According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the number of nonfatal injuries decreased 7% from 2007 to 2008. 

In 2008, the severity of injury required an employee to take 8 days to recuperate compared to 7 days away from work in 2007.

Injuries to workers 55-64 increased 3%.

Injuries to workers 65 and older , increased 13%.

Injuries to Hispanic workers increased 10%.

In 2008, sprain or strain injuries accounted for 39% of the injuries.  40% of these injuries were back injuries.

By reviewing the above statistics, you can determine if your workers fall into any of the above categories.  Also, determine what activities could result in a sprain or strain.  Concentrate on these areas for the next few months.  If you need a tailgate safety meeting for back injuries, contact me at tpenewell@mrsoshasafety.com and I’ll send you tailgate meetings covering these hazards—FREE!

Respirators protect workers from a variety of hazards—chemical, biological and radiation.  Some of these hazards involve immediate life-threatening or may protect workers from hazards when performing ordinary tasks.

The goal of the respirator is to seal off and isolate the wearer’s respiratory system.  This allows work  to be performed in a hazardous atmosphere

To correctly select the proper respirator, it is necessary to know what airborne hazards are present in the work environment.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approves respirators and respirators fall in 3 main categories.

1.      Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators (Usually discarded when done—sometimes called N95 respirators.)

The N95 respirator is the most commonly used respirator. N95 translates:  not resistant to oil and filters against 95% of the airborne particles. (See table below.)

2.   Elastomeric Respirators (Reusable)

3.   Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR)

*High Efficiency Particulate Air.

The two most common types of Particle filtering respirators are filtering and elastomeric.  Elastomeric respirators have a facepiece and replaceable cartridges.

If your respirator is NIOSH approved, it has a NIOSH approval number.  Usually this number is found on the packaging, not on the respirator itself.  Both an approval label and instructions come with all NIOSH-approved respirators.

OSHA has a great video showing how to put on, wear and take off respirators.  Click here for free training video.  http://tinyurl.com/yhdu9n4

If your employees need to wear respirators, your company needs a respirator policy that meets federal or state guidelines. 

REMEMBER

·       Poor safe work habits can lead to legal difficulties

·       Safety Compliance can affect the ability of the Company to bid for and obtain work.

·       Supervisors can have individual liability.

·       The purpose of an effective safety program is not avoiding OSHA citations, but preventing exposure.