SafetyBlog

Crystalline silica is one of the most common minerals found on Earth. It's used in wide variety of applications, including glass production, foundries, construction, ceramic, roads, rubber, plastic and more. However, exposure to fine, dust-size particles of crystalline silica can lead to a non-curable respiratory disease known as silicosis.According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly 2 million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica, 100,000 of whom have " …

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 5 and 20% of the U.S. population will catch the flu virus this year, while the average adult will catch between 3-4 cold viruses (source). Unfortunately, workplaces are a haven for infectious bacterial and viral illnesses. When a person is sick, he or she may continue to work, placing the health of other workers at risk. So, how can you reduce the risk of infectious illness in the workplace?First and foremost, it's import …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) new injury reporting rule took effect on January 1, 2015. If you're an employer, you should familiarize yourself with the changes made to this rule. Failure to follow the new guidelines could result in fines or other penalties.Up until now, employers were only required to report fatalities and injuries involving three or more workers. As of January 1st, however, all fatalities, injuries that require hospitalization (regardless of how man …

Developing a rescue plan is one of the most commonly forgotten elements of safety procedures in the workplace. It can be difficult to make a rescue plan because of the different factors that can occur in any work environment. When you need to make a rescue plan for your workplace, there are certain steps that should be taken to thoroughly address what could happen based upon your location. Prior to creating the physical steps involved with performing a workplace rescue, there are four im …

If you work in an environment that's characterized by constant loud noise, you should take measures to protect yourself from hearing loss, tinnitus, and other related conditions. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 22 million workers in the United States are exposed to dangers noise levels, and 9 million are exposed to ototoxic chemicals (source). Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common causes of disability, with treatment costing over $24 …