Chemical Hazards And Emergency Planning

February 23, 2016 by Dan Clark

Chemical hazards can lurk, unseen. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) says we should learn from the West Fertilizer Company explosion in Texas. Listen for their study results. The CSB recently released its investigation findings into the 2013 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in Texas. In this podcast, Dan Clark describes what caused the April 2013 chemical disaster in West, Texas. The CSB determined a combination of zoning laws, storage conditions, and lack of …

Safety Signs You Need In The Workplace

February 16, 2016 by Dan Clark

Safety signs help companies be OSHA compliant based on ANSI Z535 safety sign and tag standards. Hear about four categories of workplace safety signs. OSHA adopted sign standards from American National Standards Institute, ANSI. OSHA also incorporates sign requirements from the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA. In this three minute podcast, Dan Clark spells out the requirements for: • Hazard Warning signs: ○ Danger – White text on red background. The most serious danger. ○ …

Arc Blast Hierarchy Of Controls

January 12, 2016 by Dan Clark

Arc blast dangers can be minimized with a Hierarchy Of Controls. Hear the difference between arc flash and arc blast, plus the five methods to prevent them. The surface of the sun is cooler than an arc blast. This explosive electrical hazard can easily kill and injure. In this podcast we present the Hierarchy Of Controls to prevent arc blast: Elimination/Substitution; Engineering Controls; Administrative Controls; Work Practice Controls Personal Protective Equipment. The hearing protection requirement …

Turkey Fryer Flames At Work

November 23, 2015 by Dan Clark

Turkey fryer disasters can happen in the workplace, not just at home. Hear how a pre-Thanksgiving jobsite cookout torched a house under construction. In this podcast, Dan Clark talks with Tim Schmerber, concrete contractor from Oregon, about a fire started by a turkey fryer. One of the crew members set up the turkey fryer in the garage of the nearly completed home. If you heard this story on The Safety Brief last year, you probably …

7 HazCom Label Questions For OSHA

September 10, 2015 by Dan Clark

Hazcom label rules are confusing. Get chemical labeling answers direct from OSHA on their Hazard Communication Standard, HCS, implemented June 1st. Hear important information about pictograms, labeling bulk shipping containers, refillable containers, secondary containers and more. In this podcast, we bring you highlights about HazCom labeling from a webcast presented by the SCHC OSHA Alliance featuring OSHA’s Lana Nieves and Sven Rundman of The Directorate of Enforcement Programs. SCHC is The Society for Chemical Hazard …

4 Steps to Flammable Liquids Safety

April 21, 2015 by Dan Clark

Flammable liquids safety can change quickly when workplace temperatures rise. Listen for four ways to avoid flashpoint fires and explosions. Find out the difference between flammable and inflammable. Hear about volatile liquid chemicals, and how their vapors can ignite at a certain flashpoint. In this podcast, Dan Clark warns of four major areas of caution: Storage, labeling, fire suppression, and ignition sources. TRANSCRIPT: (:00) intro music and effects (:04) Dan Clark: When workplace temperatures are …

9 Volt Battery Myths And Facts

March 19, 2015 by Dan Clark

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Battery myths. Can 9 volt batteries start fires, and how do you avoid them? Can 9 volt batteries fatally shock you? We peel away fiction, reveal the truth. Facilities and vehicles can burn down, all because a 9 volt battery was unsafely stored. Even partially charged batteries can put property and people at risk. Hear how to properly store and use 9 volt batteries in this podcast. Dan Clark also tells of the conflict between …

Turkey Fryer Fires

November 24, 2014 by Dan Clark

Turkey fryer fires happen more than you might think. Listen to the story of contractors who nearly burned down the house they were building. You’ll hear why the NFPA and fire departments say you shouldn’t use a turkey fryer. In this podcast, Dan Clark interviews concrete contractor Tim Schmerber in Oregon about the 2005 construction fire caused by a turkey fryer. One of the crew members set up the turkey fryer in the garage of …

Big Changes In NFPA 70E For 2015

October 9, 2014 by Dan Clark

The NFPA 70E changes for 2015 are substantial. Business owners and safety managers—not just electricians—need to be aware. Hear from the NFPA’s Bill Burke in this podcast. Bill explains the philosophical shift since the 2012 Standard For Electrical Safety In The Workplace. The 2015 edition of NFPA 70E is in effect now. We talk about new PPE tables, elimination of HRC (0), and the Prohibited Approach Boundary. Bill also encourages company owners and safety personnel …

Fire Extinguisher Operation

October 7, 2014 by Dan Clark

Fire extinguisher operation is not as easy as point-and-shoot. We explain the types of fires, and the types of extinguishers, and how to use them. What’s burning? Is the source wood, gasoline or electrical? What’s inside the fire extinguisher makes a difference. In this podcast, Dan describes the types of fires, and the various types of fire extinguishers to use on them. You’re not invincible with a fire extinguisher. Make sure someone is calling the …