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Showing posts from October, 2010

Why Dust should be controlled in Workplaces

Airborne dust particles can pose as a great risk to the safety and health of workers. Dust can be generated by a wide range of industrial activities. The agricultural, construction and mining industries are the main industries that contribute to most of the atmospheric dust levels. The release of dust particles in workplaces is a frequent occurrence, but it is undesirable. An excessive emission of dust can cause both industrial and health problems. Workers have often faced health hazards like occupational respiratory diseases and irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, throat and nose. While industries face such problems of dust and fire explosion, impaired visibility, damage to equipment, unpleasant odors and community relation problems. A greater concern is the health hazards it poses to the employees when they are exposed to these harmful dust particles. Prolonged exposure to harmful irrespirable dust will cause serious respiratory diseases that will be a long term difficulty for the wo

Facts about Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency created within the Department Of Labor, which regulates and enforces workplace safety standards. The investigations of workplace incidents as well as safety complaints are the responsibility of the OSHA inspectors and they have the discretionary authority to impose fines to an organization based on the seriousness of a given violation. OSHA’s main aim is to aid companies keep compliance with the safety regulations which they have developed. OSHA’s Creation: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970 was developed as a means to protect workers in the United States from illness, injury and death in the workplace. Private sector employers with eleven or more employees are subject to the OSH Act’s regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established on April 28, 1971 as a part of the act’s provision with an authorization to implement the act’s provision. OSHA’s Record-Keeping Requ

The Basic Requirements of all Exit Routes

All the exit routes of a work place are supposed to be a permanent part of a work place. Construction materials have to be used to separate an exit route from the various other parts of the workplace. If the exit connects three or fewer stories, it must have a one hour fire resistance rating. If four or more stories are connected, a two hour fire resistance rating is required. Also, all the openings into an exit have to be limited. Only those openings are permitted that allow access from the occupied areas of the work place. The opening into an exit has to be protected by a self closing fire door. This door should remain closed or should close automatically in case of an emergency upon the ringing of a fire alarm. General industry courses approved by OSHA claim that every fire door must be properly listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. A work place should have a minimum of two exits for allowing prompt evacuation during an emergency. Both the exit routes mus