VPP, OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program: Part 1
A robust health and safety management program can benefit any workplace no matter how large or small. Recognizing this, OSHA developed an assistance program called VPP for Voluntary Protection Program.
In one published report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics indicated that nearly 40% of all medically treated injuries due to manual tools in the United States involved knives or retractable blades.
In this column the Safety Guys offer a few basic tips on safe use of compressed gas cylinders and preventing accidents and close calls.
This issue we are going to discuss the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hazard diamond, sometimes referred to as the fire diamond, and how to decipher the information it contains.
No, we are not talking about a new state lottery. We are talking about Lockout/Tagout, the process by which equipment is put into a safe condition so repairs or maintenance can take place.
This month the Safety Guys alert you to the potential significant physical hazards present at crime scenes and in the workplace.
Wasting Away: Handling Laboratory Hazardous Wastes
This month the Safety Guys provide an introduction and overview of hazardous waste handling in a typical forensic laboratory. Our focus will be on hazardous chemical wastes.
Protecting Workers Pays Off: Part 2
The first part of this article discussed the grim statistics for worker illnesses, injuries, and deaths in American workplaces. This second, and final, installment picks up that theme and presents the rest of the story in favor of protecting workers.
Protecting Workers Pays Off: Part 1
With the new OSHA administration and potential new legislation, taking the risk of non-compliance could prove very costly and a bad business decision.
The following recommendations have been culled from years of dealing with IEQ complaints. Often the fix is very simple and costs almost nothing.
Take a Look: Choosing the Right Safety Glasses
Of all the hazards faced as a forensic specialist, the one ubiquitous danger faced almost daily is hazard to the eyes.
Almost daily we review accident or injury reports that remind us about the dangers of slips, trips, and falls and the heavy cost associated with the resulting injuries. A few recent statistics hammer home the reality of the concern:
Keeping The Flow: Getting The Most From Your Chemical Fume Hood
One of the most important fixtures in any laboratory, including a well-outfitted forensic lab, is the chemical fume hood. Regardless of the specific type selected, there are a few design parameters and basic operational principles that should be used across the board.
The increased use of computers in forensic laboratories warrants a close look at workstation ergonomics.
In this column the Safety Guys take a look at building green and some of the potential health and safety issues involved.
Building green is gaining more and more momentum. So, what does this mean for the forensic facility manager? This column will give you a brief overview of LEED, planting the seed for your next renovation or construction project so you can go green.
It’s important to monitor ambient noise levels in forensic laboratories both in the design phase and during operation.
Continue reading to learn how to develop training that will keep your attendees interested and focused.
A Fresh Look at Your Old Lab: The People
Yoga instructors often say we should close our eyes and open them as a child to see the world anew. We ask that you take a walk through your lab, observing your staff, looking at all with the eyes of a child, with unprejudiced honesty of all you see.
A Fresh Look at Your Old Lab: the Facilities
Does the lab you manage represent the message you would want to pass on to those entrusted to you? Take a walk through your lab, looking at all with the eyes of a child, with unprejudiced honesty of all you see.
Making Sense of MSDS: The Foundation of Safe Chemical Management
A few months ago an entirely preventable tragedy occurred when a UCLA research assistant was burned over 43% of her body and died eighteen days later in a hospital burn unit. A quick glance at the compound’s MSDS might have prevented this terrible loss.
Don't Get Burned: UV Exposure in the Workplace
Hazards of UV do not distinguish between work and home, and the exposure guidelines for the general public for sun exposure are certainly applicable to the workplace as well.
