 |
|
Greetings!
While the vast majority of poison exposures occur in the home, the workplace, despite its sometimes bland and sterile environment, has its own risks.
1.75 percent of all poison exposures reported to poison centers occur at work - putting the workplace a distant second to homes as sites where poison exposures occurred. It's easy to take for granted dangers in the office and other workplaces, particularly when focused on getting a job done. Staff at the Texas Poison Center Network offers the following tips at keeping the workplace poison-free:
- When handling laser printer cartridges, poison exposure can occur when laser printer cartridge resin or powder is spilled. Fumes, dust or ozone from the cartridges can be dangerous if inhaled.
- Fluorescent and CFL light bulbs contain mercury, phosphorus, or other rare gases and should be handled and replaced by professionals.
- Office supplies such as keyboard cleaners, markers, glues or white-out help get the job done, but make sure these key office supplies are used for their intended purpose. Verify or make labels for all office chemicals and cleaning supplies.
- Don't treat air fresheners in the bathrooms or other office cleaning supplies casually. Mixing or handling such products improperly can cause irritation to the skin, dizziness or breathing difficulties.
- Read labels and use caution when taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, particularly if you may be handling potentially dangerous equipment or instruments on the job.
- Use caution in and around stored boxes, unused files, old file cabinets or drawers, and under unmoved furniture or old carpet; spiders such as the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow enjoy hiding in those places. Fire ants can enter an office building through leaking windows or siding. To some, fire ants are just a nuisance, but to others, the sting from a fire ant can cause a bad allergic reaction.
|
|
First death linked to laundry detergent pods
A 7-month-old boy died after eating a laundry detergent packet in Florida - highlighting the dangers poison control officials have been warning of for more than a year as the products have become wildly popular among consumers.
If confirmed, his could be the first reported death in the nation tied to the detergent packets, though so far this year alone, more than 5,000 children have been sickened by them, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
|
|
|
|
|
Procter & Gamble has voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry dog and cat food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. This issue is limited to the certain Iams and Eukanuba dry dog food, and Eukanuba dry cat fo
od. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Click here for more info.
|
 An old drug with a hot new name is being blamed for two deaths at a New York City dance festival. Molly, as it's now known, is a form of Ecstasy and is being linked to a recent string of overdoses. Click here to learn more. |
|
