By Kristine Catimbang, OSHAcademy Training Coordinator

The pandemic has caused many people to stay cooped up. This is especially true for those of us who work from home. The human body was not built to live a sedentary lifestyle and the World Health Organization wants people to get up and exercise. Sedentary behaviors can result in poor health outcomes such as weight gain, reduced sleep duration, increased incidence of chronic diseases, and risk of all-cause mortality. The pandemic may have put a pause on many things in our daily lives, but that does not mean exercising regularly should be put on pause as well. Everyone can benefit from physical activity. Regular physical activity prevents noncommunicable diseases and improves mental health, quality of life, and well-being.

For adults aged 18 to 64, the following are recommended (WHO, 2020):

• 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week.
• A combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity works as well.
• For additional health benefits, muscle-strengthening activities can be incorporated during the week.

Staying active during work is just as important as regularly exercising. Even if you have an exercise routine for the day, getting up and moving around each hour during work can help decrease your chance of developing chronic diseases. If you do not have a regular exercise routine, you can incorporate a few small exercises to do during short breaks while you work. A few minutes of physical activity will help you feel refreshed and more focused. Some exercise is better than none!

Finding the motivation to stay active during the pandemic can be quite difficult, but there are many ways to help. It can help to incorporate physical activity into a regular schedule and setting goals for yourself. Apps can be used on your mobile device to find new exercises and keep track of your progress. If you are at home most of the time, it can be convenient to exercise to workout videos. Getting started with physical activity is as simple as going for a brisk walk during the day. Physical activity is critical for maintaining your health and well-being. Time spent being sedentary should be limited.

For more information about physical activity recommendations and recommendations for other groups, please see the link in the references. 

References

World Health Organization (WHO). (November 2020). Physical Activity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

By Jesse Allred, Guest Contributor

Spring is the perfect time to address those spots in a facility that often go neglected—in this case we’re talking about pipe marking. Whether your facility has a few pipes or dozens, having the right labels will keep your workplace safer, more efficient, and in compliance with OSHA regulations. 

Is there an OSHA regulation for pipe labeling?

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that there is no specific regulation detailing the requirements for pipe labels in OSHA’s regulations. However, OSHA does enforce the voluntary pipe marking standards created by ANSI and ASME.

OSHA and Standard Setting Organizations, like ANSI and ASME, work together to develop, coordinate, revise, and amend standards that are seen as best practice methods for various industries. Those standards then have the potential to be made into mandatory regulations if OSHA deems them a high priority in preventing injury and other related workplace disasters.

The end result is known as “incorporation by reference” and although known as a voluntary standard, the ANSI/ASME A13.1 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems was added to OSHA regulations through Section 1910.6(a)(3) of the “Incorporation by Reference” standard.

ANSI/ASME Stand for Pipe Marking

The ANSI/ASME A13.1 color code is arguably the most important element of pipe marking. In case of burst pipes or emergencies, workers should be able to glance at a pipe label and immediately know what they’re dealing with. For example, flammable fluids need to be marked with a yellow label that has black text while pipes carrying fire quenching fluids should have a red label that has white text.

Pipe markings are only effective if they can be seen! The ANSI/ASME pipe marking standard also defines requirements for text and label size to ensure legibility as well as where on the pipe the label must be placed for maximum visibility.

Valve Tags

Besides marking pipes with labels, valve tags should be attached on or near the valve of all pipes. Facilities can choose what information to include on a valve tag. This can be anything from what the pipe’s contents are to what other valves it’s attached to in the overall pipe system.

Refreshing Your Pipe Marking System

With spring right around the corner, take this opportunity to check your pipes and make sure they are properly labeled. Identify what types of pipes are present, where they’re located, if they have a label, and check the condition of the pipe markings. Once you have a list, you can order pre-printed labels or design your own custom pipe labels in-house with an industrial label printer. With durable labels, you won’t need to worry about your pipe marking for a while.