Safety Tips

Chicago – Workers who eat at their desk may be exposed to harmful bacteria, putting them at risk for foodborne illness, the American Dietetic Association warned Aug. 23.

Operating heavy machinery can create significant hazards on a construction site.

Equipment such as adjustable chairs and ergonomic mouse pads can help prevent strain among workers sitting at a desk. But workers required to stand for long periods of time are subject to strain injuries that cannot be prevented with such equipment.

Keeping an eye on the barometer is critical during mining operations because situations in which the barometric pressure either rises too high or drops too low can create serious safety risks. The Mine Safety and Health Administration outlines the dangers of both situations, as well as steps that can be taken to mitigate them.

Telework!VA, part of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, publishes a telework office safety checklist to assess work-at-home employees' work areas.

In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act, which required government agencies to establish a policy on working outside the office and identify which employees would be eligible to do so. The act also required government agencies to incorporate a telework program into their emergency plans for natural disasters or other emergencies.

A 57-year-old farmer died of injuries he sustained when the tractor he was operating overturned while transporting a round hay bale. The victim was a self-employed mechanic and part-time farmer who had been farming the property his entire life.

Before you can eliminate a hazard, you must first use appropriate means to recognize it.

Work-related hearing loss is the second most self-reported occupational illness or injury, according to NIOSH. An estimated 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise on the job, with the most at-risk industries being agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing and utilities, transportation, and military.

According to data from the National Safety Council’s 2011 edition of “Injury Facts,” 667 people were killed and an additional 28,958 were injured in work zone crashes in 2009.