Hardwood Floors August/September 2018

By Rusty Swindoll

issue, following safety regulations is also required by law. Failure to comply can cost you thousands of dollars in nes. OSHA has rules and regulations that serve to protect the safety of workers on the job site. ese rules may vary according to whether the job is residential or commercial, and requirements are also di erent for homeowners and professionals.  Check OSHA requirements in your area at osha.gov. Rusty Swindoll is Technical Advisor, at the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis. He can be reached at rusty.swindoll@ nwfa.org.

substances. A face shield may be required in areas where workers are exposed to severe chemical hazards. Safety goggles protect the eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes from a variety of chemical hazards. Goggles form a protective seal around the eyes, preventing objects or liquids from entering under or around the goggles. is is especially important when working with or around liquids that may splash, spray, or mist. Before starting any installation or sand and nish job, certain basic standards of safety must be applied. It is important that all crewmembers are briefed and updated on all requirements and regulations. is is important for the safety of you, the crew, the customer, and the job site. Besides being a vital health

Safety goggle frames must be properly ed to the worker’s face to form a protective seal around the eyes. Poorly ed goggles will not o er the necessary protection. FINISHING A large percentage of eye injuries are caused by direct contact with chemicals. ese injuries o en result from an inappropriate choice of personal protective equipment that allows a chemical substance to enter from around or under protective eye equipment. Serious and irreversible damage can occur when chemical substances contact the eyes in the form of splashes, mists, vapors, or fumes. When ed and worn correctly, goggles protect your eyes from hazardous

FIRST AID

Should you or a member of your crew experience an eye injury, following are some of the more- common types of recommended first aid from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specks in the eye • Do not rub the eye. • Flush the eye with large amounts of water. • See a doctor if the speck does not wash out or if pain or redness continues. Cuts, punctures, and foreign objects in the eye • Do not wash out the eye. • Do not try to remove a foreign object stuck in the eye. • Seek immediate medical attention. Chemical burns • Immediately flush the eye with water or any drinkable liquid. Open the eye as wide

as possible. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes. For caustic or basic solutions, continue flushing while on the way to medical care. • If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. Flushing may dislodge the lens. • Seek immediate medical attention. Blows to the eye • Apply a cold compress without pressure, or tape crushed ice in a plastic bag to the forehead and allow it to rest gently on the injured eye. • Seek immediate medical attention if pain continues, if vision is reduced, or if blood or discoloration appears in the eye.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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