Powder-Actuated Tools Safety Whenever you operate a powder-actuated hand tool, safe work practices must always be followed. These tools are designed to drive nails or other fastening devices into material such as concrete, steel, and masonry, which are not easily penetrated. These devices use explosive charges similar to a firearm....
Lockout/Tagout/Tryout Safety Many people have been seriously injured or killed by machinery and electrical equipment. Often, these tragedies happen because people carelessly try to repair or maintain the equipment without making sure its energy source has been shut off. Common causes of accidents: The machine or piece of equipment was...
Accident Prevention Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 accidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident. Although employers are required by law to provide a safe and healthful workplace, it is up to you to be aware of your work environment and follow safe work...
Head Protection A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics survey showed that most workers who suffered impact injuries to the head were performing their normal jobs, at their regular work-sites, but were not wearing head protection. Most of those injured were not required to wear a hard hat. Hard hat tips:...
Operating Machinery Safely According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 1,100 workers in the United States were killed last year by contact with equipment or by being caught up in running machinery. That’s 20% of all fatalities in the workplace. Over a thousand people killed in ways that could...
Safety in Trenching 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...
The Right Ladder for the Job Each year in the U.S, more than twenty thousand people are rushed to the emergency room due to ladder related falls and accidents. Ladder accidents and falls can result in severe injury and in some cases even death. The proper precautions must always be...
Hazard Awareness Safety Many small things influence our lives and not paying attention to them can sometimes have disastrous consequences, especially when it comes to safety. Fortunately, most of us have been trained to keep an eye out for the “big hazards” that could cause injury. But, sometimes, it’s the...
Foot Protection 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. Must meet; ASTM F-2412-2005, “Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection,” and ASTM F- 2413-2005, “Standard...
Abrasive Blasting Safety The following safety rules are recommended when abrasive blasting work is being performed: Allow only authorized and properly trained personnel within the blasting area. Before blasting begins, the supervisor and/or other designated employees should inspect the area and the object(s) to be blasted to ensure proper conditions....