5/6/2019 Several years ago, I worked as a loss control rep for a large insurance company. One day I was called to a factory that manufactured zippers. That’s right, zippers. And the reason why I was called was to perform an accident investigation as one worker had about 70% of Read more
4/29/2019 Welding is a common task performed at worksites in the US and around the world. It is a process that joins materials, usually metals, by using high heat to melt parts together, allowing them to cool and fuse. Welding is different from other metal-joining techniques such as brazing and soldering as these operations use Read more
4/15/2019 Many years ago, I was teaching a HAZWOPER Course to a group of workers from the petroleum industry. The topic was emergency response and while conveying the importance of taking proper precautions during emergency scenarios, one of the participants brought up a situation which really reinforced my message. It Read more
4/8/2019 When people think they are the only one in a public restroom, chances are, they will walk out without washing their hands. And if they do go to the sink after using the bathroom, 95 percent of people fail to wash their hands long enough to kill bacteria. Researchers have found that only two in three people use Read more
4/1/2019 On May 4, 1988, a fire mysteriously began which then was followed by several explosions occurring at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The disaster caused two fatalities, 372 injuries, and an estimated $100 million of damage. Read more
3/25/2019 Zero Accident Philosophy: ZAP. This is the concept that all accidents are preventable. At the same time, there are many that say the Zero Accident Philosophy is strictly a lofty goal and realistically speaking, can never be achieved. Maybe for a limited time, but the ideal of ensuring a Read more
3/18/2019 Sometimes I call Las Vegas – my adopted home town – the land of buffets. You can find buffets everywhere. At one time everything was cheap in Vegas…if you were an active gambler, everything was comped; your hotel room, entertainment and food…especially the buffets. Even if you didn’t spend Read more
3/11/2019 Anyone who has attended a HAZWOPER course should be familiar with the three major health hazard categories: carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. And while all three agents manifest unique health effects, they can all be derived by the same contaminant; be it a radionuclide or chemical. Carcinogens are defined as Read more
2/25/2019 Hand tools are used routinely at work and in the home. And because they are part of everyday life, there is a tendency to forget that these hand-held devices can be hazardous. Screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, saws, punches, planes, pliers and chisels are just a few of the tools commonly Read more
2/18/2019 This past October, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) announced its list of the agency’s top 10 violations for fiscal year 2018. The list was announced by Patrick Kapust, OSHA’s Deputy Director of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs. The top 10 violations accounted for an estimated total of Read more