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

A Brief History of Respirators

8/12/2019 Lately, I have found myself conducting quite a number of respirator training classes. My typical opening question is, “when was the concept of wearing a respirator first conceived?” Most people automatically respond with “World War I.” True, respirators were used during this time, as this is when Chemical Warfare, via the use of chlorine gas, began.  However, the fact is, the concept of respiratory protection came into light during the first century, A.D. by Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

LIGHTNING

8/19/2019 Contrary to the common expression, lightning can and often does strike the same place twice! Too often during Summertime, when our field crews are in the midst of working and establishing a rhythm and understanding the subtle nuances of fellow team members so that we function like a fine-tuned machine, along comes those dark cumulus clouds during the afternoon hours, ready to rain on our parade. And it’s not just rain that can damper Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Mitigation of the Incident

7/29/2019 After the second earthquake that hit California a few weeks ago (epicenter, Ridgecrest – a small desert community), Governor Gavin Newsom announced that there would be a re-assessment of the State’s building codes to ensure structures will be able to withstand future earthquakes of even greater magnitudes. This decision was the result of seismologists and other subject-matter experts asserting that the State can expect more seismic events that may cause greater devastation than the Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Marijuana Substance Abuse Testing

7/22/2019 With so many states legalizing marijuana for medicinal and adult recreational use, many employers are being challenged for how to implement mandatory substance abuse testing.  Working under the influence of any substance is a very serious situation – especially for equipment operators where a miscalculation can result in a workplace injury. The problem when it comes to marijuana, is that using this substance, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes, remains in our system for Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Safety and Health in the Cannabis Industry

7/15/2019 On June 25, 2019, Illinois became the eleventh state (along with the District of Columbia) to legalize the use of marijuana for adult recreational use. Meanwhile, there are 33 other states that permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. And with the exception of Idaho, South Dakota and Nebraska (which prohibit the use of marijuana for any purpose) the remaining states have laws that limit THC content, for the purpose of allowing access to products Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Cut Resistant Gloves

6/23/2019 The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that 70 percent of workers who experienced hand injuries in 2015 were not wearing gloves. The remaining 30 percent of injured workers wore gloves, but the gloves were inadequate, damaged or the wrong type for the hazards that were present. This is especially true when we want gloves that will protect our hands from lacerations and cuts. Yet, when it comes to selecting proper hand protection, Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

The Aftermath of 9-11

6/17/2019 On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart gave an emotional testimony before a House panel as he called on Congress to reauthorize a fund that compensates victims of 9/11 and their families. Nearly seven years after that fateful day, many began to suffer from various types of respiratory ailments including the rare cancer mesothelioma while others succumbed to their exposures and died. These conditions brought about the “9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF):” Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Ethyl Mercaptan and the Short Fall

6/10/2019 The foreman was angry.  He’d been in construction for 20-plus years and now the safety person was telling him not only how to do his job but that he’d been doing it wrong forever! Joe Donnelly looked exasperatingly at Ethyl, turning away every few seconds while looking back at his crew, reading their faces to see their support. But while their eyes were saying “Yeah, Joe, stand up to the safety chick,” no one Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Explosive Dust

5/20/2019 When writing a safety and health plan or site-specific ES&H plan or even a job hazard analysis – all documents to ensure work is conducted in a safe and healthful manner – we often are tasked to address airborne dust or particulate exposures.  And typically, when we think about dust exposures, the term “nuisance” is the hazard that immediately comes to mind.  Yet, when airborne dust is generated in high concentrations, regardless of the Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

The Love Canal

5/13/2019 Today we are seeing the next generation of S&H professionals moving into prominent positions. It is great to see that the visions of the pioneers in our profession are not fading and even becoming part of mainstream America. Just look at recycling efforts around the country as well as how corporations now understand the value-added requirements to ensure worker safety and health by firmly integrating Zero Accident Philosophy within their respective business structures. I Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago