Trenching Safety A trench is defined as a narrow channel, deeper than it is wide and made below the surface of the ground. A trench can be up to 15 feet wide. An excavation is any man-made hole or trench that is made by removing earth. Trenching is recognized...
Chemicals are a major part of our everyday life at work. Examples include toxics, corrosives, solvents, and numerous other substances. As long as we take proper precautions, these substances can be handled safely. We are exposed to chemicals by: Inhalation – Breathing in dusts, mists, and vapors Example: Working...
Did you know that cold stress, or hypothermia, can occur at any time of year? In fact, most cases of cold stress develop in air temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. People who are exposed to lower temperatures are at risk for injuries ranging from frostbite to serious loss...
Scaffolding allows you to do your job at elevated heights. It includes suspended systems from buildings, supported systems from the ground, and aerial systems on mobile equipment. Without proper training, your work on a scaffolding system puts you at risk for falls or for being hit by falling objects, both...
Most of us take our senses for granted so we don’t often give our hearing much thought. But most people suffer some degree of hearing loss and, once your hearing is gone, it doesn’t come back. Farmers, construction workers, people exposed to constant loud noise on the job, whether at...
Most fires start out small, but after a few minutes they can be out of control. It’s important to know what to do, to act fast, and to sound the alarm. Think fast and act with caution When you first discover a fire, determine what to do immediately. If the...
Next to our eyes, our hands are probably the most important part of our body when it comes to doing our work. They’re involved in almost everything we do. Yet many of the things we do with our hands are done without any deliberate thought. Your hands have no...
Avoiding electrical shocks requires awareness of the hazards and a respect for this “Silent Killer.” The human body has a low resistance to electricity, making it, like most metals, a good conductor. Unlike metals however, the human body does not respond well when electricity passes through it. Physical results include...
Most of us know that only two things, unsafe acts or practices and unsafe conditions, cause accidents. Some of us even know that 9 out of 10 accidents are the result of unsafe acts, things we do when we know better. This is kind of strange if you think about...
We have all worked on or around ladders at some time in our lives, either at work, at home, or both. The following tips are intended to make your interaction with ladders less hazardous: Inspect it. Before using a ladder, inspect it for faults such as broken rungs or rails....