Get with the Program - Part 2 Personal Protective Equipment...This is the second in a series of four articles on building a safety program in the solid surface fabrication industry.  PPE, or personal protective equipment, is clothing and equipment worn to protect you from workplace hazards. It is used to shield your body from any material or task that could hurt you through physical contact, absorption, or inhalation. Employers must provide and ensure that employees wear PPE when necessary. PPE must be appropriate for the work to be performed. When employees provide their own protective equipment, it is the employer’s responsibility to assure its adequacy, maintenance, and sanitation. ...(May 2009) 

Get with the Program - Part 1  Building a Safety Program for your Business...This is the first in a series of four articles on building a safety program in the solid surface fabrication industry.  Injury risk factors present in the solid surface fabrication industry include manual lifting, use of hand tools and machinery, noise exposure, heat and sharp edge exposure, working in awkward postures, exposure to vibration, and chemical and dust exposure. These factors will vary in each business.  At a minimum, you likely need safety programs for personal protective equipment, chemical exposure, ergonomics, machine guarding, noise exposure, electrical safety and flammable materials. The following articles will focus on OSHA safety programs for some of these hazards common to the solid surface industry...(April 2009) 

Slings Get Noticed  In the surfacing industry, cranes and hoists are often used to aid in the movement of large materials or products.  These types of equipment typically use slings to hold their suspended loads.  Improper use of slings can lead to sling failure or load slippage, which in turn can lead to injuries or death along with property damage.  OSHA recently issued a new guide on the selection and use of slings for handling and moving materials...(May 2008)

OSHA Issues Rule Clarification on Employer Responsibilities for Employee Personal Protective Equipment  Virtually all surfacing shops require personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees in some form or another.  Typically, safety eyewear, protective gloves and footwear, hearing protection and some type of respiratory protection, ranging from a dust mask to a full respirator, are required.  Some shops may also require uniforms or caps used to cover or protect employees’ clothing.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced a new rule clarifying employer responsibilities regarding payment for PPE...

What's OSHA doing in the Surfacing Industry?  Five things to watch out for in your shop  In October, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) published its citation information for the past year.  Now is a good time to look at what OSHA has been focusing on in your industry, and to evaluate your own safety programs...

Revisions to respiratory protection  OSHA recently made changes to its Respiratory Protection Standard.  By answering 6 FAQs regarding respirators, you will be better equipped to implement or update an existing respiratory program...

The ABCs of OSHA Compliance  A successful safety program is your legal obligation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  But what exactly does OSHA say you need to do and where do you start?

Respiratory Protection Standard Revisions  Effective November 22, 2006, OSHA made changes to its Respiratory Protection Standard.   The standard revision includes a table giving the Assigned Protection Factors for all types of respirators.  This is a good time to review your respirator program (or determine if you need one) to be sure you are adequately protecting your employees...

Protecting Your Employees and Your Business  Protecting your employees and protecting the bottom line for your business go hand in hand.  Every injury that is prevented saves money, in terms of workers' compensation claims and premiums, and in increased employee comfort, which leads to increased productivity and reduced turnover.  A successful safety program is also your legal obligation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act...

Slab Handling 

OSHA Issues Bulletin on Dump Truck Bed Hazards  Accidents related to the unintentional movement of dump truck beds have resulted in deaths...

Keep on truckin'
Operating and maintaining a forklift truck safely  Lack of safe operating procedures and safety rule enforcement, as well as insufficient or inadequate training, lead to tens of thousands of injuries each year. Safe forklift practices through proper use, adequate maintenance, sufficient clearing for travel, and correct load stability are the best way to prevent these injuries...

Locking In Safety  Assessing the work environment, creating programs, and training staff to abide by those programs are the keys to maintaining a safe work environment and avoiding steep fines, worker injury, or death...

Hispanic Worker Safety  There are approximately 17.5 million Hispanic workers in the U.S., and these workers have vital roles in virtually every American Industry.  The responsibility for providing a safe and healthful workplace for all employees rests squarely on the shoulders of every employer.  Employers face some specific challenges when it comes to the safety of Hispanic workers, particularly in the bilingual training area...

Teen Worker Safety  It is an unfortunate fact that children do get injured, and even killed, in the workplace.  Approximately 80% of teens are employed at some point before they leave high school.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that over 210,000 American children suffer occupational injuries every year, and over 70,000 of these injuries are serious enough to warrant emergency room treatment.  Teens are consistently injured at higher rates than adults, even though they are restricted from the most hazardous jobs...