Flammable liquids are those with a flash point of less than 100 degrees Celsius. This is the lowest point at which the liquid produces enough vapor to form a flammable mixture with air. Red labels that contain a fire symbol are used to identify flammable liquids. OSHA defines a “safety...
Foot protection means guarding your toes, ankles, and feet from injury. Believe it or not, your feet have 26 bones for support and 38 joints for movement in each foot. Your feet are a critical part of your body that you use every day and, in some cases, enable you...
Failing to properly use and maintain electric-powered tools causes thousands of cuts, punctures, pinches, amputations, and electrocutions each year. Tools can seriously injure or kill the user if not properly maintained or used. Everyone who uses tools must learn to recognize the hazards associated with the different types of tools...
Virtually every single ladder accident could and should have been prevented. It only takes a little bit of common sense about ladder safety to prevent an accident from occurring while using ladders. Stick to the following simple ladder safety rules to ensure that you or your fellow workers are never...
In the workplace, ‘good housekeeping’ is the term used for keeping the worksite clean, neat, and free of hazards that can cause injury. Housekeeping is a safety concern that is often overlooked or taken for granted. But far too many accidents happen because people didn’t keep their work areas neat and...
Lead exposure can occur during a variety of job activities. Lead is common in a wide range of materials including paints and other coatings, lead mortars, and base metals, which may be welded on or abrasive blasted. Lead presents a potentially serious occupational health hazard when the lead-containing particulates become...
Cell phones can be a dangerous distraction. When used inappropriately these devices can get employees in trouble at work as well as potentially cause serious injury. Recognizing and Responding to Unsafe Cell Phone Use: To avoid committing unsafe acts, we must make safety our top priority in every task we...
Air testing is required for two distinct purposes: evaluation of the hazards of the permit space and verification that acceptable conditions exist for entry into that space. Evaluation Testing: The atmosphere within a confined space must be tested using equipment that is designed to detect the chemicals that may be...
Prolonged exposure to cold and/or freezing temperatures while on the job may cause serious health problems such as trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia. In extreme cases, exposure to cold temperatures can lead to death. Important Tips to Prevent Cold Stress: Wear proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions; Take...
You can be trapped before there is time to react. So, it is important that every excavation be prepared correctly, allowing you to complete your job safely and efficiently. Remember that every trench is different. Soil type, moisture content, depth, configuration, proximity to existing structures, and location of spoil piles...