NORILSK DIESEL OIL SPILL, RUSSIA; WORLD’S LARGEST ARCTIC OIL SPILL
ABSTRACT The Norilsk diesel oil spill is an ongoing industrial disaster near Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It began on 29 May 2020 when a fuel storage tank at Norilsk-Taimyr Energy’s Thermal Power Plant No. 3 (owned by Nornickel) failed, flooding local rivers with up to 17,500 tonnes of diesel oil. President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency in early June 2020. CAUSE OF THE OIL SPILL Diesel oil is used as a […]
CONCEPT OF “CAUSE AND EFFECT” ITS APPLICATIONS TO “SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY”
“Accountable” is defined as being Responsible, Liable, Explainable, Legally Bound, and Subject To. “Safety Accountability” at the workplace is the obligation and accountability of employees to comply with policies, rules, and standards. Elements of Safety Accountability The elements of effective accountability programs: Element 1: Establishing Standards of Performance Standards of performance should be in writing, […]
CARBON MONOXIDE FACTS: EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW
One of the most shocking Carbon Monoxide Facts is “It is estimated 300 deaths occur each year from CO poisoning and 10,000 people seek medical attention due to CO inhalation”. It’s a common misconception that Carbon Monoxide is only produced by fires. In reality, carbon monoxide leaks can come from many possible sources. For example, […]
RISK VS HAZARD V DANGER: SHOULD THE TERMS “RISK, HAZARD AND DANGER” BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY?
Warning signs are visible everywhere. Two of the very common words that can be found in these warning signs are “hazard” and “danger” While both refer to a risk or threat, they are two distinct words. Often dictionaries do not give specific definitions for the words “Risk, Hazard, and Danger” That’s why many people use the terms […]
HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response “HAZWOPER” is a set of guidelines produced and maintained by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which regulates hazardous waste operations and emergency services in the United States and its territories. An unexpected release of hazardous substances, or a substantial threat of a hazardous substance release, can pose a significant health and safety risk to workers. Unexpected releases can […]
‘DIRTY DOZEN’ EMPLOYERS OF 2023 ANNOUNCED BY NATIONAL COSH
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) announced the “Dirty Dozen” list of employers who put workers and communities at risk due to unsafe practices. The Dirty Dozen report is released each year as part of the observance of Workers’ Memorial Week, which takes place every year from April 23 through April 30. The Dirty Dozen […]
WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY / WEEK: “REMEMBER THE DEAD – FIGHT FOR THE LIVING”
Workers’ Memorial Week is a week of action planned around Workers’ Memorial Day, which is commemorated on April 28th each year. During this week we remember those who lost their lives, were injured, or suffered illnesses at work. Workers’ Memorial Week is a chance to encourage healing, build worker power and community, and escalate your […]
THE HIDDEN COSTS OF POOR HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORKPLACE
The costs associated with health and safety at the workplace, have a significant impact on the business. There are a multitude of ‘hidden costs of poor health & safety’ that many forget to consider. HSE statistics reveal the human and financial ‘cost of poor health & safety’ as Each year: Millions of working days are […]
HUMAN FACTORS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON SAFETY PERFORMANCE
It’s been estimated that up to 90% of all accidents are due to “Human Factors”. The fact is that human error is the number one cause of accidents, injuries, and fatalities in the workplace. It is the priority for businesses to focus on human factors and their influence on safety performance. The HSE has defined […]
UNDERSTANDING REQUIREMENT OF ‘PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT’ FOR YOUR WORKERS
Personal protective equipment or PPEs includes a variety of devices and garments: protective clothing, helmets, goggles, face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, safety shoes, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, respirators, etc. PPE is designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from workplace hazards such as contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, heat, biohazards, […]