The hazardous metals that first come to mind related to welding and cutting are lead, chromium, zinc and perhaps beryllium. Manganese doesn’t have the same recognition in terms of risk in the general population.  

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) hit 50 years of existence and entered its golden era this week. To commemorate this milestone, NIOSH is featuring a series of special events and products that highlight the contributions NIOSH has made to the nation’s workforce.

Companies in the market for personal protection equipment (PPE) should look for products that are UL classified where this is applicable. These items have been subject to specific relevant tests and passed inspections for either personal or industry use.

Lingering asbestos persists as a threat to homeowners, construction workers, and even agricultural workers. However, in industrial settings, newly manufactured materials and products may also contain asbestos, as the U.S. limit is at one percent.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2019 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis earlier this year, and companies across the nation are actively working to reduce their chemical footprint. Despite a minor increase in the Pacific Southwest Region, the overall release of TRI chemicals was down by 9 percent in 2019.

The natural gas meter may be the textbook example of something that is said to be “hidden in plain sight.” Every structure – from house to hospital and grocery store to commercial warehouse – that uses natural gas as the feedstock for its furnaces, stoves or water heaters has at least one of the (usually) gray boxes bolted to its exterior.