3 of 4
In the first two parts of this series, we discussed from the employee’s perspective the safety issues that arise when contact lenses are worn in an industrial setting and how to care for lenses. This week, we’ll look at what employers need to know about employee use of contact lenses in the workplace.
Know the Regulations
There’s [...]
Justifying an Investment in Ergonomics, Part 1 of 2
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back strains are costing U.S. and Canadian companies a fortune. They’re responsible for one-third of all workplace injuries. And this may be a conservative estimate since these injuries often go unreported. To make matters worse, MSDs are among the most expensive and complicated to treat. They [...]
Explaining the Discipline and Its Application, Part 1 of 2
What exactly is occupational biomechanics? Who uses it and how can it reduce injuries in the workplace? This and the subsequent article will attempt to answer these questions.
A Working Definition
Biomechanics has been around for many years. The term has been used to describe many different disciplines. For purposes of this article, I will [...]
Let the Debate Begin
By the SafetyXChange Members
Thanks to everyone who commented on Elizabeth Johnston’s series on the need for PPE tailored to the female form. Here is a sampling of what you had to say.
Amen, Sister
I say AMEN to Elizabeth!
Women definitely get a RAW DEAL (pun intended) in the PPE market. From SCBA face pieces that DON’T FIT [...]
Provide Basic Lifting Instructions to Prevent Back Injuries
Back injuries are a common form of workplace injury. Improper lifting techniques are a leading cause of back injuries. Showing your employees the right way to lift loads is thus a key to preventing injuries. Here’s how to create a form for doing that. There’s also a model memo, written for an eighth-grade reading level, [...]
