1/17/2011 While I have heard the story about how the inventor of the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), Charles Dalzial, placed his daughter in a bathtub and threw a toaster that was plugged into a household power supply, into the water while potential investors looked on, just to prove his invention worked; I have not been able to find anything to verify the event’s authenticity. At the same time, I am hesitant to declare this Read more…
6/8/2015 There are many types of particles that when they become airborne, represent a potential health hazard. Metals such as lead, magnesium, manganese, chrome (especially Chrome VI) can be quite toxic to the human system. And when they are used in such processes as welding and grinding, these materials can become airborne and create a significant likelihood that persons in the area will inhale them. While our bodies have some very intricate and subtle defense Read more…
12/14/2020 Many of our projects require working with machines and devices that operate by rotating motion. Drill augurs, pumps, turbines, gearboxes, compressors, engines, as well as certain hand tools (i.e. power rachets), present a potential workplace hazard due to their unique rotating action. The rotating parts can cause serious injury to a persons’ hand or arm, resulting in lacerations, abrasions as well as severed fingers and limbs. Loose clothing and jewelry can accidentally contact rotating Read more…
12/7/2020 As part of last weeks’ Safety Message, it was mentioned that the new month was approaching and that our projects needed to check fire extinguishers and first aid kits. What are we inspecting? And what is the ultimate purpose of checking these items? After all, we are not testing our fire extinguishers to see if they work! And as far as first aid kits go, what are we really inspecting? Inspecting these items serve Read more…
11/30/2020 Face coverings, dust masks, N95 and the Chinese counterpart of N95’s – the KN95s- have become household names as of late due to our current pandemic. Health officials are broadcasting the importance of wearing these clothing articles or personal protective equipment – PPE – as a necessary component to ensure we control the spread of Covid-19; not just for occupational settings, but even during our personal lives when we go shopping or something as Read more…
11/23/2020 Just a short message this week. This one is quite sobering. It’s a message that cannot be overstated with the implication of never taking anything for granted. Last week, in the nearby mountains where I work, a young couple, boyfriend/girlfriend, were driving when another car hit them head-on. It seems that the driver of the oncoming vehicle was driving recklessly at an excessive speed which caused him to swerve into the oncoming lane. The Read more…
11/16/2020 The holiday season is happening! Thanksgiving is next week! And we all know that this season will be a little different as COVID-19 has really changed so many of our daily routines and how we will be celebrating the holidays. As we all know this is the time of year when so many of us reconnect with family and friends; but unfortunately, it looks like holiday plans may need to be modified as the Read more…
11/9/2020 An enlarged heart is a serious condition and if not properly diagnosed, can lead to a sudden and unexpected death. I have known a few people for which this has happened. One person was a young man that was very active in competitive body building. He had the appearance of health and without any warning, he succumbed to cardiac arrest. And while many of us participate in a fit-for-duty physical, these medical exams focus Read more…
11/2/2020 Skin exposure to chemicals in the workplace is a significant problem in the U.S. Both the number of cases and the rate of skin disease in the U.S. exceeds recordable respiratory illnesses. In 2018, 25,000 recordable skin diseases were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at a rate of 2.2 injuries per 10,000 employees, compared to 19,600 respiratory illnesses with a rate of 1.7 illnesses per 10,000 employees. Most chemicals are readily Read more…
10/26/2020 Human nature: According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, human nature is the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans. Human nature encompasses the physical, biological, social, mental, and emotional characteristics that define our tendencies, abilities, as well as our limitations. One of the innate characteristics of human nature is imprecision. That is, we differ from a machine, which has the ability to perform a given process over and over while providing the same outcome (within a Read more…