Page 38 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2017

HEAD PROTECTION
force of impact on top of the head, and a Type II hard hat has the additional feature of lateral impact protection. The three hard hat classifications for voltage protection are Class G for general pur- pose with limited protection (up to 2,200 volts), Class E (electrical) providing protection up to 20,000 volts, and Class C (conductive) offering no protection from electrical conductors.
Hard Hat Maintenance
As with any type of personal protective equipment, hard hat components including the shell, suspension system, and chin strap (if applicable) need to be regularly inspected, maintained, cleaned, and properly stored. In order to thoroughly inspect the hard hat shell, the application of decals should be limited with painting of the shell avoided where some paints and thinners may compromise protection effectiveness.
Only hard hats marked with a “reverse donning arrow” sym- bol can be worn frontward and backward in accordance with the manufacturer’s wearing instructions. While OSHA does not speci- fy an end of service life for hard hats, most hard hat manufacturers recommend replacing hard hats every five years under normal use conditions and at two-year intervals when working in harsh envi- ronmental conditions.
Another type of head protection device is a bump cap that offers protection from minor bumps and scrapes when working in areas with low head clearance. However, bump caps are not ANSI-ap- proved and do not provide protection from falling or flying objects. In a letter of interpretation2 related to the wearing of bump caps for
manhole entry and service/maintenance work within, OSHA states bump caps “would not provide adequate employee head protection for all exposures in manholes because they are not constructed in a manner to provide the protection required.”
Motor Vehicles and Employee Visibility
Turning to the third leading cause of traumatic brain injury, the CDC reports more than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Additionally, the U.S. crash death rate in 2013 was more than twice the average of other high-income countries. With an increase in roadway construction and repair to an aging highway infrastruc- ture, motorists and workers in road construction work zones bear a greater risk of vehicle-related injury.
Here are 10 safe driving tips for motorists/employees involved in business travel.
■ Obey speed limits.
■ Always wear a seat belt.
■ Don’t text or talk on a cell phone while driving.
■ Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or controlled
substances.
■ Always use turn signals.
■ Use headlights in inclement weather.
■ Inspect the vehicle regularly (tire tread, fluid levels, etc.) and
keep it well maintained.
■ Leave early and plan to arrive 10-15 minutes sooner than
expected.
CORPORATE PROFILE
Absorbents, Spill Control & Handling & Plant Safety Products
www.newpig.com
One Pork Avenue Tipton, PA 16684
Tel: 1-800-HOT-HOGS
Contact Information
hothogs@newpig.com
WORLD’S BEST STUFF FOR LEAKS, DRIPS AND SPILLS.®
New Pig offers the world’s largest selection of absorbent mats, socks, booms, pillows and wipers, as well as award-winning spill control and liq- uid management solutions. We also carry well-known products for material handling, spill response, maintenance and safety. PIG products have been used in more than 300,000 industrial, commercial, utility and government facilities in over 70 countries.
We revolutionized industrial leak and spill management forever with our PIG Original Absorbent Sock in 1985. Since then, we’ve been solving customers’ tough leak and spill problems and leading the industry through innovation and expertise.
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