Freedom means many things to many people. In the United States there are many days for celebrating freedom, emancipation and Independence. Do you know the history of these holidays?

Disaster in the workplace is a constant possibility for people working with dangerous chemical compounds. OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) program seeks to minimize the impact of catastrophic release of chemicals that could cost lives and cause serious destruction.

"Between 1990 and 2050 the number of hearing-impaired Americans will increase at a faster rate than the total US population." Loud noises are more than a nuisance. - They can cause hearing loss. OSHA has a vital role in rescuing the ears of the American worker.

Health hazards caused by discarded electrical and electronic products are an increasing reality worldwide. The danger arises mainly from lead in components, though other materials may also be toxic. The RoHS directive is one of the affirmative actions used to protect the environment, established by the European Union (EU).

Avoid the cost and the pain of an OSHA Inspection. Like a good Boy Scout - "Be prepared". The goal is for employers to pass the compliance test and get the merit badge of approval from OSHA.

Industrial control switches are at the heart of the monitoring and control systems of modern machinery. They range from the simple electro-mechanical push-button to embedded PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), to wireless or infrared activated devices. All industrial plants and virtually all products in daily use, including the ubiquitous microwave oven and dishwasher, have them.

Manufacturers have obligations that go beyond the production of electrical and electronic equipment. If they are doing business in the United Kingdom or the European Union (EU), manufacturers must make it convenient for consumers to dispose of that equipment in an environmentally friendly way. And the manufacturers are on the hook for the costs.

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC is a directive of the European Parliament. It restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture and sale of various electrical and electronic equipment in the European Union. The materials are lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium (VI), PBB (poly-brominated biphenyls) and PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

How can industry prevent 6,000 fatalities and 4 million accidents? These were the shocking workplace statistics for 2005. OSHA and its Process Safety Management (PSM) program strive to improve upon these statistics.

About 35 million tons of electrical and electronic items are discarded worldwide every year. Leakage of chemicals in land fills from such discarded equipment pose serious environmental pollution problems. Legislation has been enacted in EU member countries and in China to arrest such pollution.

Improper disposal of electronic and electrical waste can be hazardous to the environment and to business profitability. Although proper disposal may be costly, the inability to expand globally may have an even more detrimental financial impact. Find out what it takes to do business in Europe, China and beyond.

"Don't cry over spilt milk" may be a good course of action for a child. But employers with hazardous spills and waste, must implement and execute cleanup, disposal, emergency response plans. Otherwise, they face reprimand and fines from OSHA.