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…
Dan Clark | June 26, 2014 | OSHA inspection, Podcast | OSHA, Regulations & Compliance, Safety, Workplace Safety
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…
Dan Clark | June 25, 2014 | Industrial Labels, Podcast | Equipment Labeling, Facility Marking, Labeling, Pipe marking, Safety, Safety Signs, Workplace Safety
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…
Dan Clark | June 24, 2014 | Hearing Protection, Podcast | PPE, Safety, Workplace Safety
Falling object hazards can be hidden in plain sight. They’re a threat in many businesses, not just warehouses or construction. In this Safety Brief, we detail three risk reduction steps to help eliminate injury from falling objects. #1. Operations assessment. Do a general inspection of your facility . #2. Review departments, people and…
Dan Clark | June 20, 2014 | Falling Objects, Podcast | PPE, Safety, Workplace Safety
It’s a myth! It’s a myth that employees are bad at hazard reporting. They are actually good safety observers. Having a diversity of watchful eyes—including regular workers—increases workplace safety. A safety observer program is critical in getting widespread employee involvement to reduce injuries. Company managers can start their own, or follow OSHA’s…
Dan Clark | June 19, 2014 | Hazard Reporting, Podcast | OSHA, Safety, Workplace Safety
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…
Dan Clark | June 18, 2014 | Color Coding, Podcast, Safety Tape | ANSI, Facility Marking, Floor Marking, Labeling, Organized Workplace, OSHA, Regulations & Compliance, Safety, Safety Signs, Workplace Safety
Keep clothing tucked and tight! If not, workers could be pulled into a machine. Baggy pants, neck ties and untied shoe laces are just a few examples of loose clothing hazards in the workplace. Untucked shirts, unzipped jackets and other flapping items may be drawn in to belts, shafts, gears, pulleys, chains,…
Dan Clark | June 17, 2014 | Loose Clothing, Podcast | PPE, Safety, Safety Signs, Workplace Safety
They are so familiar, workers ignore ladder safety. Misuse accounts for tens of thousands of at-work accidents, and 100 deaths or more annually in the U.S. Here we review the two types of ladders, freestanding and self-supporting, and how employees can be safe using each. Even though staffers may balk at ladder…
Dan Clark | June 16, 2014 | Ladder Safety, Podcast | OSHA, Safety, Workplace Safety
One million people have back injuries in the workplace every year, according to OSHA. And most of those injuries are from lifting below the knees or over the shoulders. Storage of materials above 1.5 ft and below 5 ft could reduce risk. Employers could order lighter supplies—in 50 lb bags instead of…
Dan Clark | June 13, 2014 | Back Injuries, Podcast | Kaizen, OSHA, PPE, Safety, Workplace Safety
People will be safer at work, and companies could have lower insurance premiums if employees know CPR & AED operation. Training is recommended for at least some workers, across all shifts and departments. CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is performed on someone whose heart has stopped. 100 chest compressions per minute, about the tempo…
Dan Clark | June 12, 2014 | AED, CPR, Podcast | Safety, Workplace Safety
