Infectious Disease & First Aid Treatment When providing first aid to an injured coworker, your first concern may be helping that person as quickly as possible. However, you must also protect yourself from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. Blood can carry infectious organisms such as Hepatitis B (HBV),...

Individual Quality Makes the Difference Quality and safety have something important in common: both depend on people doing their jobs correctly, consistently, and completely. Procedures, inspections, and safety programs are important, but their effectiveness ultimately depends on the actions employees take every day. The quality of your work can affect more than...

Improving Workplace Security Workplace emergencies involving violence, suspicious activity, or other security threats can occur with little or no warning. Although these events are uncommon, employees should know how to recognize potential concerns, report them promptly, and respond according to the company's emergency procedures. Preparation—including emergency planning, training, drills, and clear communication...

Housekeeping Is Safe-Keeping at Work Good housekeeping is more than making the workplace look neat and organized. It is an important part of accident prevention, fire prevention, productivity, and maintaining a professional work environment. A clean jobsite also demonstrates respect for the people who work there. Poor housekeeping can create hazards that...

Housekeeping – Keep the Jobsite Cleaned Up! Good housekeeping is an important part of jobsite safety. Clutter, debris, improperly stored materials, cords, and slippery surfaces can cause slips, trips, falls, cuts, and other injuries. A clean and organized jobsite also makes it easier to work safely and efficiently. Housekeeping is everyone's responsibility....

Hot Water and Steam Cleaning Hot water and steam are effective for cleaning equipment, floors, walls, and other surfaces, but they introduce serious hazards. High temperatures, pressure, chemicals, electricity, and reduced visibility can cause severe injuries if proper precautions are not followed. Burn and Scald Hazards Hot water and steam can cause severe...

High-Pressure Injection Equipment High-pressure equipment is commonly used in construction, maintenance, automotive, industrial, and cleaning operations. Examples include airless paint sprayers, grease guns, hydraulic systems, diesel fuel systems, pressure washers, and grouting equipment. These systems can operate at extremely high pressures. A small leak or high-pressure stream can penetrate the skin and...

Hazard Awareness – General Safety A hazard is any condition, activity, or circumstance with the potential to cause injury, illness, property damage, or other loss. Hazards may already exist in the workplace or develop as conditions, equipment, personnel, or work activities change. Preventing incidents begins with recognizing that potential before someone gets...

Good Hygiene Can Keep You Healthy Good personal hygiene is an important part of workplace safety, particularly when employees work with chemicals, oils, fuels, dusts, paints, solvents, biological contaminants, or other hazardous substances. Contaminants left on the skin or clothing can be absorbed through the skin, accidentally ingested, transferred to food...

Hand Injury Prevention Our hands are involved in nearly every task we perform, which also means they are frequently exposed to workplace hazards. Cuts, punctures, burns, crushing injuries, caught-in hazards, and amputations can occur in seconds and may result in permanent loss of function. Most hand injuries can be prevented by recognizing...