Tag Archives: health risks

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH (GUEST POST)

By Jack Rubinger www.DuraLabel.com

403-469-3024 – jarubinger@graphicproducts.com 

Mine Safety & Health – New DVD from Graphic Products 

Portland, OR – Graphic Products, the world’s leading industrial label printer and supplier, has released “Mine Safety & Health”— a mining safety DVD created to generate increased awareness about the dangers of mining and to offer safety sign and label solutions. Mining disasters are dramatic and extremely dangerous. Know what to expect and how to lead workers to safety with this free DVD, which is available to those who fill out a form located at http://duralabel.com/free-gifts/free-msha-mining-dvd.php

Fires, cave-ins, explosions and other disasters hit miners and their families hard and safety signs and labels must perform 24/7/365 under some of the harshest conditions imaginable – deep underground, covered by soot and dust and in the dark and frigid cold. 

Clocking in at more than one hour, this value-packed DVD, viewable in both Spanish and English, educates viewers about chemical hazards, the dangers of dust and introduces the  DuraLabel Toro, the first 4-inch, battery-powered, fully network-independent printer that can go anywhere — making it ideal for miners. 

Compared to traditional vinyl cutters, which are slow and cumbersome, DuraLabel printers produce a wide range of labels in just minutes. 

“Mine equipment operators, mill operators and maintenance personnel face dangers every day, but traditional safety sign ordering methods are costly and too slow to make an immediate impact on safety,” explained Steve Stevenson, Chief Marketing Officer, Graphic Products, Inc. “Many Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) managers still dig through thick catalogs in search of just the right sign with the correct dimensions, colors and MSHA compliant language. Requisitions slow the process further. Ordering custom signs from sign shops is expensive and slow — especially for delivery to remote locations. Ordering signs from catalogs hinders getting signs up quickly.”  

The good news? Thermal transfer printers from Graphic Products, Inc. may be ordered directly and delivered overnight to remote sites. Almost immediately, users can create all the signs and labels needed and they’ll perform anywhere in and around the mine. Thermal transfer printers use heat to literally “bake” on graphics and text to vinyl and other supplies which have been tested to perform under the most demanding conditions. 

Signs and labels impact every inch of every mine. While no two mines are alike, most will benefit from traffic signs, facility signs, no smoking/cell phone signs, mine permit boundary signs and identification tags for exploration as well as pipe markers, valve tags and high voltage and Arc Flash NFPA70E signs. 

Graphic Products, Inc. manufactures mobile and wide-format labeling systems used by mining operations, manufacturers, international shipping lines, distribution centers, and oil refineries worldwide. Customers include Amazon.com, Boeing, Intel and Toyota. 

To underscore its commitment to visual communications, Graphic Products provides a growing selection of free published articles, best practice guides, handbooks, webinars, blogs, and informational videos. 

Graphic Products offers more than 50 unique labeling supplies for virtually any industrial demand, as well as advanced labeling systems for any size job. DuraLabel and Graphic Products have solved problems in the industrial safety arena for more than 40 years. For more information, visit www.DuraLabel.com, call 800-788-5572 or email Jack Rubinger at jarubinger@graphicproducts.com.

IT’S TIME FOR THE “TOP TEN” MOST DANGEROUS JOBS IN THE U.S.

Back in 2009, we featured posts about the Top Ten Most Dangerous Jobs in our country;  we recently read an article about the same subject. Not surprisingly, many of the same ones continue to be on the list.  We want to review with you these hazardous jobs, both then and now, plus a few that we had listed three years ago.

FISHING: Fishers and fishing workers really have the most dangerous job in the country.  They must deal with inclement weather, malfunctioning gear, and transportation incidents that all add up to the fact that this profession has had the highest rate in the U.S. since 1992.  Their fatality rate is 116 per 100,000 workers, and average annual salary is $25,590.

LOGGING WORKERS:  More than one-half of incidents injuring loggers are the result of being struck by an object. (Maybe a tree?)  Loggers spend most of their days outside with terrible weather, heavy machinery, and high altitudes, and, according to the AxMen show, bad attitudes toward co-workers!  Fatality rate is 91.9 per 100,000 workers – 59 total, with the average annual salary being $32,870.

Next, AIRLINE PILOTS AND FLIGHT ENGINEERS.  Our top ten list in 2009 showed that small aircraft – cropdusters, banner planes, fire-fighting planes were more liable to experience crashes, especially the Alaskan bush pilots, because of sudden weather changes.  We cannot dispute that those who hold so many souls in their hands have a very huge responsibility every time they get behind the wheel.  The fatality rate is 70.6 per 100,000 workers, or 78 total.  Average annual salary for airline pilots is $118,070 and $76,050 for commercial pilots.

FARMERS AND RANCHERS:  Those who grow the very foods we consume and materials for our clothing are always among the most dangerous professions.  Their hours are very long, they must operate heavy machinery and equipment, and contrary animals.  Their fatality rate is 41.4 per 100,000 workers, or 300 total.  An average salary is estimated to be $60,750.

MINING:  Fifty countries in the world produce coal.  Besides risking health problems, such as “black lung” disease, they must risk suffocation, roof collapses, explosions.  Standard equipment must be worn by miners, including hardhats, goggles, hardhat lights, gloves, and steel-toed boots.  Heavy materials, close quarters and explosives all played into mining’s high fatality rate.  Mining machines operators have a rate of 38.7 per 100,000 workers, or 23 fatalities total.  The average annual salary for miners is $37,230 to $89,440.

ROOFERS:  Falls are one of the leading causes of fatal injuries or non-fatal injuries from working on roofs.  General construction work is among the most injury-prone jobs.  Everyone working at heights should be mandated to be fitted with fall-arrest equipment.  The fatality rate is 32.4 per 100,000 workers, or 57 total annually.  Their annual salary is $34,220.

REFUSE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIAL COLLECTORS:  Better known as waste management professionals, these guys were on our list in 2009, as well.  Their risk factors include getting hit by passers-by, compressed in equipment, and handling chemical or toxic materials such as improperly disposed needles.  This job was also listed as #4 in the most dangerous occupation for nonfatal injuries, primarily lacerations.  Fatality rate is 29.8 per 100,000 workers – 26 total, and average annual salary is $34,420.

TRUCK DRIVERS:  In our 2009 report, it was stated that many truck drivers crashed because of the carelessness of other drivers.  Seventy per cent of truckers who crashed as the result of  someone getting in their way.  Think about this the next time you cut in front of a truck that may weigh 40 tons.  Who do you think would win this race?  Truckers face long hours and overexertion.  Their fatality rate is 21.8 per 100,000 workers – 683 total.  Average salary $37,930 for heavy truck drivers and $29,080 for light truck drivers.

STUNTMAN:  This job did not make our 2009 list.  It  is still considered one of the most dangerous in the country due to long hours, and obvious dangers of their stunt. The last available figures showed 2.5 fatalities per 1,000 stunt workers.  Average annual salary $70,000.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS:  These folks always make the top ten most dangerous jobs list.  One hundred and thirty four police and sheriff’s patrol officers lost their lives on the job in 2010, a 40 per cent increase over 2009.  Fatality rate is 18 per 100,000 workers: 133 total.  Average annual salary is $56,250.  Our park rangers and border partrol officers are facing more violence every day because of drug cartels.

TAXI DRIVERS were on our list back in 2009.  Those who work in large cities risk violence every day, with every passenger they pick up.  It is an occupation where you don’t trust anyone.  GPS devices can track where the taxis are, and the company can keep up with them accordingly.  OSHA has suggested they work with an open mike switch, be equipped with a first aid kit and flashlight, are in constant communication with dispatch, have bullet-proof partitions and on-board cameras.

We feel sure you know of other jobs that should be counted among the most dangerous.  Firefighters, drilling rig workers, utility workers, roadway workers, some that perform green jobs – these and more can be very stressful.  Ones’ profession should be chosen with care.  If it is what you love doing, then go for it.  If you are not sure that it’s a safe choice, go down another road.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor; Bankrate.com