Archive for January 2019

History: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Survey of Occupational Injuries data compiled by Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there were 154 electrical fatalities in the U.S. during 2016, a 15% increase over the 2015 total. Exposure to electric current increased one place, to sixth on the…

History: The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 68-2018: Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting provides benchmarks for deflagration vents to diminish the potential harm brought on by the dispensation of combustible dust, which is surprisingly abundant in some work facilities. Deflagration is a combustion that spreads through a gas or along the surface of…

History: As part of the rules and regulations regarding workplace safety, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires protective footwear for workers in industrial settings. Occupational foot protection is included in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) section of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards, specifically 29 CFR 1910.136. The existing OSHA standards for PPE…

History: OSHA refers to this Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) as the one “that gave workers the right to know now gives them the right to understand.” To be specific: On March 26, 2012, OSHA amended the 1983 hazard communication standard to align with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).…

History: In 2014, the International Building Code (IBC) officially recognized ANSI code MH29.1:2012 as the authority over industrial scissors lifts. The reference can be found in Chapter 30, section 3001.2. This was considered a big win at the time, since some states and municipalities go strictly by the IBC, and it clearly separates industrial scissors…

History: Back in the day, workers considered it a sign of durability and hardiness to not wear gloves when performing tasks in the workplace. Most never considered wearing gloves to keep a better grip on tools, prevent knuckle busters and burns, or just to keep the hands clean. This attitude is often still a problem…

History: The health risks associated with exposure to dust containing crystalline silica are well-known today, but it is important to note this wasn’t always the case. In 1700, Dr. Bernardino Ramazzini found evidence of silicosis in stone cutters. Approximately 200 years later, Dr. Alice Hamilton, a physician whose work resulted in significant safety and health…

History: Emergency eyewash stations, as well as shower equipment, are addressed by ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014: American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. This standard, written and published by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), an ANSI-accredited standards developing organization, establishes minimum performance and use guidelines for eyewash and shower equipment for the emergency treatment…