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

COVID-19 and Hand Washing

4/13/2020 Any virus – and that includes COVID-19 – is not a living organism.  The fact is, viruses are protein molecules; more specifically, a chain of ribonucleic acid, or simply RNA.  It differs from deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, as RNA is a single strand molecule, whereas DNA is double stranded. And while DNA and RNA play essential roles for the coding, decoding, regulation and expression of our individual genetic make-up, there are many types of Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

N95 Masks

3/30/2020 COVID-19 has taken center stage everywhere throughout the country. It’s in the news – just about 100%.  It is also the main topic of conversation in restaurants, cafes and coffee houses – well, it would be the main topic of conversation if restaurants, cafes and coffee houses were open. And because of the COVID-19 outbreak, new words and phrases have crept into our lexicon. Specifically, PPE (for personal protective clothing) and N95 masks. Being Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Working in Remote Locations

3/23/2020 Many of today’s work assignments call for working in remote areas. This may be performing geophysical surveys in a desert environment during the summer months where heat stress is a predominant concern or working at locations where the terrain poses slip, trip and fall hazards. In addition, carrying supplies only exacerbates conditions by increasing the likelihood of ergonomic challenges. Fall hazards may be encountered at steep embankments when a team may be trying to Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Ergotism – The Rye Poisoning

3/1/2021 Today, as we are amid the SARS-Co-2 Corona virus pandemic, epidemiologists are warning that this may only be a chapter in our world’s history of world-wide illnesses with future cases of diseases spreading across the globe yet to come.  The fact is, the world has continuously been plagued by uncontrolled disease.  We all familiar with the Spanish Flu that occurred one hundred years ago and of course, the bubonic plague that devastated civilization during Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

The Warehouse Paint Fire and Zero Accident Prevention

3/8/2021 It happened on May 27, 1987 in a warehouse owned and operated by a large paint manufacturer in Dayton, Ohio, where a workman, using a forklift, contacted the storage rack system while backing up. This action caused several cans of paint and flammable liquids to be knocked over. The subsequent investigation concluded that the flammable liquid spilled onto the electric motor of the forklift. Because the forklift motor was NOT rated as being intrinsically Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Spotter Safety

3/16/2020 It was at a very busy work area when a bin truck, while backing up, accidentally ran over a loose cable that was attached to its front. As the truck kept moving backward, the cable got tighter to the point that the tension became so great it became a sling shot, traveling over the truck, and with extreme speed, hit the front window with such force that it was smashed. While the driver did Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

Asbestos

3/9/2020 When working on a remediation project, there is a good chance that we may run into asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Asbestos was popular as an insulator of pipes, floor and ceiling tiles, roof shingles as well as many other building materials.  Due to the severe health effects from exposure to airborne asbestos fibers – such as asbestosis, increased risk to lung cancer as well as mesothelioma (a unique form of cancer that is associated with Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

What needs to be performed during a monthly inspection for fire extinguishers (F/Es)? First, look for any damage. This is a visual check where we note any considerable wear or impairment to any portion of F/E components. This can include a dented or punctured cylinder. Next look to see if parts such as the release lever or handle are intact. Next, check the pull pin. It should be secured with breakable plastic tie.  A typical Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

PPE – The Last Resort

2/17/2020 I think we have all heard many times that personal protective equipment (PPE) is always to be the last resort in the hierarchy of hazard controls. But do we understand why? PPE refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, respirators, hard hats as well as other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or contamination. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago

It’s Up To Us!

1/13/2020 Recently, I went to a political rally. It was the first time I ever attended such an event. Who was the featured candidate? Not important.  Just that after all my years of seeing political rallies on television, I felt it was time to see what really goes on at such venues. And when the evening concluded, I knew one thing for certain; that is, those pollical rallies back in the 1960’s and 70’s do Read more…

By Robert Brounstein, ago