The Safety Brief

Drive Safely Work Week is all about workers driving to, at and from work. Get the free media tool kit from NETS. Save lives, save injuries October 5-9, 2015. In this podcast, Dan Clark tell about the kit you can use to promote important driving information via social media or the lunchroom bulletin board. https://www.thesafetybrief.com/drive-safely-work-week-2015/

OSHA Top 10 Violations 2015 are a snapshot of safety in the United States. Employers should use this list as a guide to find hazards in their own workplace. OSHA and the National Safety Council released the OSHA Top 10 on Sept. 29 at the NSC Congress & Expo 2015 in Atlanta. More at:  https://www.thesafetybrief.com/osha-top-10-violations-2015/

Asbestos fibers can damage lungs years after exposure. Help spread the word about asbestos hazards on Mesothelioma Awareness Day September 26th. Even though it was mostly banned in the 70s, asbestos is still a danger in old buildings and products.  Hear about dangers current and retired workers face with mesothelioma.

Driverless trucks for highway work zones will soon be tested by Florida and other states. Hear how autonomous trucks using military technology can be safe.  The “Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator” is the safe answer to protecting road construction crews without risking driver injury. More:  https://www.thesafetybrief.com/driverless-trucks-in-road-construction-zones/

Safety data sheet compliance is hard when suppliers don’t update. Hear OSHA experts answer five important questions on SDSs required in Hazard Communication. OSHA's Lana Nieves and Sven Rundman of The Directorate of Enforcement Programs explain what importers and manufacturers need to do in developing a compliant safety data sheet. More here: https://www.thesafetybrief.com/5-safety-data-sheet-questions-for-osha/

Hazcom label rules are confusing. Get chemical labeling answers direct from OSHA on their Hazard Communication Standard, HCS, implemented June 1st. Hear about labeling bulk shipping containers, refillable containers, secondary containers, pictograms and more. This podcast features HCS labeling highlights from the SCHC OSHA Alliance webcast Sept. 9th, 2015. More here: https://www.thesafetybrief.com/7-hazcom-label-questions-for-osha/

A car wash chemical can burn skin and even be fatal. A new hazard alert warns of handling hydrofluoric acid used to wash cars and trucks in your fleet. Washington state’s Department of Labor and Industries issued a warning in August about potential burns, nerve damage and paralysis caused by HF acid. In this podcast, Dan Clark describes the care needed when dealing with hydrofluoric acid in products used to wash vehicles.

Dr. John Dement has the fix for lung problems on construction job sites. Construction workers breathing vapors, gases, dusts and fumes are at risk of COPD. Dr. Dement studied nearly 20,000 workers in construction. He found an 18 percent jump in lung problems. In this podcast, Dr. Dement tells host Dan Clark about the study, and how companies should use engineering controls to reduce vapors, gases, dusts and fumes (VGDF). Transcript:  https://www.thesafetybrief.com/construction-workers-wheezing-from-copd/

Pesticide safety needs an uptick! Thousands are poisoned annually and many don’t know why. Dan Clark explains ways for workers—those applying pesticides—to keep themselves safe from the chemicals. Tips include droplet size, nozzle adjustment, PPE and more. Dan also describes many ways to isolate people from pesticides during and after application. Hear about the various symptoms of exposure and the toll free phone number for the Poison Control Centers.

A new fatality database can help workers avoid death dangers and help managers predict which jobs generate risk. Hear how most accidents are preventable. The National Council For Occupational Safety And Health created the database. It is compiled by volunteers dedicated to workplace safety. Dan Clark details the 2015 data. See links at https://www.thesafetybrief.com/fatality-database-could-save-lives/