In this issue of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Listserv, February 25, 2010:
1. Did you know?
2. Workplace Eye Health & Safety Month
3. Shoveling Safety
4. Hand and Power Tool General Safety Tips
5. Revised Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs)
---------------------------------------------------------1. Did you know?
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, occupational eye injuries are most likely to occur within the
workplace and well over half of eye injury incidents occur in males. Workers between the ages of 25 – 44 are more
likely than other age groups to be injured. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004 there were more
than 36,000 non-fatal occupational illnesses and eye injuries that led to time away from work. Typically these
injuries involved foreign matter striking or getting into the eye, resulting in eye surface injuries, such as abrasions,
scratches, chemical or thermal burns.
Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/tables/sh20060823ar01t3.htm
Prevent Blindness America http://www.preventblindness.org/news/releases/worplace_safety_2006.html
2. Workplace Eye Health & Safety Month
Prevent Blindness America has designated March as national ‘Workplace Eye Health & Safety Month’ to raise
awareness of the necessity for eye protection on the job. Potential eye hazards may be found in any industry and
work environment.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) publishes an Eye Safety Checklist with specific
suggestions under five categories: Create a safe work environment; Evaluate safety hazards; Wear the proper eye
and face protection; Use good work practices; Prepare for eye injuries and first aid needs, and be aware of eyewash
station use & location.
Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, goggles and face shields, play a pivotal role in control
of occupational eye injuries. A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey of workers who suffered eye injuries
revealed that nearly three out of five workers were not wearing eye protection at the time of the incident. These
workers most often reported that they believed protection was not required for the situation.
It is crucial to wear the proper PPE for the hazard. About 40 percent of the injured workers surveyed by BLS were
wearing some form of protective eyewear when the accident occurred. More than 90 percent of the injuries to
workers wearing some eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector,
indicating that additional or different PPE should have been used.
Following are some specific eye hazards that may exist:
 Dust, concrete, metal and other particles;
 Chemicals such as acids, bases, fuels, solvents;
 Falling or shifting debris, building materials and glass;
 Smoke and noxious or poisonous gases;
 Welding light and electrical arcs; and
 Bloodborne pathogens (hepatitis or HIV) exposure from splashes of blood, body fluids or other potentially
infectious materials.
Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20060823ar01p1.htm
NIOSH Eye Safety Checklist http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eyechecklist.html
EHS SOP PPE – Eyes and Face http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-selectingPPE_eyesface.pdf
3. Shoveling Safety
Winter is not over and spring is around the corner, so here are a few considerations for safe use of a shovel during
snow removal or for spring yard work—moving dirt, gravel, and so on. If you have a medical condition or do not
exercise regularly, check with your physician before shoveling.
To avoid over-exertion and related illnesses/injuries:
 Be sure to warm up your muscles first by stretching, walking or marching in place.
 Tackle the job in small increments rather than working to the point of exhaustion.
 Lift correctly. Use your legs and bend your knees. Do not bend from the waist. Tighten stomach muscles
as you lift.
 Use a shovel that is comfortable for your height and strength. Space your hands on the grip to maximize
leverage.
 Do not twist your back to throw the material over your shoulder or to the side. Scoop small amounts into
the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it.
 Take short, slow steps and pay attention to the area around you when shoveling to avoid uneven surfaces
that can cause slips, trips, and falls.
Resources:
UNL Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County http://lancaster.unl.edu/home/Articles/2001/SnowShovel.htm
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00060
EHS SOP General Material Handling/Safe Lifting http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-gen_safe_lifting.pdf
4. Hand and Power Tool General Safety Tips
Employees should be trained to recognize the hazards associated with tools, their use, and appropriate precautions to
minimize such hazards. Five basic safety rules can help prevent injuries associated with the use of both hand and
power tools:
 Keep all tools in good condition with regular maintenance.
 Use the right tool for the job.
 Examine each tool for damage before use and do not use damaged tools.
 Operate tools according to the manufacturers’ instructions.
 Use appropriate personal protective equipment.
Power tools present additional hazards. To prevent injuries associated with the use of power tools, workers should
observe the following general precautions:
 Never carry a tool by the cord or hose.
 Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle.
 Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
 Disconnect tools when not using them, before servicing and cleaning them, and when changing accessories
such as blades, bits, and cutters.
 Keep all people not involved with the work at a safe distance from the work area.
 Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool.
 Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold fingers on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool.
 Maintain tools with care; keep them sharp and clean for best performance.
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Follow instructions in the user’s manual for lubricating and changing accessories.
Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance when operating power tools.
Wear proper apparel for the task. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can become caught in moving parts.
Remove all damaged portable electric tools from use and tag them: “Do Not Use.”
More than 10 million tools were recalled in the United States since January of 2000. Defects are not always readily
apparent. Defective tools still in use present a hazard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) alerts
consumers when dangerous hand and power tools are recalled. Search the CPSC site by Product/Tools
Miscellaneous periodically to make sure the tools you are using have not been recalled.
Resources:
Occupational Safety & Health Administration http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3080.pdf
Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
EHS SOP Hand & Portable Power Tool Safety http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-hand_portable_power_tool_safety.pdf
5. Revised Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs)
EHS has revised the following SOPs on the EHS website:
 Sewer Disposal List http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-sewerdisp.pdf
 Forklift/Powered Industrial Truck Safety http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-forklift.pdf
 Respiratory Protection – Use and Maintenance of Supplied Air Respirators (Air-Line)
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/RPP_SOP_SAR.pdf
 Respiratory Protection – Use and Maintenance of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/RPP_SOP_FilteringFacepiece.pdf
 Respiratory Protection – Use and Maintenance of Air Purifying Half Mask Respirators
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/RPP_SOP_APHalfMask.pdf
 Respiratory Protection – Use and Maintenance of Air Purifying Full Face Mask Respirators
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/RPP_SOP_APFullFaceMask.pdf
 Biosafety Cabinets http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-bio-cabinet.PDF
 NUgrant IBC Protocol Form Instructions http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/s-bio-nugrant_ibc_prot_form_instr.pdf
 Safety Protocol: 241 Am (Be) Neutron Probe
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/SP_SOP_241Am%28Be%29NeutronProbe.pdf
EHS has created a new SOP which is available on the EHS website:
 Safety Protocol: Rb-86 http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/SP_SOP_Rb-86.pdf
Additional SOPs relevant to various hazards and tasks are available through the EHS website at
http://ehs.unl.edu/sop/.
Remember...SAFETY IS AN ATTITUDE!