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 [...]
How to develop an effective training program. Training. More than simply talking about a subject. The presentation needs be accurate, credible, clear, and practical. Probably the most important element is understanding you are delivering your training to adults. Many of whom have years of experience practicing their trade. Did you know one of the most [...]
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 [...]
Drugs/Alcohol in the workplace. Drugs in our society, be they licit or illicit, are not uncommon. Operating equipment of any kind or the workplace is not suitable for drug use (including some prescription drugs). The reason being is that many drugs can affect or impair mental and physical function. On the job, one must be [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Fall injuries. This blog is a little different from many of my earlier blogs. It relies solely upon my experience as a safety manager for companies over the years. It is a laymen’s comment. The discussion is about fall injuries and why they are so problematic. First, a fall injury may arise from a simple [...]