“Brothers Concerned About Scaffold, Relative Says,” ran the headline in The New York Times on December 9, 2007. Two days before, the brothers fell from the sky, plunging 47 stories along with their scaffold from the roof of a sleek, black glass Manhattan apartment tower. One was killed instantly; the other was hospitalized, critically injured, as we went to press.
They’re small, tight and have limited ventilation or air movement. As a result, confined spaces provide a dangerous gathering place for gases and vapors to accumulate. If you’re not careful, such accumulation can often reach explosive or lethal concentrations. This is why spaces must be evaluated by air monitoring to determine if it is safe for workers to enter and do their work.
Health-conscience employers can ensure that welders work safely by providing special respiratory protection. Understanding the most effective ways to increase the level of safety in the welding process can help ensure that welders are working in an environment that protects, rather than compromises, their respiratory health.
Understanding thermal oxidation systems and the options available can help mitigate potential problems and ensure reliable, economical and safe operation of these systems.
The new ANSI Z359-2007 fall protection code, which affects many U.S. employers, workers, safety professionals and manufacturers, took effect on November 24, 2007. This brief overview will help get you up to speed on the changes Z359.0 through Z359.4.
Line supervisors are your link to workers. They know the triggers that workers respond to and generally have detailed knowledge of the work, equipment and processes with which the workers are involved. If line supervisors can convey and enforce that safety is a “condition of employment,” it will do wonders for reducing unsafe behaviors.
Most respondents in a survey conducted at the 2007 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress said they had observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have been.
According to data compiled by AAOHN, worksite wellness programs, including weight management and tobacco cessation initiatives, help employees stay healthy while benefiting employers’ bottom lines.
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