Occupational, Industrial, and Safety Shares for your company or organization

Emergency Response Planning Guidelines – ERPGs

9/6/2021 The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is the professional organization for those who are assigned to protect workers within occupational settings; particularly providing measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of those working with chemicals and other hazardous substances.  Because emergency situations, such as chemical spills, have become a major concern, the Emergency Response Planning Committee, within the AIHA, developed health guidelines that specifically address one-time exposures to chemical agents, known as Emergency Response Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Proper Use of Spill Kits

8/30/2021 One of the requirements for field work is spill control. Spill control is designed to….well, control spills! And depending on the type and amounts of materials anticipated at a work site, specific materials and equipment need to be available in the event of an unwanted or unplanned release.  In addition, it is important that spill kits are checked on a regular basis to ensure proper supplies are available and field personnel remember the location Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Walking Surfaces

8/9/2021 A few years ago, a major defense facility suffered multiple lost time accidents due to employees slipping on icy sidewalks. And while these incidents took place during Winter and we are currently experiencing record-breaking heat conditions in the middle of Summer, one of these incidents caught my attention and thought it would be worthwhile for a discussion. Three employees were walking on the sidewalk in the main part of the facility campus. Their vehicle Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Botox

1/11/2016 It was back in 1992 when researchers announced that those wrinkles we all succumb to as we age could be a thing of the past by simply injecting ourselves with botulinum toxin.  Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. It doesn’t fill lines, it just makes it harder to make the muscle contract which, in turn, creates Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Lactic Acid

8/2/2021 Watching the Olympic competition, it never ceases to amaze me to see humans pushing themselves beyond their physical and mental limits to achieve a dream of competing in these international events and to give every ounce of determination to reach the pinnacle of their performance (maybe with the exception of the U.S. Men’s Basketball team!). And with this physical determination, we witness athletes collapse and succumb to complete exhaustion. Experts in the field of Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Heat Stress during the Summer Months

6/14/2021 Well, it looks like the Summer months have arrived. We passed the unofficial beginning of Summer on Memorial Day and the official beginning is one week away, and now extreme heat has gripped many parts of the Nation. One of the industrial hygiene tools used to assess worker heat stress load is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Heat Stress Meter; often referred to as simply the WBGT (pronounced Web-Get). The concept of this instrument Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance

6/7/2021 It has only been within recent generations that society has recognized a direct relationship between our health and the food we eat.  I think this awareness came into prominence in the 1960’s when people began to question common beliefs, such as drinking milk to coat one’s stomach for ulcers (we now know that this is NOT a prudent treatment) and even the health benefits of smoking! (Popular slogans during this time were “Question Authority,” Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Cannabidiol – CBD Products

6/1/2021 A while ago I found myself with a bit of a dilemma; it looked like I was developing arthritis in my right middle finger.  I decided to visit my doctor and after explaining my condition, he just suggested I stop driving for a month (I don’t get it!).  Shortly afterwards I started getting advice from friends about trying products containing cannabidiol, better known as CBD. So, I purchased a bunch of CBD products (Canna-Hemp Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Hand Tool Safety

5/24/2021 With the exception of site visits and oversight audits, hand tools are a vital part of our day-to-day operations in the field. And, as simple and even unassuming as many of these gadgets may be, when used improperly or without providing our full attention, a potential accident is never far away. Even such a simple device as scissors can cause a severe laceration, resulting in medical treatment. And if not properly treated, can exacerbate Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Gangrene

5/17/2021 During the French Baroque period (roughly 1600 – 1750) there lived a prominent and quite successful composer and conductor within the Court of Louis XIV. His name was Jean Baptiste Lully. And as the story goes, upon the King’s recovery from a most severe illness, to honor the celebration, Lully composed a piece of music written in the traditional style known as, “Te Deum.”  While rehearsing, Lully accidentally struck his large toe with the Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago