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| A Safety Reminder for Those Working Around Water |
Many of us are careful about snapping on a personal flotation device (PFD) before setting foot in a boat. But the same cannot always be said for people who are working above, on or near water. People who aren’t expecting to end up in water often are not prepared for that possibility and the results can be tragic.
Consider the case of an 18-year-old worker who was using a tractor to grade soil on a grassy bank in Florida. The machine and its young operator slid into the water. The worker, a non-swimmer, surfaced once and then slipped below the surface and drowned.
Imagine if you took an unexpected tumble into water, fully clothed and maybe dragged down by a tool belt or other gear. What if you were alone and there was no one nearby to help? What if you were a weak swimmer or a non-swimmer?
An estimated 3,800 people drown every year in the US and Canada. Many of these sad events occur as a result of people unintentionally ending up in the water. Remind your workers that if they’re working on or near the water’s edge, they should be wearing a PFD.
Not all drowning hazards are as obvious as a fast-moving river or a stormy sea. The key to working safely around water lies in anticipating risks and mitigating them before an incident occurs. If your crew is working on or near water, share with them this Safety Talk from SafetySmart.com.
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Looks like someone got a little over-enthusiastic with these excavators and didn’t know when full was TOO FULL. This barge looks about ready to sink. Luckily, the barge was returned to dock and relieved of some of its load before setting off again. (Naval Safety Center) |
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| Possibly 'New' Occupational Lung Disease Reported in India |
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says reports of a possible new occupational lung disease in India should serve as a reminder to North American companies to protect workers from hazardous dusts.
The Indian Expresses has published an article reporting a potentially new lung disease implicating a polyacrylate powder used at the nanometer (one billionth of one meter in size) level in pharmaceutical products.
The article refers to an investigation published by the Peoples Training and Research Center, in which a cluster of five workers contracted severe plural and pulmonary disease within 10 to 12 months of working in a plant the manufactures and processes polyacrylate and other polymers.
According to the investigation, unprotected workers at the plant in India were exposed to high levels of dust while operating grinding and sieving machines, bagging final product and handling filled bags of ground polymer during 10 to 12-hour workdays.
NIOSH says that regardless of the role of nanoparticles in this cluster of occupational lung disease in India, "the outbreak highlights the ongoing dangers to workers handling active, fine powdered materials in the workplace and the critical importance of implementing adequate protective measures."
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Related story: Former Pfizer Scientist Awarded $1.37 million
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