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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you are running a home business you know that there is so much more to being successful than simply hanging out a shingle advertising your availability.