Safety Focused – March 2022

The Importance of Hard Hats

Hard hats are crucial pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) while on the job. Wearing this PPE can make all the difference in protecting employees like you from severe head injuries. Hard hats are required on many job sites by OSHA, regardless of whether hazards are immediately visible. Hard hats are especially important to wear – and commonly required – when working in the following industries:

• Construction
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Welding
• Manufacturing

Within these fields, there is a higher risk of being injured by moving objects, electrical shock or harmful collisions on the job. Hard hats protect three main areas of the body: the eyes, neck and head. Here are some key features of a hard hat that can help protect your head while you work:

• Shell – The most notable feature of a hard hat is its solid, sturdy exterior. This material is tough and difficult to penetrate, making it especially effective against collisions with falling debris or any other materials that could strike you and hard your head on the job.
• Suspension – Hard hats have a suspension system to maintain a safe distance between the inside of the hat and your head. This is particularly useful when a forceful collision happens, ensuring that the hat itself will not cause harm.
• Insulation – Many hard hats include a type of insulation that protects against electrical shock. Depending on the type of job you are working, this insulation may or may not be necessary.

For more information on the use of hard hats within your workplace, talk to your supervisor.

Managing Seasonal Allergies

As the weather warms and spring approaches, you may experience seasonal allergies. Such allergies can be mild for some, but debilitating for others. In fact, one of the top reasons that adults miss work is due to symptoms of seasonal allergies. With this in mind, it’s important to take steps to manage seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergy symptoms are different for everyone, but some of the most common are:

• Itchy or watery eyes
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Hives or rash

Since many of these symptoms could be mistaken for the common cold or another illness, it is important to first identify whether you actually have allergies. Speaking to your physician or getting an allergy test are two effective ways to find out if you have seasonal allergies and determine how severe they are. Once you have a better understanding of your seasonal allergies, the next step is making an effort to mitigate your symptoms. Here are some steps you can take at work:

• Use medication that treats individual symptoms. All-encompassing medications can make you drowsy and less productive at work. Instead, try medication that target specific symptoms. For instance, you may want to use nasal spray to treat congestion issues or eye drops to alleviate itchy eyes.
• Keep your workspace and belongings clean. Dust your desk and other items in your workspace frequently. Consider hanging your coat away from your desk to distance yourself from any allergens the coat may pick up, and keep windows closed in the early morning and late afternoon. These are peak times for pollen, and keeping windows open allows pollen to enter your workspace, which could worsen your allergy symptoms.
• Ensure proper air quality. Consider equipping your workstation with a portable fan or desktop air purifier to offer an added layer of protection against potential allergens.

Consult your supervisor for more information on managing seasonal allergies in the workplace.