Powder-Actuated Hand Tools 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....
Hot Work Safety When you weld, cut, or grind, the potential for accidents is significant. Eyes and skin can be burned, hearing can be damaged, and an electric shock can kill you. Even the fumes and gases produced during the welding process can damage your respiratory system or cause asphyxiation....
Loading Dock Safety Loading docks are a hub of activity in manufacturing plants, warehouses, industrial buildings, and distribution centers. In most companies, this is the primary location of movement of product in and out of a facility. Loading Dock Hazards: The loading dock area must be inspected regularly to identify...
Cold Weather Safety Summer and fall are gone and the winter months are upon us. Even though it’s cold outside, we still have to work and get the job done. There are several things we can do to keep warm and prevent cold weather related accidents. Protection against hazards: The...
Practice Good Housekeeping Good housekeeping is one of the surest ways to identify a safe workplace. You can tell how workers feel about safety just by looking at their housekeeping practices. Good housekeeping isn’t the result of cleaning up once a week or even once a day. It’s the result...
Ladder Safety 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. Four rules for safe use of ladders: Pick the right ladder for the job you...
Lockout/Tagout There are many examples of people being 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...
Eye Protection Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. No matter where we work, flying particles, dusts, splashes, or flying objects are apt to expose us to potential eye injury. Fortunately, we can protect against these hazards by using the appropriate protective eyewear for our jobs....
Proper Fit Of Hearing Protection Hearing loss is the No. 1 sensory disability in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 16 percent of hearing loss worldwide is attributable to occupational noise exposure. Disposable or reusable plugs Many disposable or reusable plugs are available and reduce noise by about...
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) Although most portable electric tools have an equipment grounding conductor and many are double insulated, these methods are not foolproof. A grounding wire could break or a cord could become defective. Using a GFCI overcomes these insulation problems. Not the proper use of GFCIs Where...