Category for Top Posts
By Jerome E. Spear, CIH, CSP, FAIHA Crystalline silica, an extremely common material found in most soils and rock formations, is a dangerous occupational hazard for workers in industries like mining and construction. These particles are very fine and, once inhaled, easily travel through the respiratory system. Deposits of this material in the lungs cause…
By Jerome E. Spear, CIH, CSP, FAIHA According to a 2020 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1,030 workers died in confined spaces between 2011 to 2018. Each of these deaths represents a nightmare scenario in which the proper safety precautions were not taken to protect workers placed in dangerous situations. This article reviews…
Process Safety Management (PSM) is essential to controlling hazardous materials and preventing disasters or catastrophic incidents. With talk of updating the current PSM Standard, we have provided key focus areas to consider for risk reduction.
By Jeremy J. Lancaster, CSP. Excavation and trenching pose serious threats to worker safety. I personally experienced the long-lasting consequences of unsafe excavation and trenching practices when I lost my brother to a fatal excavation collapse. This article offers key lessons in safety and prevention to stop similar future fatalities. Excavation and trenching are some…
By Mike Randall, CSP and Jeremy J. Lancaster, CSP Improper rigging, not knowing the full weight of the load, and load movement during lifting are all common causes of crane incidents. Being aware of the sling configuration and its impact on capacity will go a long way to ensure a lift is performed safely. When…
Industrial incidents, both nonfatal and fatal, continue to occur at a dangerous and unacceptable level. In 2021, 2.6 million nonfatal injuries or illnesses were reported. In the same year, 5,190 fatal work-related injuries occurred across all sectors. Annual Fatal Incidents Have Trended Upward Since 2011 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Furthermore, the Chemical Safety…
Workplace safety and health are critical for employees and employers. Ensuring a safe work environment is crucial not only for the well-being of workers but also for the productivity and success of a business. Industrial hygiene is the art and science of recognizing, evaluating, and controlling occupational and environmental health hazards that may cause health…
Proper Maintenance and Inspection Jerome E. Spear, CIH, CSP, FAIHA | Mike Randall, CSPFeatured in Water Well Journal “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” is an often used cliché frequently spoken or written in a figurative context. Although not a chain, wire rope is often an integral part of many pieces…
By Jerome E. Spear, CIH, CSP, FAIHA According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one death occurs in every 10 confined space accidents. Injuries and fatalities involving confined spaces often involve successive fatalities when “would-be” rescuers succumb to the same problem as the initial victim. Almost every kind of industry has some type…
By Jerome E. Spear, CIH, CSP, FAIHA Heinrich’s study in 1931 concluded that for every serious injury, about 29 minorinjuries occur with 300 other occurrences that produce no injury (Heinrich 90). In anotherstudy, Bird and Germaine showed a 500:100:1 relationship among property-damageaccidents, minor-injury accidents, and disabling injury accidents (Bird and Germain 21).Fletcher reported a ratio…
