You don’t have to follow OSHA: You can have stricter safety policies. You of course know that the OSHA safety rules are safety minimums. In other words, these safety rules are the bare bones of good safety practices. But did you know OSHA welcomes you, the employer, to adopt stricter safety rules? Yup. If you [...]
Workplace safety for employees, rights and protections. If you are a business owner pay attention to this blog. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires as part of its 10 and 30 Hour safety training to include Worker Rights and Protections. OSHA protects employees from employers failing to protect employees facing an uncontrolled hazard in [...]
Actual Safety Training. It’s not optional. You no doubt have heard that safety training of employees is a good idea. And safety training is a good idea. But did you know there are certain topics that the Occupational Safety Health Act (OSHA) requires? Its true. OSHA requires training if your employees operate forklifts, or work [...]
Lock Out Tag Out is a well-known safety practice aimed at protecting workers from the unexcepted release of energy. The word ‘energy” includes electricity, pneumatic (pressurized air), hydraulic (pressurized oils/water), kinetic (springs under tension). In other words, anything that if released unexpectedly can cause harm to workers or equipment. Some tips on how to effectively [...]
Backing incidents are just like front-facing strikes, only different. An operator is moving the equipment rearward and a person is walking, standing, or kneeling behind the equipment, unseen by the operator. Each year more than 70 people are fatally injured in back-over incidents. Such incidents or near misses occurring even where backup alarms in functioning. [...]
Accident investigations. Or, how to avoid incidents and save money. Taking some time to learn why and how an injury or equipment damage incident occurred is extremely beneficial. First, it helps to learn why an incident occurred. Second, it saves money. Properly conducted, a post-incident investigation will bring to light why and how an incident [...]
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand”. Safety talks are opportunities to pass on knowledge and understanding. Safety talks discuss an activity and then how to safely handle the task. For example working at heights. Understanding that fall protection need be in place and what types of fall protection are known to be [...]
Electricity. What is the old saying I’ve heard, no cares about electricity but everyone cares about cold beer? If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of an electrical jolt you know it was an unpleasant surprise. And, such a jolt was at the end of a low voltage contact. Higher voltages and amps can [...]
Noise. Hearing levels in people declines when exposed to certain levels of noise over a period of time. The extent of hearing decline depends on the level of noise and duration of exposure. OSHA says 85 decibels (dBA) or higher over an 8-hour work shift is excessive. If you have a smartphone you can download [...]
2019 LOTO 1910./147, https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-lockout-tagout.pdf So your company works repairing water, oil, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical devices. Each of these items can be “stored energy”. Your employees from time to time undertake a task that directly contacts a system handling any of the above. Employees must have a clear understanding of how to safely work with [...]