Resources
Preventing accidents and reporting near misses.
An “accident” is any unplanned event that results in personal injury or property damage. Accidents are often preceded by related incidents and near misses, and are often both predictable and preventable. Causes of accidents can be identified through change analysis, job safety analysis, accident investigations, and near-miss reports.
Aerial lifts are a resourceful way of reaching high places. They can also be dangerous if we do not use the lift they way it was intended to be used. It is important that we remember to inspect the aerial lift before each use and wear our fall protection at all times.
Lifting is usually a part of our daily job routine. We need to be cautious of injuries that may occur from not lifting properly or attempting to lift more than we should. Our back is an important part of health and injuries can linger for months and even years. It is not uncommon for small back injuries to develop into chronic back pain. Injuries include back strains, sprains, bulging disk, and a herniated disk.
It is important to keep yourself safe in the workplace. This includes assisting others who may have been injured. Whenever there is an accident at work you have an increased chance of being exposed to a Bloodborne Pathogen. A pathogen is a specific cause of disease, such as a virus or bacteria, and “bloodborne” means it is carried by or in blood. It is also possible to contract some bloodborne pathogens through other bodily fluids.
Many, or perhaps even most, workplaces have something on the premises that would be correctly termed a “confined space.” OSHA’s definition is a space that is large enough and configured in such a way that a person can enter and perform work inside, but has limited or restricted means of entry/exit, and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Some examples of confined space include storage tanks, pits, silos, degreasers, sewers, tunnels, tanks, etc.
When we think of work-related hazards, we typically think of what happens inside the workplace. But one of the greatest threats to employees safety is not in the workplace but rather on the road. Distracted driving is one of the main causes of theses accidents. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.
Have you ever set up a new piece of equipment and then go to plug it in, only to realize there are not enough outlets available? This is a common and frustrating reality for many of us. OSHA has some clear regulations when it comes to using power strips and daisy chaining, also known as multi-plugging.
The more you know about the hazards that could cause emergencies, the better prepared you will be to respond to an emergency. We hope we never have to face an emergency situation, but we must always be prepared.
You may not need to work from heights on a regular basis, but you need to be prepared when the situation arises. With increased height comes an increased risk of falling. Falls can be tied to over 350 deaths each year in the workplace, accounting for roughly 40% of construction related deaths.
Fire extinguishers are all around us. They are a necessity in the workplace, our homes, and even in vehicles. We are so accustomed to working around fire extinguishers, that we may not actually know where the closest one is located in our work environment. Here is a review of when and how to use fire extinguishers.
It is important that we do an inspection for forklifts at the beginning of each shift. The goal is to indentify unsafe conditions that could possibly cause an accident. Here are some key items focus to focus on during your inspections.
Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs) are a common sight in most manufacturing or warehousing environments. It is important to abide by the attached rules to keep operators and pedestrians safe.
Hand and power tools are a common part of our everyday lives and are present in nearly every industry. However, these simple tools can be hazardous and have the potential for causing severe injuries when used or maintained improperly. The employer is responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, but the employees have the responsibility for properly using and maintaining tools.
Hazard Communication or “HAZCOM” was developed to ensure that employers provide employees with pertinent safety information for when coming in contact with chemicals used in their workplace. HAZCOM requirements are designed to reducing the risk of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries by making available specific information to help identify and evaluate hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Tools such as Container Labeling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) assist employers in identifying and communicating these hazards.
Hazards exist on all job sites and in every workplace, and these hazards are often result in injuries, illnesses, and incidents/accidents. One common cause of these workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. An important and vital component of any effective safety and health program is being proactive and providing a continuous process to identify and address these hazards.
If you want to learn about a company’s attitude toward safety, just take a look at their housekeeping habits, because good housekeeping is really one of the most important aspects of safety. Good housekeeping is not the sole responsibility of the maintenance and custodial staff; it must be practiced by everyone.
Knives are an important tool in many workplaces. It is important to understand the hazards of working with knives, especially the risk of severe lacerations.
There are over 100,000 ladder related injuries every year in the United States. Work related falls from ladders result in approximately 115 fatalities and roughly 17,000 series injuries annually. It is important that we give our job full attention when working with ladders, as well as doing a proper inspection of your ladder and work environment.
Lockout/tagout is an important and vital procedure for any workplace that houses and utilizes machinery, it’s also required by OSHA in its standard on Control of Hazardous Energy. Since approximately 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries occur every year due to improper implementation of lockout/tagout procedures, it’s very important all employees are properly trained and prepared.
Today, most machinery at most workplaces are equipped with guarding. The dramatic improvement in guarding over the years has meant fewer employees sustaining the crushing injuries that used to occur all too frequently. With more than 92,000 injuries and 800 deaths occurring every year to employees who operate and maintain machinery, it’s very important that guarding is used on all machinery.
It is important that employees and supervisors understand their responsibilities to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. Here are some items that are important to know when starting a new job at a new facility.
This is a list of the top 10 most frequently cited standards following inspections of worksites by federal OSHA. OSHA publishes this list to alert employers about these commonly cited standards so they can take steps to find and fix recognized hazards addressed in these and other standards before OSHA shows up. Far too many preventable injuries and illnesses occur in the workplace.
Pallet jacks and electric carts make moving materials easy. They may not seem like a dangerous piece of equipment, but they can cause serious injuries. We need to ensure that we operate them safely to help avoid any potential accidents.
In many workplaces, forklifts are the primary tool used for moving and handling materials. As useful as forklifts are, they can be deadly if not operated safely and if pedestrians are not aware of the hazard of working near forklifts.
When workplace hazards cannot be guarded or engineered to prevent exposure, we have to rely on another means to protect ourselves. This is where our PPE comes in. It is considered the last resort to protect us from workplace hazards.
The purpose of a Preventative Maintenance program is to ensure that not only are all parts of the facility in proper working condition but also to help keep track of machinery and their general maintenance needs to remain safe and operational. By implementing a schedule to inspect every part of one’s facility, repairs can found and corrected before potential harm or damage can occur.
The warm sunny weather has moved out to give way for cold and chilly days. With the arrival of cold weather we also see an increase in snow and ice, which can lead to many unwanted injuries. This can be anything from a slip and fall to throwing out your back while shoveling.
Not only is it important to keep employees safe, you also need to consider the guests.
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