From 2014 to 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated 209 loading dock injuries. Nearly half were fatalities. 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...
There are many different types of injuries that can occur while using a pressure washer. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 6,057 people went to an emergency room with injuries related to pressure washer use in 2018. While the pressure of the water can be considered the...
Electric pallet jacks, often called “pallet trucks,” are designed for lifting and transporting palletized materials over relatively short distances. They come in many different types and styles and are vital to daily operations in today’s industry. Even though they seem simple to use, they can be very dangerous when used...
Falls are the second leading cause of occupational fatalities and disabling injuries in the United States. Each year, over 500 workers die in fall-related accidents and over 300,000 workers suffer a disabling injury. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), most of these fatalities and disabling...
Fire can be one of our deadliest enemies. It can mutilate us, kill us, and destroy in a few minutes what took a lifetime to build. Fire can take away our workplaces and our jobs. How can fires be stopped? The answer is prevention. However, to prevent fires, we must...
There has been much discussion about silica dust in the past few years. OSHA has issued a regulation to help protect workers from overexposure to this dust. It has been largely unregulated in the past and because of this, many workers have been faced with overexposure. The CDC reports that...
In the typical workplace, drums are used to store material, to ship it, to dispense it for use, and to store wastes. All these drums must be moved from time to time. Like most things, there’s a right way to move a drum and several wrong ways to do it....
High-visibility (or hi-vis) apparel is a familiar sight, so it’s easy to take for granted. But wearing the right type can save your life. When I got to the site, I realized I left my safety vest in the truck. I was only going to be there for a few...
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. Feet also have blood vessels, ligaments, muscles, and nerves, which is why it hurts when you stub your toe or...
This year, in the U.S. alone, approximately 800 people will be killed by faulty electrical appliances and power tools; hundreds more will be severely injured. Worn insulation, wire damage, and moisture- induced short-circuits can make these devices as “hot” as the power lines to which they are attached. The most...