You’ve seen plenty of occupational injury stats, here is one that’s startling: In 2012, workers suffered 186,830 nonfatal injuries to the hands and wrists serious enough to warrant days away from work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Even a low level of noise can be hazardous to the human ear and may have serious consequences, e.g. loss of hearing. Earplugs and other devices can prevent this and there are now apps to measure the noise level and obtain recommendations on appropriate hearing protection.
New ways to prevent tools and people from falling, machines from injuring workers were among the top occupational safety and health products featured on ISHN.com this week.
More than one in three U.S. workers are now Millennials, having surpassed Baby Boomers and Gen Xers as the largest generation in the U.S. labor force. Born between 1980 and 2000, they are also the first truly digital generation.
A flash session on the expo floor Tuesday at Safety 2017 focused on the science behind flame-resistant clothing. Speaker Scott P. Francis told attendees to beware of simple terms.
He said for flame-resistant, arc flash PPE, words like 88/12, inherent, certified do not tell you anything about specific fabric or fabric manufacture. It’s important to know what fabric your garment is made from and who makes the fabric, Francis said. “Fabrics perform very different so you should know the specifics on protection, comfort and value.”
Tuesday’s product demos and presentations in the Learning Pavilions again focused on everything from sensor technology to ergonomics, and a few discussed OSHA’s new silica rule. Some of the topics up for discussion Tuesday afternoon included: • Key ergonomic principles for use in increasing productive output, decreasing waste and reducing the risk factors and costs associated with musculoskeletal disorders.
This year’s AIHce offered many opportunities to learn about new products via two separate “learning pavilions.” The pavilions had various presenters throughout the day, continuing for the rest of the conference, who showcased their latest products and technology. Web-based technology seemed to be the theme.
Daniel Chute, CIH, CSP, Atrium Environmental. Health and Safety Services, gave an interesting presentation Monday afternoon about rebuilding homes after disaster strikes. He has been working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement safe practices in post-disaster restoration.
When it comes to choosing cut-resistant gloves, the first choice you need to make is which standard you’ll be using. For the most part, this comes down to your geographical location.