Protect Yourself:

Cleaning Chemicals
and Your Health \
Working witfi deantng chemicak can cause:
Coughing Shortneu of Breath
Wheezing > SonThnut
~ l I cdi yEyn Headaches or Oizztnest
)Rashes Nosebleedi
I and Eye Burns > Asthma
ifjKiuhmehealthpfoblenathatyouthinkorecauiedbyung
deonlngchemkaKttflyou/supevIioiandoktoieeadocmr.
ASTM Standard
to Improve Glass
Industry Safety
ASTM International has approved a
standard to improve safety in the glass
industry. ASTM E2875/E2875M, Guide
for Personal Protective Equipment for
the Handling of Flat Glass, was devel-
oped by Subcommittee E34.35 on Safe
Handling of Glass.-
The standard is designed to help
employers select PPE to best protect
workers from hazards that cannot be
mitigated through engineering, admin-
istrative or work practice controls. The
standard highlights critical areas of
risk to the body from glass handling,
particularly to the neck and other major
artery areas, discusses the need for
risk assessment and explains cut test
standards.
For more information, visit www
.astm.org/Standards/E2875.htm.
European Agency
Reports on Hospitality
Worker Safety
The hotel, restaurant and catering
sector creates many jobs around the
world. In Europe, this sector employs
more than 7.8 million people whose jobs
require a wide range of tasks and pose
occupational hazards. To help employ-
ers and employees recognize and ad-
dress these risks, European Agency for
Safety and Health at Work has released
"Protecting Workers in Hotels, Restau-
rants and Catering." The report presents
statistics on occupational accidents and
diseases, and exarriines policy initiatives
to reduce safety risks.
"In terms of occupational accidents,
slips, trips and falls, as we as cuts and
burns represent the largest share,"
the agency explains. "In the field of
occupational cliseases, musculoskel-
etal diseases and skin diseases pre-
dominate." The report also describes 18
practical actions at the workplace level,
as well as several case studies to show
the range of different risks encountered
in the sector. Find the report at http://
osha.europa.eu/en/publications/
reports/TE7007132ENC_horeca.
NIOSH and OSHA have teamed to produce "ProtectingWork-
;rs Who Use Cleaning Chemicals," an information sheet for building .
Tiaintenance workers, janitors and housekeepers. Many employers are
switching to green cleaning products because they are thought to be
less hazardous to workers and the en'/ironment. TTne document provides
information to employers on practices to help keep workers safe when work-
ing with cleaning chemicals, including green cleaning products. The agen-
cies also have produced the "Protect Yourself: Cleaning Chemicals and Your
Health" poster that is available for free dowrJoad.
Find the fact sheet ati
<S- Download the poster at
www.asse.org SEPTEMBER 2012 ProfessionalSafety 1 5
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