Agricultural Worker Transport Agricultural workers use trucks, cars, station wagons, and buses as transportation on and off farms and fields in California. As with any motor vehicle, there is a risk of an accident and injury when using agricultural transport on the roadway. Agricultural workers need to know that there are safety rules for agricultural transport designed to keep them safe on the job. Workers should make certain that the vehicle they are using is in good operating condition and meets the safety standards required by law. Transport vehicles require functional steering, working lights and turn signals, brakes, a leak-free fuel system,...

Disposable Respirators Filtering facepiece respirators are disposable and come in various styles and designs to protect you from non-hazardous contaminants in the workplace. The filtering material in the disposable respirator can be made of cloth or paper that cleans the air as you breathe it to prevent you from inhaling irritating substances. Some filtering facepiece respirators (dust masks) are used to control nuisance contaminants such as dust, non hazardous fibers, animal dander, and pollen. Other filtering facepiece respirators can have added features for use with infectious diseases, organic vapors, chemical fumes, and nuisance odors. While disposable respirators are convenient, you should be...

Bloodborne Pathogens What are Bloodborne Pathogens? Bloodborne pathogens (BBP) are microorganisms that can cause disease when transferred from an infected person to another person through blood or other potentially infected body fluids. The microorganisms are capable of causing serious illness and death. The most common diseases spread in this manner are Hepatitis B (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Examples of other bloodborne diseases include malaria, Hepatitis C and syphilis. Who is at Risk? Workers in health care and public safety jobs could be potentially exposed to these disease pathogens. These workers include, but are not limited to, doctors, dentists, nurses, paramedics, police, laboratory...

Chemical Inventory Lists Hazard Communication Standard, requires employers to make a chemical inventory list of the hazardous chemicals present in the workplace. The chemicals on these lists are identified with markers to easily find the corresponding safety data sheet (SDS). Quick and easy access to the chemical inventory list and safety data sheets allows employees to find important information about the chemicals in their workplace. Additional benefits include: Employees are able to find information on chemical hazards, properties, first aid, personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency procedures, and disposal methods. Emergency responders can quickly access chemical safety and hazard information. Regulatory chemical and waste...

Pesticides - Agricultural Pesticide Use Regulations Pesticides can be hazardous to workers if they are exposed to them through the skin, eyes, mouth, or the air we breathe. Agricultural pesticide handlers should get the proper certificates, permits, and training to use pesticides safely, correctly, and according to the requirements of the law. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) governs pesticide use in agricultural operations and classifies pesticides as “general” or “restricted” use. Workers must be certified to buy, use, or supervise the use of restricted pesticides and usually require a permit from the local to do so. Workers must read and follow...

Aggressive Driving Every year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports approximately 500,000 collisions with 200,000 injuries and 4,000 fatalities as a result. Unsafe speed, improper turning, failure to yield the right of way, and obey traffic signals were the most frequent causes, which led the Department of Transportation (DOT) to estimate that two-thirds of traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving. Aggressive driving can be caused by longer commutes, traffic congestion, and other drivers’ behaviors. It can also be caused by your own mood, reactions, and ability to deal with stress on and off the road. Aggressive driving is triggered by...

Accident Prevention Effective implementation of, and consistent compliance with, the requirements and guidelines described below are critical to the protection and well-being of everyone on the project, including our customers, vendors, and the public. Accordingly, it is your responsibility to read and fully observe all of these safety and health practices while working on this project. Basic Safety and Health Practices Daily Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is an important tool used to identify and address hazards associated with your work Tasks. The JSA is a requirement. Your supervisor will review the safety and health requirements for each work task with you prior to...

Active Shooter Preparednes The Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.” These incidents usually involve firearms and randomly selected targets or victims. Anyone involved in an incident should call emergency 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Active shooter events are usually over within 10-15 minutes (sometimes before law enforcement arrives), so know how to respond if the unthinkable happens. Active shooters may be current or former workers, family or friends of co-workers, or complete strangers. While it is difficult...

Amusement Park Hazards Amusement park hazards - and theme parks and amusement parks are favorite recreational spots for families and kids, but behind the fun are serious hazards that require workers to remain alert. Amusement park hazards can often be alarming. Amusement and theme park workers have one of the highest injury, illness, and fatality rates in the industry, so get training on the mechanical hazards associated with rides, lockout/tagout, safe ride operation, and hazard recognition and reporting. Workers that improperly access ride areas have been run over, dragged, and struck by ride carriages, cars, and arms and suffered serious injuries and...

Poison Oak - Leaves of Three, Let Them Be! Thousands of California workers seek medical treatment for poison oak dermatitis every year.  While some individuals are less susceptible than others, no one is completely immune.  There are some simple things you can do to prevent or minimize the unpleasant often-disabling effects of poison oak exposure.  Learn to recognize, avoid, and prevent exposure, and get rid of it when possible. Recognize - The poison oak leaf looks like a miniature oak leaf, a triple leaf pattern leading off one stem with prominent veins and a shiny surface.  In some regions the leaves remain...