Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

November 18, 2015 by Dan Clark

3 min read 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 …

Continuous Improvement And Safety Without A Budget

July 17, 2014 by Dan Clark

2 min read 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. Free information and videos are available from many websites. Second, select a confined work area that can be improved. Implement …

Tool Safety

July 8, 2014 by Dan Clark

3 min read 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 ensure tool safety. Lubrication prevents overheating and seizing. Proper storage keeps tools from becoming trip hazards or falling objects. Also, …

Lean Safety

July 7, 2014 by Dan Clark

3 min read 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 …

Hazard Labels

July 1, 2014 by Dan Clark

3 min read 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 labels are visual indicators for important safety devices such as fire extinguishers, eyewashes, and AED stations. Another benefit from hazard …

Color Coding For Safety

June 18, 2014 by Dan Clark

2 min read This is a surprise! OSHA does NOT have requirements for safety color coding in the workplace. But ANSI does. The American National Standards Institute suggests labeling areas with seven colors for safety or organizational categories. Use the same color scheme throughout your facility, using only a few colors. Consistency and simplicity make it easier for workers to remember. Employees should have regular training on the color meanings. Colored safety tape on floors should be durable …

Safety Housekeeping

June 5, 2014 by Dan Clark

3 min read This is the story of tragedy that could have been avoided with better safety housekeeping. Here, we detail a fatal accident at a sugar refinery in Wyoming, and review of the OSHA citations. A Gemba walk by managers, or a safety inspection by employees, could have identified the easily-resolved problems. Safety housekeeping is absolutely essential. No system in place to identify even minor safety problems? It’s time to establish one, and fix issues right away. …

5S Red Tags

May 28, 2014 by Dan Clark

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3 min read Increase efficiency by red-tagging items you don’t need immediately. Store them or get rid of them. Red tagging is part of “Sort”, one of the five elements of a Japanese system of streamlining manufacturing called 5S. The five elements of 5S are Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. If you’re eager to improve your work environment and increase productivity, start some safety housekeeping with 5S red tags. TRANSCRIPT: (:00) intro music and effects …