Health

Time for a Hazcom Refresher

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Even if you’re at home it could be time for a refresher on how to use chemicals safely… or maybe especially if you’re home. Here’s a timely one on safely using cleaners and disinfectants. Once we return to work there will have to be an increase in use of them.

Follow the basic warnings provided in the graphic above, but more directly read the label, SDS (if you’re at work, though you can probably find one if you aren’t), and any other reliable materials you can find. Beware of alternate uses or combinations you might find recommended online. Remember, these are helpful, but powerful chemicals.

You can read the CDC technical report here.

CDC COVID-19 Update

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INTERIM GUIDANCE for Critical Infrastructure Workers including:

  • Federal, state, & local law enforcement
  • 911 call center employees
  • Fusion Center employees
  • Hazardous material responders from government and the private sector
  • Janitorial staff and other custodial staff
  • Workers – including contracted vendors – in food and agriculture, critical manufacturing, informational technology, transportation, energy and government facilities

This important guideline is online here. The page includes pdf flyers to print out and post or share with workers. Note: this is provided for critical jobs where workers are needed to report to work and we salute them for their dedication. Other workers should support them by staying home as directed by their state and local governments.

Time for Your Flu Shot

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Learn about Who Needs A Flu Vaccine.
Each year 111,000,000 work days are lost to flu. Many of those are preventable by either getting a flu shot or strangely enough staying home when you have the flu. When you stay home you add to those hours, but subtract others by preventing the spread of the flu to others.

Start right. Get the shot.

Click on the graphic for more advice and materials from the CDC.

MSHA Heat Safety Alert Issued

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c92168_mWhile most of us are still remembering the hard Winter behind us, Summer has already touched a few days here and there. MSHA has issued an alert to guard against heat illness. Along with the following statement there is a one page review of what to do to protect yourself and others.

Overexposure to heat can be a significant problem especially for miners in jobs that require heavy physical labor in hot or humid environments. Heat Stress occurs when internal body temperature is higher than 100 deg. F and significantly reduces workers’ performance and can require medical attention. This alert describes how to recognize the risk factors and the signs and symptoms of heat stress. The best solution to dehydration and heat illness is PREVENTION!

Download the alert here.

Transitioning to Safer Chemicals Tool

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transitioning to safer chemicalsAmerican workers use tens of thousands of chemicals every day. While many of these chemicals are suspected of being harmful, only a small number are regulated in the workplace.

As a result, workers suffer more than 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths annually related to chemical exposures. Workplace chemical exposures have been linked to cancers, and other lung, kidney, skin, heart, stomach, brain, nerve, and reproductive diseases.

OSHA has an online tool that is handy for helping you examine the chemicals you use. You can find it here.

Household Products Database

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c542990_sWe all should be concerned about knowing more about the chemicals used in the workplace, but just because we buy products for home use doesn’t alone mean they are any safer. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a very helpful Household Products Database online. You’ll even find many of the chemicals you may use at work that can be purchased at the local hardware or department store. Check it out here.

I’m Going for My Flu Shot Today

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Yes it’s that time of the year again as we look forward in excitement to winter and in dread to the diseases of the season. I’m headed to the doctor today to get my annual flu shot. Are you? OSHA has some materials available to help you prevent OR have in place should a pandemic occur.

Check them out here. Workplace Safety and the Flu (web); Pandemic Influenza (web).

You can also find out about the flu, find informational videos to use, and even locate a source locally for flu shots at flu.gov.