Near Miss A “near miss” or accident without injury is easy to shrug off and forget. But there is a danger in brushing off accidents that don’t hurt, harm, or damage. When a “near miss” happens, it should immediately send up a red warning flag that something was wrong, unplanned,...
Safe Hot Work Procedure Hot work may include spark and high heat producing job tasks such as grinding, welding, soldering, thermal or oxygen cutting, and heating. Advanced planning and safe work procedures help prevent workplace fires caused by hot works activities. Hot Work Fire March 28th 2009 Whenever possible, hot...
Bench Grinder Safety Almost every maintenance shop has a bench or pedestal grinder. They are most commonly used to shape or sharpen the cutting edges of tools such as chisels or lawn mower blades. These are powerful, useful tools, but they are also potentially dangerous because users take them for...
Struck-By Safety Being struck by an object on the job is one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in the construction industry. Struck-by hazards are one of the four most deadly hazards in the construction industry and account for around 10% of all industry fatalities annually, with 75%...
Rigging Safety Rigging looks like an easy operation, one that doesn’t seem to require any particular skill or experience. But don’t be fooled. Many people who’ve thought that “anyone can do it” have lost fingers or hands or suffered more serious injuries. We don’t want any one injured while rigging...
Loading Dock Safety Loading docks are busy areas. Trailers, dock levelers, and rolling doors can cause pinch points and elevated docks pose a fall hazard. Workers must pay attention to these hazards. Making Your Dock Safe Do not use equipment unless you are trained and authorized to do so. Stay...
Silica Safety Silica exposure remains a serious threat to nearly 2 million U.S. workers, including more than 100,000 workers in high risk jobs such as abrasive blasting, foundry work, stonecutting, rock drilling, quarry work, and tunneling. The seriousness of the health hazards associated with silica exposure is demonstrated by the...
Slips, Trips, and Falls Safety A “slip” occurs when there is too little traction or friction between the shoe and walking surface. A “trip” occurs when a person’s foot contacts an object in their way or drops to a lower level unexpectedly, causing them to be thrown off-balance. A trip...
Compressed Gas Safety Compressed gas cylinders contain a great deal of energy. If the cylinders are mishandled or treated roughly, that energy can burst into an explosion – especially if the shut-off valve isn’t covered. If the cylinder ruptures or the valve breaks off, that pressure is released suddenly and...
Working in Cold Weather Exposure to cold can result in cold stress that can lead to serious trouble such as frostbite, hypothermia, and even death. The likelihood of illness depends on many factors including physical activity, clothing, wind, humidity, and a person’s age and general health. According to OSHA, more...