Ergonomics

Now that OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard to align with GHS, the big question many employers, chemical manufacturers and distributors have is, “Can I continue to use NFPA and HMIS systems and labels?” The short answer is yes. However, whether or not they should (or will even want to over the long run) […]

In case you missed it, be sure to check out this mixed media article from the New York Times (NYT) titled, “As OSHA Emphasizes Safety, Long-Term Health Risks Fester.” Written by Ian Urbina, the piece spotlights worker exposure to an extremely harmful chemical called nPB or n-propyl bromide, which can cause severe nerve damage when […]

by Mike Hoonhorst, AEP Recently I facilitated a RAPID Team Event at a manufacturing company.  The format of these events is to train participants to identify ergonomic risk using VelocityEHS’ Ergonomics Hit List®.  This empowers the employees to quickly see ergonomic risk factors in the workplace.  Once trained, the participants apply these principles to identify […]

All eyes are on Canada this spring, as a proposal to align WHMIS with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System, or GHS for short, is expected to be published in Canada Gazette I, maybe as soon as March 2013. Whenever it happens, it will officially put Canada on the final road to GHS implementation. Canada […]

by Katie Grosteffon, AEP One pervasive “ergonomic” desk accessory is the mouse pad with an elevated wrist rest. People like these because they can rest their wrists on the gel instead of the hard desk. Here are a couple reasons why I am hesitant to recommend one of these items: 1. Wrist compression When you rest […]

Are you struggling to effectively manage your chemical inventory? Many safety and health professionals are fighting an uphill battle to prevent unwanted chemicals from entering their inventory, such as chemicals on certain regulatory watch lists or chemicals that don’t meet sustainability objectives. Whatever the case may be, customers now have a way to harness more […]

by Blake McGowan, CPE There are many things that are new and exciting when one works at Humantech. There is the standard list; working as part of a team of dedicated professionals, working in foreign countries, being introduced to diverse cultures, a great variety of types of business, and so on. But one thing I […]

by Rachel Leach, CPE It’s one thing to keep ergonomics in mind at your workstation, but how do you maintain healthy postures during meetings and training events? Read on. Sit with your back resting against the back of the chair and avoid leaning forward. If the viewing screen is perpendicular to you, turn your whole […]

By Susan Shaw, CPE Do you feel like lately they make “ergonomic” everything?  A few weeks ago, I was at a hotel and came across ergonomic soap!  Now, this sounded farfetched as I read the box, but upon opening it I realized it made complete sense!  The bar of soap had a hole in the […]

For decades, the material safety data sheet (MSDS) has been the back-bone of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). As most safety professionals know by now, the Hazard Communication Standard has been revised by OSHA to align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), the result of which will include substantial […]