Everyone must be aware of potential hazards on the job:

One way chemicals can enter our bodies is through absorption through the skin. More often than not, this occurs through the hands as we handle various chemicals. It’s important to read the label and to know the chemicals you are working with and to utilize protective gloves when handling chemicals.

Chemicals can cause irritations to your skin. Most of the time this isn’t acute and doesn’t occur with just one unprotected handling of the chemical, but it’s with repeated unprotected handling of the chemical. Detergents and solvents can dry out your skin and dissolve the oils in your hands. Your hands may develop a rash that is further irritated as you use your hands to work on various tasks. Continued abrasion of the tender skin can cause you further irritation and discomfort.

Also some chemicals such as caustic Sodium Hydroxide can cause a burn to your hands. Very acid or caustic chemicals can immediately burn your skin from contact.

A web-based survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) looked at how organizational factors and perceived safety climate might affect use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls as well as the likelihood of spills, leaks or skin contact during administration of liquid antineoplastic drugs (AD). Antineoplastic drugs, also known as chemotherapy, cytotoxic and oncology drugs, are used to treat cancer, as well as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other non-cancer medical conditions. This study is published in the July issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and is currently available as an e-pub.


Results are derived from the 2011 Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers, the largest federally-sponsored survey of U.S. healthcare workers that addresses safety and health

A confined space does not necessarily mean a small, enclosed space. It could be rather large, such as a ship's hold, a fuel tank or a pit. One of the first defining features of a confined space is it's large enough to allow an employee to enter and perform work. The second defining feature is it has limited means of entry or exit. Entry may be obtained through small or large openings and usually there is only one way in and out. The third defining feature is that confined spaces are not used for continuous or routine work.

Permit or not

Foot trouble can be as painful as back trouble, and it can be just as restrictive as to what type of work you can do, too. People used to complain about their bunions and corns hurting, but these complaints are less common today due to improved medical treatment and the better shoes now available.



To conform with what is fashionable, many of us still wear shoes that aren't comfortable or aren't safe. They have heels or soles that can easily cause a bad fall.

As important as our feet are to us, there are still many people who insist that they don't want to wear safety shoes because they are too ugly, too heavy, too uncomfortable, too expensive, and so on.

In reality, none of these complaints are justified. The safety shoes available today match most other shoes for comfort, appearance and in most cases, price too. So, really there are no valid excuses