Safety Tips

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota OSHA is advising the state’s employers and employees to prepare for severe weather this summer.

A 53-year-old female convenience store cook was working in an unopened store preparing donuts when a fire started near the entrance. She died of smoke inhalation.

Working on and around heavy equipment – including tractors, forklifts and bulldozers – can result in serious injuries and even death. One potential danger is falling from the equipment.

Woodworking equipment can be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly or if proper safeguards are not in place. Common injuries include lacerations, amputations, severed fingers and blindness. Additionally, wood dust can contain hazardous chemicals, which may cause skin and respiratory diseases.

From 2000 to 2009, an average of 35 workers died every year in trenching or excavation cave-ins, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Charleston, WV – A number of combustible dust-related incidents, injuries and deaths over the past decade might have been prevented had OSHA promulgated a standard covering the hazard, according to a Chemical Safety Board report released July 16.

Washington – Careful planning is needed to help new employees adapt to working in hot environments, NIOSH stressed in a July 14 blog post.

London – Some people may be genetically predisposed to suffer from musculoskeletal pain and other chronic pain syndromes, according to a recent study from King’s College London.

Montreal – Scientific research organization IRSST has released a free online resource intended to help identify workplace musculoskeletal disorder risks and avoid injuries related to material handling.

Washington – Peer-to-peer training can help teach teens about hazards on the job, including workplace violence, OSHA administrator David Michaels said during a June 24 press event that featured a number of teen peer leaders from across the country.