Infectious Disease & First Aid Treatment We may all find it necessary, at some time in the future, to help a co-worker who has been seriously injured and is bleeding. It is natural to be most concerned with helping the injured person at this time, but you should also think about protecting yourself from infection. Many diseases, such as AIDS and Hepatitis, can be transmitted from saliva-to-blood, or from blood-to-blood contact. Individuals may have such a disease and not know it, because of the long incubation period. They may have contracted an infectious disease through blood transfusion or exposure to food...

Individual Quality Makes The Difference In this age of rapid change and need for efficiency, we also see an increased emphasis on quality assurance standards such as ISO (International Standardization Organization) certifications. However, the biggest factor we must consider in this age of more with less, is how we, as individuals, impact the quality process. Our honor and integrity as human beings needs to be confirmed in our work and everything we do. So, you may ask, how does this apply to safety? Our personal behavior can determine someone else's fate as well as our own. Failure to do things correctly can...

Improving Workplace Security in the Age of Terrorism Terror attacks in the news such as bombings and mass shootings may have you feeling confused and vulnerable because of their random and catastrophic nature. Emergency plans, drills, and training on how to observe, report and appropriately respond to suspicious activity can empower you to control your own safety and security. Fire and earthquake procedures and drills at work are commonplace - suicide bombers, active shooters, and bomb explosions are not. Although these may be less frequent, there is a much greater potential for damage. Some steps to prevent emergencies and control damage include: ...

Housekeeping Is Safe-Keeping At Work "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Never has this phrase been so true as when it comes to housekeeping at work. The negative impressions and implications of poor housekeeping can affect you and/or your co-workers for a long time to come. Morale is lowered for most people who must function every day in a messy, disorderly work environment, although they may not be aware of the cause. Safety is an even more critical issue. If your housekeeping habits are poor, the result may be employee injuries or even death, citations by...

Housekeeping Housekeeping seems minor but leads to many accidents and injuries. It is far easier to work safely in a clean, organized jobsite. Keep work areas clear of debris that creates a tripping hazard. Walkways to the work area must be clear. At least a 3-foot wide path. Pay special attention to stairways, doorways, entrances and ladder access areas. Keep them clear of debris and trip hazards. No material or tools stored on stairs and landings. Route electrical cords to the side of walking paths and keep them out of doorways to avoid damage to the cord and trip hazards. Nails in...

Hot Water And Steam Cleaning Hot water and steam are often used to clean walls, floors and equipment in many industries and operations. A variety of dangers are associated with hot water or steam cleaning, however, all of which should be considered in order to avoid personal injury. Burns -- Water temperatures between 180º and 212º F clean most effectively. Unfortunately, water can scald a person at temperatures as low as 120º F. To avoid increasing your risk of injury in the case of a mishap, set your water temperature only as high as necessary to accomplish the job. Many cleaning tasks...

High-Pressure Injection Equipment The use of high-pressure injection equipment has increased dramatically in recent years. Many combustion engines are now equipped with fuel injection systems designed to improve performance. Both industrial and casual home users operate high-pressure equipment such as grease guns, paint sprayers, and washers. These devices usually eliminate labor-intensive activity and reduce the amount of time needed to complete various tasks. Examples of high-pressure injection equipment: Airless paint sprayers Grease guns Diesel fuel injectors Hydraulic systems High-pressure water cleaners Concrete grouting pumps Industrial cleaning equipment  Pressurized systems typically operate at pressures up to 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) with tip...

Hazard Awareness - General Safety A hazard is defined as a condition or changing set of circumstances that presents a potential for injury, illness, or property damage. The potential or inherent characteristics of an activity, condition, or circumstance which can produce adverse or harmful consequences. An accident is defined as an unfortunate event often the result of carelessness or ignorance. An unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance usually resulting in an unfavorable outcome. There are some keywords in these definitions: Unplanned; Unforeseen; Unfortunate; Unfavorable and most importantly POTENTIAL! The other day a person fell from a height of 25 feet. He was fortunate to...

Good Hygiene Can Keep You Healthy Most of us learned the basics of good personal hygiene from our mothers when we were children. She started us on good hygiene with the simple rule of washing our hands before we ate. As we have grown older, some of us may have drifted away from our mother's wise advise. In today's chemical-laden workplaces, being even more conscientious about hygiene is the smart thing to do. Even though washing our hands is a simple and logical task, it's still commonly overlooked. What is on your hands gets ingested. How many times have you seen fellow workers...

Hand Injuries Hand injuries account for 80 percent of all occupational injuries. This is because the hands are engaged in almost all activities on the job. Can you imagine any occupation that does not make use of the hand? Hands are so important because of their utility. They provide us with the dexterity needed to perform most daily activities. In fact, hands, as tools, are so versatile and can perform many intricate functions more than any single known tool developed by man. No wonder hands are highly useful in our jobs. There are many dangerous conditions on the job to which...