Workplace Solutions

Washington – Exposure to low levels of methane and other combustible gases can lead to “catastrophic” consequences for helicopters traveling to and from offshore oil and gas platforms, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement recently cautioned.

Bologna, Italy – Occupational safety and health professionals have underemphasized the significance of exposures to vapors, gases, dusts and fumes that may lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in workers, international scientific academy Collegium Ramazzini claims in a statement released July 19.

Arlington, VA – The overall permissible level of respirable dust in coal mines has been lowered to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air from 2.0 as part of the third – and final – phase of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s rule on limiting miner exposure to coal mine dust.

Washington – In an effort to encourage the development of technology to combat work-related hearing loss, OSHA, NIOSH, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration have partnered on a new competition.

Olympia, WA – Workers are spending more time on computers and, as a result, the percentage of office workers with musculoskeletal issues is increasing, according to an ergonomics evaluation study conducted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Watertown, SD – The National Association of Tower Erectors has produced a safety video about the extreme weather conditions that communication tower workers may encounter on the job.

Bethesda, MD – A study of radiologists shows that those who finished medical school after 1940 do not have a higher risk of radiation-related death, according to researchers from the National Cancer Institute.

Some call it a Job Safety Analysis. Others call it a Job Hazard Analysis, a Task Hazard Analysis or something else. Regardless of how you label it, the process of breaking down a task into steps, identifying the hazards, and determining how to mitigate those hazards remains crucial to preventing incidents and injuries.

What are the latest ways to measure environmental noise?

Well-fitting, appropriate footwear is critical to keeping workers comfortable while protecting them against on-the-job injuries. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety offers information to help make the right selection.