Portable Fire Extinguishers Do you know how to extinguish a fire? According to OSHA regulations, no one at a workplace is supposed to use a fire extinguisher unless they have been trained to do so. Though this may seem awfully restrictive, there are several good reasons for this rule. If...
Ergonomics Ergonomics literally means “the rules of human strength.” Engineers interested in the design of work environments originated the word in the 1950s. Today, the purpose of ergonomics in the workplace is to create a better match between workers, the work they perform, and the equipment they use. A good...
Clean Worksite Safety In the workplace, “good housekeeping” is the term used for keeping the worksite clean, neat, and free of hazards that can cause injury. This isn’t just a matter of appearances – it’s a serious safety issue. In fact, we can easily earn OSHA’s “seal of disapproval” –...
Alas, fellow safety enthusiasts – there is no posting for this, the first week in April, 2015. But do not fear! We will be back next week with more safety articles.
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. Grinders use powered rotating attachments to work metal and...
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. According to OSHA, struck-by hazards are one of the four most deadly hazards in the construction industry and account for around 10% of all industry fatalities...
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 anyone injured while rigging on...
Loading Dock Safety Loading docks are busy areas. Trucks, trailers, and forklifts move throughout loading 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 and focus on safety training, the proper equipment, and strict...