What you can’t see (or smell) can hurt you. What is being discussed here is work places where hazardous and toxic gases are known to be present or may be present. The operative words here are “known to be present or may be present”. Here’s why. There are gases which are odorless and are not [...]
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. [...]
Winter weather presents many hazards including slippery roads (ice/snow). In my first year in Colorado, I remember being told a safety driving practice beneficial to us former flatlanders. When traveling downhill on a road, slow down during in the straightaways and ease off the brake in turns. Reason: Loss of traction. As you know, maintaining [...]
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 [...]
Gravity is everywhere. Now there’s a profound statement. My whole life, I was reminded of gravity whenever I fell or tripped. I suspect this is applies of all people. This knowledge applies especially to those who work at heights. If your job involves working on ladders, scaffolding or other elevated working surfaces understanding that fall [...]
If you drop a 100 pound weight 1 foot and bring it to a sudden stop the amount of energy is between 900 to 1,100 pounds. Imagine 3 250 pound NFL linebackers sitting on you. Remedy: Wear personal fall arrest equipment when working at heights or make sure a fall protection railing is in place. [...]
When I first started as a safety professional, I always heard the safety tip that when working around large mobile equipment like front end loaders, to make eye contact with the operator. The thinking was that by making eye contact with the operator you would be seen and not be run over. Well, now I [...]
When I first entered the safety profession I heard other safety guys talking about the hazards of slips, trips and falls, or falls from working at height, or unguarded moving machinery. Everyone had a pet safety hazard and solution. Boy was I surprised to learn the number one cause of workplace death and injury was [...]
Safety around large mobile equipment. When I first started as a safety professional, I always heard that when working around large mobile equipment like front end loaders, to make eye contact with the operator. The thinking was that making eye contact with the operator you would be seen and not be run over. Well, now [...]
Gravity is everywhere. Now there’s a profound statement. My whole life, I was reminded of gravity whenever I fell or tripped. I suspect this experience applies to all of us. This knowledge applies especially to those who work at heights. If your job involves working on ladders, roofs, scaffolding or other elevated working surfaces it [...]