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OSHA conducted 32,408 site inspections in 2017. More than 18,000 of these occurred as the result of an incident. Environmental incidents also attract the attention of authorities. The EPA collected $2.98 billion in criminal fines, restitution and mitigation in the same period.
According to ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2004, plumbed emergency eyewash and eye/face wash stations should be visually inspected and activated every week. Equipment requires annual servicing to ensure effective operation.
Aerosol spray paint cans make life easier. They speed up painting jobs, offer a smooth finish without brush or roller marks and enable painting in hard-to-reach places. But, aerosol cans are also hazardous. Both the product and the propellant are usually flammable.
Everyone that stores, dispenses and uses flammable liquids is sensitive to the risk of fire and injury. Workplace safety measures help lower the risks and ensure employee wellbeing. When managing flammable liquids, always do the following...
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) keeps a record of incidents and lessons learned. Workplace incidents and injuries involving chemical splashes and burns cause severe reactions and could lead to permanent damage. Reasons for such accidents include carrying chemicals in unsafe containers, broken equipment or incorrect procedures.
Many companies use aerosol cans every day but hate the high costs of hazardous waste disposal. They may choose to recycle their used or empty aerosol cans. In many cases, they’re unsure of how to empty the cans. They may even puncture them with a screwdriver, draining out the remaining contents.
In August 2018, teachers and staff at a middle school in Norfolk, MA, were preparing for the start of the school year as the annual fire inspection took place. In a science classroom, the town building and fire department officials noticed a strange chemical odor coming from a chemical storage cabinet. The garlicy smell was due to a reaction that had occurred in a container of calcium carbide.
The mission of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is to protect all workers from occupational hazards. AIHA volunteer groups work with OSHA to identify and educate on common hazards within specific industries. For instance, the Laboratory Health and Safety Committee reviews lab safety incidents.
Safety cabinets store flammable, corrosive or hazardous chemicals. They protect them from fire and keep them secure for controlled use. Both OSHA and the EPA require the use of original packaging or sealed containers for the chemicals inside your safety cabinet. But, even with these precautions organic chemical vapors may still be present.
Working with flammable, and combustible or corrosive liquids can be confusing and dangerous. To ensure a safe workplace, there are many regulations that apply to their storage, handling and dispensing. Besides the obvious safety risks, fires and explosions can also cause property damage, financial losses and environmental incidents.
