Tag Archives: occupational

General Safety Issues

NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK

3 Comments

Led by Canada’s Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) this campaign was first launched in June of 1997, when an agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico was reached, with the goal to promote workplace safety within the boundaries of the three nations.  Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Week had been being observed for ten years prior to the beginning of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.  The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) joined with the CSSE in 2002, to promote public awareness of occupational safety, health, and the environment during this important week.  Other groups that are partners in this NAOSH Week are the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), Threads of Life, OSHA, Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP), and partners in Mexico.  Threads of Life is a national registered charity dedicated to supporting families along their journey of healing who have suffered from a workplace fatality, life-altering illness or occupational disease.  Their mission is to help families heal through a community of support and to promote the elimination of life-altering workplace injuries, illnesses, and death. 

This years NAOSH theme is “Celebrating a Century of Safety.”  The ASSE is not only celebrating their 100th anniversary, but it is also the 100th anniversary of one of the most terrible workplace disasters in United States history – the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.  In 1911, 146 men and women died in the Asch building in New York City.  When a fire began on one of the top floors of this building, workers rushed to escape; however, the doors were locked.  There were no fire sprinklers, even though the fire sprinkler head was patented in 1872.  There were no fire safety or prevention products or programs at the factory.  Because the fire escape had melted and broken off, the elevator operator tried to save as many people as he could, but as the fire spread, many jumped to their deaths to the street below.  Some even jumped into the elevator shaft.  Fire department ladders couldn’t reach the top floors of the building.  Soon after this disaster, public outrage led to a wave of new worker protection rules and regulations.  The ASSE was founded in New York City, and many said it was the beginning of our modern safety movement.  Since that time, ASSE and its’ more than 33,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members continue to work in all industries and their communities to ensure that another Triangle Factory fire never occurs again. 

NAOSH sponsors activities to support work safety and educate the public worldwide by members and organizations.  Events such as panel discussions on the history of safety, preventing distracted driving, recognizing winners from around the world of the kids’  “safety-on-the-job” poster contest, are just some of the tools that are used to enhance workplace safety worldwide.  The AOHP, a national association that represents thousands of healthcare workers whose vision is to be the defining resource and leading advocate for occupational health and safety in healthcare, states that NAOSH week “not only helps us keep our workers safe and contributes positively to a business’ bottom line, but makes sure there are smiles at the end of the day when that worker returns home safe and sound to their family.” 

Too many persons are dying from on-the-job injuries.  These organizations and others are working to help prevent injuries and illnesses  in industries worldwide.  Members of the groups have distributed catastrophe preparedness information, free teen worker safety and preventing roadway crash brochures, developed teen worker safety courses, helped Habitat for Humanity, held personal protective equipment (PPE) fashion shows, donated PPE and much more.  

NAOSH Week is observed the first full week of May each year.  On the Wednesday of NAOSH Week, Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day has been observed since 2007.  The American Society of Safety Engineers and Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, along with other members from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico encourages employers, employees, and the public to realize the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community.  We salute all those who work diligently to educate and promote safety in the workplace. 

Sources: Worksite News (Canada), American Society of Safety Engineers,  Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Hearing Protection

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? (OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS)

1 Comment

Controlling occupational noise can be one of the most cost-effective yet important facets of protection that companies can provide for their employees.  In the United States, every year, approximately 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise.  Noise-induced hearing loss can be reduced or eliminated through engineering controls and hearing conservation programs.  Even though hearing loss is one of the most common occupational illnesses, it is often ignored because there are no visible effects, it develops over a period of time, and with the exception of rare cases, there is no pain.  Persons experience a progressive loss of communication, socialization, and response to their environment.  

If you work in an industrial setting or operate loud machinery, you may experience short-term problems from too much noise, and your ears feel stuffed up, or you have temporary ringing in the ears (tinnitus.)  Repeated exposures to loud noise can lead to permanent, incurable loss of hearing or tinnitus.  Employers should reduce the noise exposure to below 85 dB (decibels.)  Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is a number that appears on the labels of all hearing protection products sold in the U.S.  This rating equals the level of noise reduction in decibels provided by the particular type of protective equipment (earmuff, earplugs) in a laboratory setting.  Since these conditions may be different from the actual working circumstance, the real work setting should have a walk-around survey, and possibly more complete evaluation to screen for noise exposure.  By checking the particular areas and how long the noise exists, needs for the correct protection can be determined. 

For factory or other environments, employees should choose options that decrease workplace noise levels.  They should select hearing protection that is comfortable, convenient, and easy to put on and off as needed.  Some of the choices are:

  • NRR Earmuffs: completely cover the ear.
  • Canal Caps: earplugs that are on a metal or plastic band that can go around the neck when taken off.
  • Premolded, reusable plugs: silicone, plastic, or rubber – “one size fits all,” as well as available in various sizes.
  • Expandable foam earplugs: made of formable material designed to expand and conform to the shape of each individual’s ear canal. 

Employers understand the risks associated with not controlling the noise level in their business, such as:

  • When employees cannot hear clearly, they may miss warnings from other workers and may be unable to avoid an accident.
  • Creates stress.
  • Reduces productivity.
  • If the noise level is 80 dB, persons have to speak very loudly to be heard.
  • If the level is between 85 and 90 dB, persons have to shout to be heard.
  • If the level is above 95 dB, persons would have to move closer to hear each other at all.

For example, after a survey is done of the work environment, if the time-weighted average noise level of, say 97 dB, the worker would need earmuffs with an NRR rating of at least 16 or earplugs with an NRR rating of at least 24, based on the ratings on the packaging. 

Not only can persons get hearing damage or loss from their work environment if they do not wear the proper protective gear, but young persons should pay heed to their parents’ advice to turn their music down.  When our son was a teenager, we could hear him a block away from the house, because the music was so loud in his truck.   I have noticed our grandson’s I-pod is so loud, I can hear the beat of the music he’s listening to with the speakers in his ears!  (Evidentally, they didn’t listen to me!)  Persons have been known to have hearing damage from noise levels at events such as World Cup soccer, football games, car races and other sporting venues.  It’s a good idea to invest in a pair of earplugs if you plan to attend a noisy concert or any loud event. 

Employers must make a decision that if there is a risk to their employees from exposure to noise, on how they can prevent or control this exposure to all sources of noise, even personal stereos.  Regular hearing checkups for employees can be useful to find out if they are experiencing any loss of hearing.  A unique tool, (individual dosimeter) is a personal sound noise measurement  device.  This system consists of a small dosimeter that is worn by employees in a shirt pocket or on the back of a hardhat.  It has special earplugs or an earmuff with integrated microphones that record real-time, in-ear noise levels, with a connecting harness.  An infrared reader allows safety managers to retrieve data from the dosimeter at the end of each shift or work-week and analyze the results on a personal computer.  The Personal Attenuation Rating determines the effectiveness of the employee’s earplug over a range of frequencies.  Then safety managers know if their employees are getting the best protection, or if they need additional training on how to fit their earplugs, or try something different. 

Think about this: noise-induced hearing loss is the second most-often reported occupational injury, and hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.

 

Sources: OSHA, NIOSH, HSME