ehs wire

 

 

blog horizontal banner

Environmental Health and Safety Blog | EHSWire

Top 10 Things to Know About Respiratory Protection & Fit Testing

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jul 28, 2009 9:18:19 AM

Kevin Zeller

1. OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.134 details the requirements for a Respiratory Protection Program.

2. A Respiratory Protection Program is mandatory if any employee is required to wear any type of respirator during the course of their job.

3. The establishment and maintenance of a Respiratory Protection Program is the responsibility of the employer and must of: a written program, employee training, fit testing’ and medical surveillance.

4. All employees who will be issued respiratory protection must be medically cleared to wear a respirator before fit testing and donning a respirator

5. Only respirators which have been certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) should be used

6. Fit testing for respirators is done to determine the correct size respirator for the employee.

7. Fit testing is required for all positive and negative pressure tight fitting facepieces.

8. Fit testing can be accomplished by using either a qualitative agent (eg Bitrex) or quantitatively (eg., PORTACOUNT®) with a probed face piece.

9. Fit testing must be conducted: prior to initial issuance of a respirator; when a different facepiece is used; when an employee’s physical changes may affect facepiece fit; and annually thereafter.

10. Employees must conduct a user seal check each time they wear a respirator to assure they have donned and adjusted the facepiece correctly.
Read More

Topics: NIOSH, OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, Lab Safety & Electrical, emergency response training, Fire Safety, Respiratory, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish, EMT, Fit Testing

Top 10: Water Safety at Work and Play

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jul 21, 2009 10:31:34 AM

Capt. John DeFillippo, CHMP, EMT-B


The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. It’s never too late and kids should learn to treat the water with respect at an early age. As a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, an EMT and a licensed captain working in marine salvage, I’ve seen my share of tragedies on the water. Sadly, nearly all were avoidable. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in and on the water this summer when on and off the clock.

At Play

1. Swim in a supervised, marked area with a lifeguard present and never swim alone.

2. Enter the water feet first. Enter the water headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving .

3. Adults should never leave a child unobserved around water. Practice "reach supervision" by staying within an arm's length when around the water.

4. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. You can't swim against a rip, don’t’ try.

5. Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children into the pool.

6. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area.

7. Take a Safe Boating Course. Many states now require this for operation of vessels, including personal water craft or jet-skies. Check your local laws.

8. Learn CPR and Basic First Aid. Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a life.

9. Leave water rescue to those who are trained. Too many would-be rescuers become victims themselves.

At Work

10. Do you or your employees work on, near or over water? Did you know that there are specific OSHA regulations covering the safety of such workers including required training and protective equipment? If you have any questions or you’re not sure, reply to this post or visit our Twitter page - @Emilcott and send a DM.
Read More

Topics: General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Compliance, worker safety, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, Safety Training in Spanish, water safety, EMT

Top Ten Things You Need to Know About…HEAT STRESS

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jul 14, 2009 7:54:55 AM

Top Ten Things You Need to Know About…HEAT STRESS

Paula Kaufmann - CIH
Read More

Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, emergency response training, Fire Safety, Exposure, Respiratory, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

There is no OSHA in many developing nations

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jun 11, 2009 9:38:16 AM

Sweatshop Conditions in Global Garment Factories – Efforts to Eliminate these Conditions

Paula Kaufmann - CIH
Read More

Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, H&S Training, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish, Codes of Conduct

Swine Flu: Webinar

Posted by Shivi Kakar

May 12, 2009 10:26:21 AM

Swine Flu Webinar: Planning, Prevention and Response

Dale Wilson, CIH LEED AP
Read More

Topics: health and safety, H&S Training, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish, Swine Flu

Healthy Vision Month: Make sure you can see your future!

Posted by Shivi Kakar

May 7, 2009 11:12:51 AM

Martha Hernandez


The National Eye Institute (NEI) has deemed May “Healthy Vision Month”. This year they are emphasizing getting your eyes checked by an eye care professional. Over 11 million Americans have one of the most common (and correctable) vision problems in the United States; refractive errors.

Read More

Topics: Personal Protective Equipment, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Occupational Health, Occupational Training

Safety Training Amidst the Melting Pot: The Importance of Effective and Understandable Training at the Workplace

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Apr 28, 2009 8:24:04 AM

Read More

Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, emergency response training, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish, Confined Space

“Mixing the Bomb”...The Importance of Following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Apr 14, 2009 8:11:21 AM

The Importance of Following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200

Diego Tolosa, CHST
Read More

Topics: OSHA, Personal Protective Equipment, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, HazCom, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, MSDS, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

Medical Records: Employee Rights & Employer Responsibilities

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Mar 31, 2009 10:29:43 AM

What You Should Know About Access to Your Employment Medical Records

Paula Kaufmann - CIH
Read More

Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Compliance, Occupational Health, Mold, Fire Safety, Medical Records

OSHA Standards: What Training Do You Need To Handle Hazardous Waste?

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Nov 10, 2008 8:32:13 AM

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR 1910.120 – Hazardous waste operations and emergency response requires workers who work at hazardous waste sites who may be exposed to safety and health hazards1 to receive initial and refresher training from qualified instructors. Initial training must be completed prior to work on hazardous waste sites. The following training discussion follows OSHA guidance in interpreting the standard. OSHA-approved state programs, however, may have differing interpretations or regulations.

Read More

Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, HazCom, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, Occupational Health, TSCA & R.E.A.C.H., emergency response training, environmental air monitoring, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

Subscribe to EHSWire.com!

Search EHSWire.com!

Latest Posts

Posts by category