The Safety Brief is a compilation of short podcasts produced by Creative Safety Supply and Dan Clark, our resident all-around safety guru. In our podcasts we give short but valuable overviews and insights into how contractors and safety managers can be even more effective in protecting their workers.
Respirator safety increases if you know the basics. Here we talk about both types, air purifying and atmosphere supplying. Respirators don’t filter out everything. Some are designed for dust, others chemicals, still others for biological agents. Air purifying respirators come in three subcategories. Some are disposable or reusable. Others are powered and push breathable air…
Dan Clark | July 25, 2014 | NIOSH, Podcast, Respirator
Hand safety means more that wearing PPE. Even jobs that don’t require gloves can be dangerous for hands. Repetitive motion can affect tendons and joints. Ergonomics can help with the design and arrangement of tools to maximize hand safety. A tool is ergonomic only if it fits your hand, and the job you are doing.…
Dan Clark | July 24, 2014 | Hand Safety, Podcast, Tool Safety
Heat illness will zap you, no matter what the heat source. Indoors, it could be from a furnace. Outdoors, it will probably be from that bigger furnace, the sun. Workers who have not worked in heat before need to acclimatize. Start slowly and don’t overdo it. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps and…
Dan Clark | July 23, 2014 | Heat Illness, Heat Related Injuries, Podcast
OSHA teaches hazard identification by engaging employees with their new, game-based Hazard Identification Training Tool. It makes hazard identification interactive. And it’s free. There are three game elements: * OSHA visual inspection training. You investigate tools or structures to see if they’re safe. * Manufacturing. As business owners or workers, you set budgets with safety…
Dan Clark | July 22, 2014 | Hazard identification, Podcast
Safety apps put important information at your fingertips. A mobile device with a free safety application can be a convenient planning reference, or save precious minutes in an emergency. OSHA Safety gives you the complete text of OSHA regulations for general industry. Very convenient in the field. The American Red Cross offers First Aid, which…
Dan Clark | July 21, 2014 | Podcast, Safety Applications, Safety Apps
Owners and managers—the bosses—don’t often like change. Try “continuous improvement” to improve safety and efficiency. Start with no budget, in a small area to prove it and catch their attention. First, learn all you can about efficiency programs such as 5S, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and others. Their goal is to improve safety and workflow.…
Dan Clark | July 17, 2014 | Continuous Improvement, Podcast
Reflective tape gives safety an uptick in the workplace. It’s a long lasting, inexpensive way to visually warn workers of hazards. This type of tape champions safety in dimly lit and dark areas indoors and outdoors. Warehouse floors and walls with eye-catching tape are easier for employees to navigate, even if the electricity goes out.…
Dan Clark | July 16, 2014 | Podcast, Reflective Tape
Pipe marking can stop injuries. Labels on pipes give visual safety cues to workers on the job. Color codes from ANSI will help employees know what is inside a pipe, and if it is dangerous. The color of the background and text of the pipe making label will quickly identify pipe contents, from potable water…
Dan Clark | July 15, 2014 | ANSI, Color Coding, Pipe Marking, Podcast
OEE losses, the losses in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, can impact safety and cripple work-in-process. Learn here how to save time and money, and keep workers safer. Breakdowns are unsafe, and unproductive. Regular maintenance reduces breakdown frequency. Keep replacement equipment and spare parts in-house to avoid long waits. Small stops are aggravating delays of five minutes…
Dan Clark | July 11, 2014 | OEE, Overall Equipment Effectiveness, Podcast
Workplace hazards are sometimes hidden in plain sight. Workers and managers need to be aware of 10 dangerous hotspots in facilities. Fall protection is needed on ledges, stairs and places people may slip and fall. Air quality is often ignored because it’s mostly unseen. PPE can help. Temporary electrical installations, such as extension cords, can…
Dan Clark | July 10, 2014 | Podcast, Workplace Hazards
Chemical safety in the workplace requires solid cooperation between management and employees. Workers must wear the proper PPE, which will vary based on the chemicals being handled. To maintain industrial hygiene, employees must follow procedures for handling chemicals, based on the company’s HazCom, the Hazard Communication Plan. All workers should know procedures in case of…
Dan Clark | July 9, 2014 | Chemical Safety, GHS, Podcast
It’s easy to forget how dangerous tools can be. They’re around every worksite, in constant use. But tool safety is everyone’s responsibility. Training is the first step in tool safety. Employees can’t be expected to know the proper operation of a tool. Train them on even basic tools, but especially power tools. Maintain tools to…
Dan Clark | July 8, 2014 | Podcast, Tool Safety
Lean safety is the result of implementing “lean” methodology. Lean makes businesses less wasteful, more efficient and more profitable. An efficient workplace is a safer workplace. Simultaneous increases in efficiency and safety are seen at a Minnesota factory. The assembly line was dismantled and repositioned so workers did not have to physically move materials manually…
Dan Clark | July 7, 2014 | Lean Manufacturing, Lean Safety, Podcast
Safety tape, the floor marking tape, is better than painting lines on a factory floor. Keep workers safe with color coding that lasts a long time. Employees can avoid struck-by accidents if their work area is visually marked. Clean the floors well prior to installing safety tape. Avoid chlorine or citrus based cleaners, because they…
Dan Clark | July 2, 2014 | Color Coding, Podcast, Safety Tape
Hazard labels give critical information. Labels are the glue that hold the whole safety system together. From manufacturing to office settings, proper labeling of hazards is important for employee safety, and fit well with 5S, Six Sigma and Lean systems. Hazard labels should be put on dangerous chemical containers to GHS standards, and pipes. The…
Dan Clark | July 1, 2014 | GHS Labeling, Podcast, Signs and Labels
A fireproof workplace and personal protective equipment are critical for safe welding. Welding is a hot work process due a gas flame, an electric arc, a laser or other dangerous heat source. Employees must be properly protected from the high heat and arc flash produced in the welding process. Follow rules in ANSI Z49, the…
Dan Clark | June 30, 2014 | Flame Resistant, Heat Related Injuries, Podcast, Welding Dangers
Silica dust is common in worksites, can scar the lungs and cause cancer. Symptoms sometimes don’t appear for 10 years. The source of silica dust is the element silicon, which is common in quartz and other rocks. The rocks themselves aren’t a danger, but when crunched into dust, scarred lungs and cancer can result from…
Dan Clark | June 27, 2014 | Podcast, Respirator, Silica Dust
An OSHA inspection can happen without notice, but with preparation, facilities can be ready for scrutiny. Prepare the employees so they are used to working while being observed. The safety planning team should know who will meet with the inspector, and have access to site accident history, and safety procedures. Prepare the facility by complying…
Dan Clark | June 26, 2014 | OSHA inspection, Podcast
Industrial labels are cheaper to make in-house. And quicker. For a manufacturing, in a warehouse, or almost any work site, consider buying a quality industrial label printer. Think about about all the signs a workplace might need: safety signs, 5S and Lean labels, warehouse markings, pipe markings, arc flash, chemical labels. Doing industrial labeling yourself…
Dan Clark | June 25, 2014 | Industrial Labels, Podcast
Loud sound in the workplace can sneak up on people causing hearing damage. 60% of workers are exposed to sound so loud, they could suffer occupational hearing loss. Managers and employees should be award of the three kinds of dangerous sounds, continuous, intermittent and impulsive, and how to protect hearing from them with their PPE.…
Dan Clark | June 24, 2014 | Hearing Protection, Podcast
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