By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

As the season of melting snow begins and the use of air movement fans is once again seen, it is essential to determine how the risk of trips and slips resulting in falls in the workplace can be eliminated. According to the 2009 statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 605 workers were killed and an estimated 212,760 workers were seriously injured by falls to the same or lower level (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Occupational fall injuries result in approximately $70 billion spent annually between medical and workers’ compensation costs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). From these staggering numbers the need to prevent this type of injury is high on many safety committee lists.

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By Chris Demeter, Senior Loss Control Consultant

Flammable liquids are used in many different ways. They present unique hazards to the people that use them. Flammable liquids can cause a fire or explosion, and like many other substances, they can also cause serious health effects from overexposure.

Flammable liquids are liquids with a flash point of less than 100F. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form a flammable mixture with air. On the NFPA diamond label, a fire hazard rating of three or four denotes a flammable liquid. Other labels used to identify flammable liquids are red with appropriate wording and they usually contain a fire symbol.

The vapors of a flammable liquid often present the most serious hazard. The vapors can easily ignite or explode. Flammable liquid vapors are heavier than air and may settle in low spots, or move a significant distance from the liquid itself.

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