Silica is a natural substance found in rocks, sand, and clay and in products such as certain bricks and concrete. In the workplace, these materials can create dust when they are cut, sanded, carved, and ground. Some of this dust may be fine enough to breathe deeply into the lungs and may be associated with negative health effects, especially for
This article originally appeared in the August 2020 edition of OH&S Magazine. Working in confined spaces can be extremely dangerous. Workers may be exposed to mechanical and atmospheric hazards. In certain situations, the temperature cannot be controlled and workers are exposed to heat stress. The good thing is, many accidents and injuries can be avoided through the correct application of
ST. PAUL, Minn. — As wildfires continue to spark and rage year after year throughout Canada and the United States, as well as the rest of the world, it is important that workers protect themselves once the fire has been fully extinguished. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the aftermath of a wildfire is a critical component in the
We encourage you to sign up to receive our 3M Fall Protection Newsletter. Every other month we send out a short newsletter that features: Updates on new products and how they function to help workers Technical bulletins to learn the science behind many important issues All types of training available from free webinars to paid certifications Other useful information to
How active a hurricane season is fluctuates based on weather patterns and other factors, but 2020 was one for the record books. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they "accurately predicted a high likelihood of an above-normal season with a strong possibility of it being extremely active. In total, the 2020 season produced 30 named storms (top
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Now that summer is in full swing, heat stress can be a major concern in workplace environments. It can potentially cause irritability, low morale, absenteeism, shortcuts in procedures and unsafe behavior according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). In severe cases, heat stress, in the form of heat stroke and exertional heat stress, can
