Hazardous Substances & Materials


Home \| Contact Us \| Free E-Zine \| Tell a Friend \| Search \| Member Log-In

Home | Haz Subst & Mat

Hazardous Substances & Materials

Subtopics:

Air Contaminants
Combustibles and Flammables
Hazard Communication
Hazardous Materials

Complete Topic List

Standards update: Crane, pull saw, and head protection rules have changed
May 2013
The state Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) updated three workplace safety regulations in the first quarter of 2013. . . . more »

Laboratories: Fed/OSHA revises guidance; 6 general principles of laboratory safety
May 2013
Laboratories present unique chemical safety concerns. As a result, lab workers may be at higher risk for chemical illnesses and injuries than workers in other professions. This is why chemical use in laboratories is subject to its own set of chemical safety regulations. . . . more »

Hazardous chemicals: Study links lead and cadmium to hearing loss; Identify and control exposures
May 2013
You know, of course, that heavy metal can damage your hearing. Too much Black Sabbath and AC/DC at a high volume will cause hearing loss sooner rather than later. . . . more »

Hazardous chemicals: Tiny objects, big hazards; Highlights from OSHA's new fact sheet on nanomaterials
April 2013
There's a lot of excitement in the world of nanotechnology right now. For example, a study published on February 5, 2013, in the journal Clinical Cancer Research demonstrated that silicon nanoparticles used as a drug delivery system dramatically reduced the size of ovarian tumors in animals and stopped tumor growth in chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer tissue. . . . more »

Hazard identification: Will that be red or white with your safety program? Washington publishes resource for wineries
April 2013
California is a great place to grow grapes. And the local economy shows it--according to California's Wine Institute, the state's wine industry contributes $61 billion to California's economy, and its 3,500 wineries make the state the world's fourth leading wine producer, after France, Italy, and Spain. . . . more »

Hazardous chemicals: Strip away methylene chloride hazards; Protecting workers is as easy as 1-2-3
March 2013
Methylene chloride exposure has caused more than 50 deaths nationwide since the mid-1980s, many from using this toxic chemical in poorly ventilated spaces, according to federal OSHA. Read on to learn how California workers fell victim to the hazard and what you can do to protect your own workers from the risk. . . . more »

Trainer's handbook: What is a hazardous chemical, anyway?
March 2013
When your workers hear the phrase "hazardous chemical," what do they think of? Reagents in a laboratory? Acid mist in the water treatment area? Lubricating oils in the machine shop? . . . more »

Hazard identification: Electronic waste recycling exposes workers to multiple hazards; Make these 'green' jobs safer
March 2013
When it's time for a new television, microwave oven, computer, or cell phone, what do you do with the old one? In California, you don't just toss it in the trash. These and other electronic devices contain metals, primarily lead and mercury, that can cause widespread damage to the environment when they leach out of landfills. . . . more »

Featured Resource: Checklist for preventing and responding to ammonia releases
December 2012
On September 11, 2012, 28-year-old Robert Munoz was working at Gibson Winery in Sanger (near Fresno) when a coworker opened the wrong valve, releasing anhydrous ammonia into the room. Munoz was overcome and died; five of his coworkers were also treated for ammonia inhalation. . . . more »

Federal OSHA publishes mercury exposure resources
October 2012
As discussed in this issue of COCA, fluorescent lightbulbs pose exposure risks for workers. Now federal OSHA has published two documents to help protect workers from these risks. The fact sheet . . . more »

Hazard identification: Are your workers exposed to silica dust? Identify sources and protect workers
October 2012
Each year, more than 300 American workers die from the lung disease silicosis, and thousands of new cases are diagnosed. Silicosis is the name given to lung damage that occurs when workers inhale dusts that contain crystalline silica. The workplace can be home to many sources of crystalline silica exposure, including the newly identified hazard of "fracking." . . . more »

Trainer's handbook: Fluorescent bulbs pose mercury exposure hazards; Safe handling recommendations
October 2012
The phase-out of incandescent lightbulbs has led to an increase in the use of energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs, including compact fluorescent lightbulbs or lamps (CFLs). Traditional long-tube fluorescent bulbs and the compact variety contain mercury vapor and may have small amounts of liquid mercury, both of which can be released when the bulbs are broken or crushed. . . . more »

Trainer's handbook: GHS-compliant chemical labels, safety data sheets, and training requirements are coming
September 2012
This past spring, federal OSHA published its long-awaited Hazard Communication Final Rule. The rule aligns OSHA's hazard communication standard (found in 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1200) with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) adopted by the United Nations in 2003. . . . more »

Hazard identification: Don't let work get under employees' skin; 5 occupational dermatitis hazards
August 2012
Occupational skin diseases, including occupational dermatitis, are the second most common type of occupational disease, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). . . . more »

Hazardous chemicals: Formaldehyde linked to male infertility: 6 strategies that reduce exposure
August 2012
This past spring, researchers in China linked occupational exposure to formaldehyde to reduced fertility in men. Together with recent animal studies, these new findings suggest that formaldehyde could contribute to well-documented reductions in sperm quality worldwide. . . . more »

Standards Update: Cal/OSHA Updates PELs, Corrects Loophole in Ladder Standards
April 2012
Just about every three years, the state Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) updates the permissible exposure limits (PELs) for hazardous chemicals found in General Industry Safety Orders (GISO) Section 5155. In January 2012, the OSHSB adopted four revised PELs. The previous update was adopted in February 2010 and took effect in August 2010. . . . more »

More Headlines