Electrical
How to Clean Up Chemical Spills in the Lab
Whether large or small, spills require caution and skill to contain them safely. Here’s a quick general response guide on how to clean up chemical spills in the lab. If the spill can result in vapors or airborne dust, shut doors and windows to the lab and increase ventilation through fume hoods. If your facility’s […]
Crane Inspection Checklist
Before conducting a successful crane safety inspection, it’s important to understand the kind of inspection you need to perform. Crane inspections are of two types—frequent and periodic [20 CFR 1910.179(j).] [Note that OSHA Standard 1910 covers only general industry. For cranes used in construction and shipyards, see 29 CFR parts 1926 and 1915, respectively.] Frequent […]
Safety Checklist: Forklift Battery Charging Areas
Charging forklift batteries requires training and caution due to the batteries’ weight, the corrosive sulfuric acid contained within, the possibility of explosive hydrogen fumes, and the chance of electric shocks on unprotected exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard, 29 CFR 1910.178(g), lays out the safety requirements for forklift battery charging areas. 1. […]
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell, no color, and most commonly occurs as the byproduct of burning fuel, whether from a furnace, an auto engine, or a forklift. In high concentrations, carbon monoxide prevents red blood cells from transporting oxygen. Beware carbon monoxide leaks, because they cannot be seen, smelled or […]
Electrical Hazards: Don’t Get Shocked, Plan in Advance
Electricity is ubiquitous and dangerous. It can cause burns, falls, electric shock and even fatal electrocution. The best way to deal with electric shocks is to not get shocked at all. Be careful and be prepared! Inspect all tools, electrical systems and equipment before use. Remove anything damaged or defective from service. Use equipment according […]
Overhead power lines pose highest risk during non-electrical work
Since 1992, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track, overhead power lines have caused more work-related electrical injuries than any other type of electrical contact. They were also the No. 1 cause of electrical fatalities from 1992 through 2010, accounting for 44 percent. While power line construction and electrical work see the highest […]
USPS will improve electrical safety under settlement with OSHA
Initially cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with $3 million in fines for electrical hazards, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) authorities have now managed to reduce the amount by reaching a settlement with the Department of Labor and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and agreeing to improve electrical safety in the […]
Rox Coal Inc. fined $110,000 for violation of electrical safety standard
Pennsylvania mine operator Rox Coal Inc will have to pay $110,000 in fines for violating an electrical hazard safety standard. The mine’s chief electrician had deliberately disabled the safety switch a couple of days before sending two workers to change fuses. As a result, on October 3, 2007, one of the miners was shocked while […]
Electrical safety for children and senior citizens
“Nearly seven children a day are treated in emergency rooms for electric shock or burns caused by tampering with a wall outlet and one-third of people who are killed by home electrical fires are over the age of 65.” The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) will use May’s National Electrical Safety Month to increase awareness […]