Safe Handling of Chemicals in the Workplace

In the work environment chemicals are commonplace and necessary for making our jobs easier and more productive. There are many hazards associated with these benefits. Failure to understand the hazards of products can lead to their casual use and often leads to employee injuries, costly clean-up, or property losses. Used properly, most products can be both safe and effective. So how can an employer protect workers required to use chemicals as part of their daily work? 

Below are some simple guidelines:

1. Identify the chemicals you use.

2. Take an inventory of all chemicals used in your workplace by department. List the quantities on hand, where they are stored, and what they are stored in.

3. Request Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the companies that supply the chemicals you have identified on the inventory list. Keep a log of all MSDSs on hand. These will be needed for training of employees and for quick reference in the event of an emergency.

4. Label all containers with the following information:
• Name of the chemical.
• Concentration (strength) of the chemical.
• Information about hazards associated with the chemical (For example, skin irritant) and emergency information (“If chemical gets in eyes…”).
• The manufacturer’s name.
• The date of manufacture (chemicals can degrade over time).

5. Identify the safe uses of the chemicals in your workplace:
• Follow safe handling instructions and identify personal protective equipment to be used while handling chemicals.
• Beware of instructions regarding the mixing of chemicals.
• Always wash yourself thoroughly after handling chemicals. If a chemical spills on you, wash it off at once. Some workplaces have a chemical shower that you can use to get cleaned up quickly.
• Don’t eat, drink, or smoke when you’re handling chemicals. You could accidentally swallow some chemicals or accidentally ignite flammable chemicals if you’re smoking.

Chemicals must always be stored in a safe place with similar-type chemicals. You should never store chemicals with food items. Most chemicals will belong to a specific category, and you need to make sure that only chemicals from the same category are stored together. If you’re not sure what category a chemical belongs to, always check its label or refer to its MSDS.

Categories might include:

Flammable Chemicals
Chemicals such as methanol, ethanol, and kerosene are very flammable and need to be kept away from heat and substances that might cause them to ignite or explode. In most workplaces, flammable chemicals are stored in a separate cupboard or cabinet that has been specially designed for them.

Oxidizing Substances
Oxidizing chemicals quickly and easily react with other chemicals. Because of this, they should only be stored with other oxidizing chemicals.

Corrosive chemicals
Chemicals such as acids can corrode substances. They can also react violently and explosively if they come into contact with other types of chemicals.

A High-Fat Diet Can Make You Tired At Work

Eating fatty foods can lead to daytime sleepiness as well as sleep problems at night, according to a study from the University of Adelaide.

As part of the study, more than 1,800 Australian men ages 35 to 80 reported their eating habits during a one-year period. Researchers adjusted for lifestyle, demographic factors and chronic diseases. They found that men who consumed the highest amount of fat were more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness. A high-fat diet also was linked to sleep apnea.

Among the men surveyed, 47 percent said they slept poorly at night and 41 percent reported feeling tired during the day. In addition, about 54 percent experienced mild-to-moderate sleep apnea, and one-quarter had moderate-to-severe sleep apnea. The men were not previously diagnosed with the condition.

“This has significant implications for alertness and concentration, which would be of particular concern to workers,” Yingting Cao, study author and University of Adelaide doctoral student, said in a press release. “The simple message is a common-sense one, but we need more people to pay attention to it: We need to eat better; a good sleep the night before is best.”

The study was published April 8 in the journal Nutrients.

The results are similar to a study conducted by Columbia University researchers that found diets high in saturated fat and sugar – and low in fibre – may lead to lighter, more disrupted sleep.

WORKING PAST AGE 65 MAY RESULT IN LONGER LIFE

Working after the age of 65 may result in a longer life, according to a new study from Oregon State University.

Researchers examined data from nearly 3,000 adults in the Health and Retirement Study from 1992 until their retirement in 2010. To explore how factors other than health impact mortality, researchers split participants into two groups: unhealthy retirees, who cited poor health as one reason they decided to retire, and healthy retirees.

Taking into account participants’ demographic, lifestyle and health factors, results showed that working one year past the typical retirement age of 65 had a positive impact on mortality rate, regardless of health status, a press release from OSU states. Healthy retirees who worked a year past age 65 had an 11 percent lower risk of death from all causes; for unhealthy retirees, the risk was 9 percent lower.

The findings indicate that staying active could benefit longevity, researchers said, adding that further research is necessary to explore the connection between work and health.

“It may not apply to everybody, but we think work brings people a lot of economic and social benefits that could impact the length of their lives,” Chenkai Wu, lead study author and doctoral student in the university’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences, said in the release.

Staying Safe in Construction: Steps To Note

The steps are:

For new employees:

1

Establish a buddy system for all new hires.

2

Hold safety orientation sessions for all new hires, including temporary workers.

Ongoing training:

3

Ensure managers and supervisors have the appropriate leadership and effective communication skills to instil safety culture and concepts into the workforce.

4

Institute two separate Pre-Task Hazard Analysis training programs.

5

Hold monthly “lunch and learn” safety training programs.

6

Require all foremen and superintendents to attend “Leadership in Safety Excellence” certification courses.

7

Hold targeted safety training to address all safety incidents.

8

Make sure all training and materials are available in languages that can be read by all members of your workforce.

9

Train your trainers.

Operating procedures:

10

Create worker task-specific “pocket safety guides” for every assigned task.

11

Establish craft-specific safety mentoring programs.

12

Issue easy-to-read badges to all workers indicating their level of training.

13

Authorize all workers to issue “stop work” cards to address safety risks.

Guide To Safe Lifting

Lifting and carrying objects is common for many workers in most industries. But training is important. If performed improperly, lifting and carrying items can lead to injuries. Common materials-handling injuries include strains and sprains (specifically to the back), cuts, fractures, and bruises.

Manual materials handling is a very complex combination of moving body segments, changing joint angles, tightening muscles and loading the spinal column. 

The following DOs and DON'Ts are recommended by the National Safety Council pertaining to lifting.

Do:

• Eliminate manual lifting whenever possible to help reduce injuries.
• Stay in good physical shape if lifting items is part of your job.
• Keep materials within easy reach and have handling aids around in case you need them.
• Make sure you have a good grip on any item you attempt to lift. Test the weight and balance of items before moving them. Too heavy? Get a mechanical lifting aid or ask a co-worker for assistance.
• Keep the item you are lifting close to your body. Ensure your feet are close to the load, stand in a stable position with your feet pointed in the direction you’re moving, and lift mostly by straightening your legs.

Don’t:

• Twist your back or bend in a sideways direction.
• Attempt to lift or lower an object if you’re in an awkward position.
• Feel compelled to lift an item that is too heavy – get help instead.
• Lift or lower an object if your arms are extended.
• Continue to lift an item if you realize it’s too heavy.
• Lift above your shoulders or below your knees.

Climate Change Can Adversely Affect Worker Health and Safety

Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of occupational hazards and exposures – and create new ones, according to a report from the US Global Change Research Program. 

Outdoor workers are often some of the first people exposed to the effects of climate change through higher temperatures, lower air quality, extreme weather, diseases, industrial exposures and environment changes, the report states. These exposures can result in heat-related illnesses, stress and fatigue, potentially raising the risk of injury.

Affected workers include agricultural workers, fishermen, construction workers, first responders and transportation workers. Workers in hot indoor environments, such as steel mills, warehouses and dry cleaners, also are at risk. Health effects from climate change can increase for certain workers, such as migrant workers and day labourers, who lack access to air conditioning or live in poorly insulated housing.

In addition, climate change can lead to severe weather events, such as flooding and drought, resulting in a greater need for first responders and potentially exposing those responders to hazards, the report states. Wildfires are also increasing in severity and frequency, posing danger to fire-fighters.

The report lists factors that can contribute to climate change exposure, including:

  1. Occupation

  2. Spending time at risky locations, such as urban areas, areas with allergens and pollutants, and    flood-prone areas

  3. Response to extreme weather events

  4. Socioeconomic status

  5. Older buildings

  6. Limited mobility and function

Top 10 "Serious" and "Wilful" Safety Violations of 2015

A “serious” violation is defined by OSHA as “one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.”

OSHA defines a “willful” violation as one “committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and requirements.”