There are many injuries while using hand tools on the job. Many of these injuries occur from improper use, but there are also injuries that involve a tool that was broken or in need of repair. What tool is being used will decide what needs to be inspected on it. In this safety talk, we will discuss basic handheld tools that are not electric or pneumatic.
Read MoreIt is no secret that opioid abuse in the United States is an epidemic. While these drugs have been a problem for years now there has been a recent national spotlight on the issue. It is important to understand how common this issue is, the side effects of abuse, and how abuse can affect an entire workplace.
Read More
No one has all of the answers. If you do, you are under-utilized and underpaid. For the rest of us, there are always going to be times when we need help from someone else. It is important to feel comfortable asking for help when you need it or mentoring others when they need assistance.
Read MoreWe use batteries to power our cars, trucks, tractors, forklifts, construction equipment, and power tools. There are different types of batteries. For example, a lead-acid battery usually uses sulfuric acid to create the intended reaction. Zinc-air batteries rely on oxidizing zinc with oxygen for the reaction. Potassium hydroxide is the electrolyte in common household alkaline batteries. The most common electrolyte in lithium batteries is a lithium salt solution.
Read More
The list of possible medical emergencies you can experience in life is a long one. A common medical emergency that takes the lives of many people are emergencies that involve the heart. Heart attacks are extremely common; over 725,000 Americans experience a heart attack each year.
Read MoreThere are many different kinds of wildlife that can pose a danger to workers in the United States. Different geographical regions deal with different types of wildlife. Snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, can be a major concern for many different workers across the U.S. It is important to consider if snakes could be in your work area and what steps need to be taken to prevent any type of injury or incident due to them.
Read MoreDump trucks are widely used in a variety of different industries today. These trucks can vary greatly in design, but the basic premise of the job they complete is universal; they haul material and dump it. Despite varying designs and uses of these trucks, many of the hazards of operation remain the same. Overturn of the bed of the truck or the entire truck itself is one of the major hazards for the operation of these trucks.
Read MoreTheft is a major concern for all companies. Construction companies especially deal with unique challenges in protecting themselves.
According to the National Equipment Register, construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year. It is important to consider the challenges of protecting a worksite from theft and take steps to prevent it from occurring.
Read More
hard physical labor that presents many different hazards for the individuals who work in this field. While there needs to be a steady or even fast pace at times, it is important to take the time to recognize the hazards of the work and mitigate them. Many of the related hazards to concrete work can be controlled through elimination and communication.
Read More
There are multiple safeguards to control any single hazard. Each level of these safeguards serves to protect employees. Some safeguards or controls are more effective than others. The hierarchy of controls outlines the controls used to mitigate a most effective to least effective hazard.
Read MoreThe importance of adequate sleep cannot be overstated. Sleep has many effects on a variety of aspects of our health. The way you feel awake has a link to what kind of sleep you get at night. Poor sleeping habits can lead to an acute sudden incident, such as a car crash due to a tired driver, or chronic problems over the long term such as a number of health issues.
Read More
Front end loaders are one of the most commonly used types of heavy equipment. These machines are found in a variety of industries completing a magnitude of different tasks. These machines may not be the largest or viewed as the most hazardous on a job, but year after year they are responsible for many injuries and fatalities.
Read More
Benzene is 1 of 119 agents listed as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency of Research on Cancer also known as IARC. A carcinogen is defined as any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer. It is a widely used chemical in industrial processes as well as in consumer goods. Because of its widespread use, many individuals can face exposure to this substance both on and off the job.
Read MoreSafety is often associated with paperwork in many workplaces. While many employees dislike the fact that there is so much paperwork involved in workplace safety, it is often necessary to have. Paperwork communicates safety requirements, describes work processes, communicates hazards, tracks near misses, investigates losses, and serves many more purposes. It is an important part of the overall safety program at a company.
Read MoreEvery single day new technologies and equipment are being introduced into the marketplace.
These technologies and equipment eventually make it to our workplaces. It is important to fully understand these new tools before beginning work.
Often new tasks and equipment are a source for injury on the job.
Read More
When evaluating hazards of a new job or task, many professionals evaluate severity versus frequency (or likelihood of occurring). Using this method enables an individual to compare a less severe but more frequent outcome to a severe but less frequently occurring outcome to decide where to place the most time, energy, and resources in mitigating hazards to prevent incidents.
Read More
There are times when you will not have what you need to complete a task safely and correctly. Whether it is the proper training, tools, knowledge, time, materials, support, equipment, etc. there is a lot you need in place to do any one work task correctly. It is important to take the time to get the right people involved depending on what you need to get your work done.
Read More
1. Always wear your seatbelt when in a vehicle or heavy equipment. Seatbelts are critical to preventing serious injuries and death while driving or operating. Motor vehicle crashes are still the number one cause of fatalities on the job in the United States……..
Read MoreUnderground utility strikes are a dangerous and costly event. Almost all line strikes are expensive and many of incidents that damage gas or electric lines can be extremely dangerous for everyone in the area. It is vital to understand the frequency at which line strikes occur and the best practices to assist in preventing line strikes.
Read More
Leave Yourself an Out
All too often individuals are injured at work due to putting themselves into the line of fire or finding themselves in a place where they cannot escape danger. There are many different examples of these types of incidents. From a dropped load falling onto your foot to rear-ending the car in front of you, there are many scenarios like these incidents that are preventable if you leave yourself an out.
Read More