Workers in Oklahoma who use heavy machinery should be conscious of safety regulations. Although machinery makes work more efficient, it also introduces dangers into the workplace as well as the need for extra precautions. Injuries from machines can range from burns to crushed hands or amputations. <\/p>\n
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has two laboratories that focus on workplace safety. Both laboratories have the ability to simulate the conditions and machines found in workplaces to assess how those machines and spaces can be made safer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
At the High Bay Laboratory, researchers test equipment from various industries including agriculture and construction. The lab has worked on protective structures for tractor rollovers, examined safety around entering and exiting construction equipment, and studied tension and compression in protective structures. <\/p>\n
The Safety Engineering Laboratory specializes in pilot testing for studies that will eventually be done out in the field. Its projects have included testing cab design in large trucks, testing the alert systems on paper balers, and testing for protection in farm tractor rollovers. With a combination of the knowledge gained from testing done in labs like these and programs to educate employees and employers on workplace safety<\/a>, working with heavy machinery can be made safer. <\/p>\n