Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

November 18, 2015 by Dan Clark

Slips, trips and falls. Who would think they cause 15 percent of on-the-job deaths? Hear about prevention and OSHA’s proposed new walking-working surfaces rule. Good footwear, guardrails and housekeeping are just a few of the tips Dan Clark offers to avoid workers’ slips, trips and falls. Also featured are quotes from OSHA head Dr. David Michaels on the long-delayed walking-working surfaces rule. Dan wonders why there is a fall protection requirement of four feet in …

Loading Dock Safety

September 25, 2014 by Dan Clark

Loading dock safety is difficult to manage because of constantly moving vehicles, people and materials. Listen to this podcast for tips on improving safety at your loading dock. Workers should beware of trucks backing up trailers, forklifts and other powered transport devices. When walking or driving, employees should be wary of the dock edge. A fall from a typical six to eight from edge can cause great injury. Warning signs and labels should be observed …

Warehouse Traffic Safety Management

August 12, 2014 by Dan Clark

Warehouse traffic can be a safety battle. A battle of people vs. machines. Too often, the machines win. Struck-by accidents in 2012 alone claimed the lives of 199 people on the job. With better planning, those lives could have been saved. Listen to this podcast for ways to increase warehouse traffic safety. Here we detail warehouse physical and visual barriers, plus rules for drivers and pedestrians. TRANSCRIPT: (:00) intro music and effects (:04) Dan Clark: …

Exit Routes At Work

August 7, 2014 by Dan Clark

Exit route violations are very common in OSHA inspections. Make access to unobstructed, well marked workplace exit routes a priority. We detail the finer points of exit routes in this podcast. We discuss the three parts to an exit route: exit access, the exit itself, and exit discharge. Hear about OSHA’s requirements for adequate lighting, visual signage, certain height and width dimensions and much more for good safety housekeeping. TRANSCRIPT: (:00) intro music and effects …

Stacking and Storing for Warehouse Safety

July 30, 2014 by Dan Clark

Stacking and storing materials on pallets or shelves must be done with a solid plan for warehouse safety. If not, workers could be crushed and pinned or otherwise injured. Collapsing loads can be avoided by observing the weight and height limits for stacks. Heavier items should be stacked low. Layer materials on pallets based on shape. Layer styles include block, brick, pinwheel, irregular shapes, tapered, and cylindrical. This podcast details these layers. Avoid stacking against …

Fall Protection Around Openings and Holes

July 29, 2014 by Dan Clark

Fall protection is critical near ledges, manholes, catwalks, windows and other openings and holes. Falls are one of the leading causes of death and injury in the workplace, and here we give tips on how to avoid them. Good fall protection around openings and holes can come from removable and permanent railings, toe boards, floor hole covers and floor marking tape. Fall arrest systems may be required, depending on worker height. PPE such as a …

Reflective Tape Boosts Safety At Work

July 16, 2014 by Dan Clark

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. Workers will be better seen if their clothing and PPE have a few strips of sparkle. Professional tape is strong …

Workplace Hazards — 10 Hotspots

July 10, 2014 by Dan Clark

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 be a shock danger, but also a trip hazard. Vehicles can cause struck-by accidents, so training and defined pedestrian areas …

Lean Safety

July 7, 2014 by Dan Clark

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 or with vehicles. Lean safety was implemented using 5S to improve equipment and workflow. There are five steps to initiate …

Safety Tape For Floors

July 2, 2014 by Dan Clark

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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 inhibit adhesion. Install the tape in a straight line, then compress it with at least 250 pounds to ensure a …