All posts by pat brownlee

General Safety Issues

WORST WORKPLACE DISASTERS (GUEST POST)

1 Comment

Apart from providing sufficient compensation and benefit packages to employees, a top priority for companies should also be ensuring workers’ safety. No one can tell for sure when an accident, a natural disaster, or any other unforeseen event could take place.

It’s important to be prepared for these things by being aware of how to avoid such situations, and how to act in the event that they do occur. Below are some examples of the world’s worst disasters that happened in the workplace, from which workers and employers alike could learn from:

1.      Coal dam explosion

In February 1972, 125 people were killed after one of Pittston Coal Company’s coal slurry impoundment dam explodes, which caused the leak of 175 million gallons of black wastewater. The incident caused 4,000 people to be homeless. It was reported that the dam had been inspected by a federal mine inspector just 4 days before the accident, and he proclaimed the dam to be “satisfactory.”  Inspections should be conducted in the workplace regularly—in some, much more than others—and they should be done thoroughly and with integrity.

2.     Oil refinery explosion

In July 1985, seventeen workers were killed in a fire after what turned out to be an explosion in an oil refinery. A worker at the Union Oil Company Refinery had seen vapors coming out from a tiny crack in a high-pressure gas-filled 100-foot tower. He tried to shut off the pressure valve but a spark had caused the ignition of the fumes. This caused an explosion that sent the 34-ton tank over 3.400 feet in the air and caused a big part of the refinery to be consumed by flames.

Check all equipment periodically, see that everything is in place. Replace those that need to be and also, make sure to educate workers on proper use and handling. They should also know the proper channels for reporting anything suspicious.

3.      Chemical plant blast

In October 1989, 23 workers were killed after a series of explosions occurred. This followed a routine maintenance, which was done on the Phillips chemical plant’s polyethylene reactor next to the Houston Ship Channel. A large quantity of flammable gases had ignited and 314 were injured. It was determined afterwards that there had been a lack of process hazard analysis, as well as a badly maintained fire protection system, among other violations committed by the plant.

4.     Trapped in fire locked doors

In September 1991, 25 workers died in an Imperial Foods chicken processing plant after an industrial fire trapped them inside fire locked doors. A faulty adjustment in the hydraulic line caused the fire. It was reported that the factory never went through a safety inspection in its 11 years of operation.

5.     Gas explosion

In March 2005, a gas explosion occurred at a British Petroleum oil refinery causing fifteen people to die and 170 people to be injured. The blast was reported to have been caused by broken safety devices and poor working conditions.

6.      Gulf of Mexico explosion

In April 2010, 11 workers were killed at an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. It was reported that the petroleum industry were aware about safety equipment issues in earlier incidents but it continued its operations anyway, resulting in people getting killed and 17 others being injured in what was the deemed as the largest oil spill in the petroleum industry’s history.

7.     Mine explosion

In April 2010, a mine explosion killed 29 workers at the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, W. Va. The accident was deemed as the worst mining disaster in the U.S. since 1970. Massey Energy, the mine owner was reported to have violated many safety measures at the mine mentioned.

8.     Carbon monoxide poisoning

In June 2010, two employees were found dead after buffing floors at a mental health outpatient facility at Top Notch Cleaners, LLC, Valley, Ala. using machines that produce propane gas. The two men were found dead the next morning after their night shift. The police who had showed up at the incident observed that they smelled gas upon entry of the building. The cause of the two men’s death had been reported as carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by insufficient ventilation.

9.      Welding fire accident

In March 2010, a worker was fatally burned, dying a week later, after four contractors installed insulation on a new crude storage tank, welding the tank, and igniting a fire. The incident occurred at Northwest Insulation, Artesia, N.M. One worker who stayed on the tank had been burned to death while two were injured, and a fourth worker dies after more than a week. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.

10.    Tank explosion

In July 2010, two workers were burned to death after the tank they were working on at Northeast Energy Management Inc., Cheswick, Pa. exploded, which caused the bodies of the two men to be thrown 60 feet away from the site. The incident had reportedly been the third for the company since an employee was severely burned in a similar explosion in 2007.

Learning about possible workplace disasters is not enough to prepare for future incidents. To secure the safety of workers in the workplace, companies should apply for health insurance for their employees to ensure that such accidents will not cripple the employees and the company financially.  Of course, comply with legal laws and industry standards because failing to do so will only end up costing you more money than when you fulfil your obligations.

 

Author’s Bio

Ryan Del Villar is a content writer for Money Hero, Hong Kong’s leading online comparison portal. Ryan is also a freelance writer at Helm Word, an Online Reputation Management company.

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

HARDHATS: DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE OPTIONS? (GUEST POST)

 When talking about hard hats, using your head takes on a whole new meaning. Wearing a hard hat is first and foremost a wise safety decision; in many cases they are part of the required attire designed to help protect and save lives on construction sites. The hats protect against falling debris as well as accidental bumps and blows. Secondly, hard hats can be invaluable on a site to differentiate who is who in line of command and to identify co-workers.

Hard hats should be worn anytime there is a risk of injury. While site rules will determine who is required to wear them, anyone entering onto a construction site, from the mailman to a visiting architect, should follow suit.

While the brain is a pretty vital organ to protect, it is commonplace amongst workers to loathe the out-dated design and heavier build of typical hard hats. Unfortunately, a better and cheaper alternative has yet to hit the market so workers must make do. This doesn’t mean that there still aren’t choices out there. Forget the boring yellows and check out these fun and unique hardhat options.

Man holding blueprints

 This man wishes he had some more options. Yellow was so last year.

Howdy, ya’ll!
For the man or lady who doesn’t go anywhere without their Stetson, the cowboy hard hat will surely make them smile. In typical Western style, the cowboy hard hat is OSHA certified and provides extra sun protection for those sweltering Texas style summers.

Cowboy style hard hats are available in all the classic colors, from black or white to tan or grey. This hardhat option has even proven popular with tv stars in the hugely successful Extreme Home Makeover. If you want to inject a little John Wayne into the daily grind, the cowboy hard hat will fit the bill.

Oh, say! Can You See?
Love of country is a respectable quality in any man (or woman). While carrying a flag to work may cause a safety issue, you can wear your pride proud with a patriotic hard hat. There are a wide variety of patriotic designs out there, but the American Flag, Camo, and American Pride are all winners.

An American themed hard hat turns your boring old safety equipment into a cool accessory your coworkers will love. Switch out the plain colors for a patriotic hard hat, a very cool alternative.

Support the troops at the day job.

Touchdown!
Are you a football fanatic who spends their work week counting down until Sunday? Did you know you could get a hard hat with your favorite team’s logo on the side? Show your support for the NFL with a licensed hard hat.

Team hard hats are a great way to show team allegiance, and can be especially fun when you are rooting for a team different than most of the people you work with. There are also NCAA, MLB, NASCAR, and NHL helmets, something for all the sports fans out there.

200286962-001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Channel your favorite player on the site. He never plays without a helmet, why would you?

While these hard hat options may be slightly more expensive than their boring, plain counterparts, don’t forget that you can claim business safety equipment on your tax return. Don’t let any tax deductions slip by, save money and go to work in style all at the same time. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what is on your head, as long as it is protected. Still, injecting a little personality into a long work day can make all the difference.

Jessica Galbraith is a full-time writer and author of the travel blog The Fly Away American.

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection, Uncategorized

SAME TIME, EVERY YEAR: IT’S MARCH MADNESS TIME!

SAME TIME, EVERY YEAR – IT’S MARCH MADNESS TIME! 

All right, you round ball fans!  It’s time to gear up for another few weeks of March Madness!  Beginning on March 18, with 68 men’s basketball teams involved this year, the final NCAA Men’s Championship Game will be April 7th.  The NCAA Women’s Championship Game will be April 8th.  Chances are, many of you already have your brackets resting right beside the remote, ready and willing to keep up with all the games, both girls and boys! 

That gives you just enough time to get your personal protective safety products ready.  If you plan to attend some of the area games, you will need earplugs for sure.  The decibel level gets really loud at those competitions, so be prepared. 

Also, a great show of support is your NCAA team favorite hardhat!  Whether at the game, or wearing it to work, what better way to back your team than by sporting a hardhat with their logo? 

These basketball teams have been chosen to represent their schools because of their accomplishments on the court.  Several other teams were “on the bubble”, and didn’t get picked.  Chances are they will be showcased on the National Invitational Tournament.  They have all represented their schools well.   

The four teams that are lucky enough to make it to the 2014 Men’s and Women’s Final Four are sure to be four of the top teams in the nation. A team has had to win over other excellent teams to even get to this stage of the NCAA Tournament. Making it to the Final Four is a prestigious honor that is only bestowed on the best teams in the country. These teams will feature the best players in the nation, some athletes that will amaze you on the court. Being there in person for this event is the chance to see up to three amazing games in a three-day period.

Safety must be the priority for all players and officials of the games.  Referees must be in good shape in order to keep up with the rapid pace of the game, and also keep things from getting out of hand, in case tempers flare, which sometimes happens.  Trainers are on standby to administer first aid to the players; it takes the combination of all involved to have successful tournaments.

College basketball is one of the most exciting games to witness in person, and catching the women’s game is always a great experience. These female athletes are some of the most impressive players you’ll ever see in any sport, and they often possess better fundamentals than their male counterparts. When you’re there in the stands for a big college basketball game you’ll experience an atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The games played at the Final Four are about as big as it gets, so the excitement in the atmosphere is more electric than usual. That’s why so many people will be clamoring to gain access to the arena for the chance to see a Final Four contests live and in person. It’s all leading up to the National Championship, the pinnacle of the sport, so you’re going to want to be there to see who comes out on top and gets to trim the net!

Good luck to all the teams, and their fans. May all arrive safely for the games, and get back home safely.  Be proud of these youngsters, many who will be playing professionally before we know it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Health Issues

THE EFFICACY OF WASHING YOUR HANDS AND DISINFECTING SURFACES TO REMOVE WORKPLACE BACTERIA (GUEST POST)

Anago Savannah Guest Blog Post – The Efficacy of Washing Your Hands and Disinfecting Surfaces to Remove Workplace Bacteria: 

A CNN report from last week talked about the rise of drug-resistant superbugs that are beginning to plague hospitals all across the nation, and that “the overuse and misuse of antibiotics is contributing to an increase in drug-resistant bacteria, which render antibiotics useless.” The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) agrees, adding that “drug-resistant germs called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, are on the rise and have become more resistant to last-resort antibiotics during the past decade… Currently, almost all CRE infections occur in people receiving significant medical care. CRE are usually transmitted from person-to-person, often on the hands of health care workers.” 

According to “Effectiveness of Hand Washing and Disinfection Methods in Removing Transient Bacteria After Patient Nursing,” a study conducted by the US National Library of Medicine discussed why “in hospitals, none of the washing and disinfection methods always removed all patient-borne bacteria from the hands,” and stated an emphasis on “the importance of always using gloves when nursing a profuse spreader of bacteria or one who must be protected from infection.” The general consensus of the study is that even in areas that the general public imagines and hopes would remain sterile, such as medical facilities, the war against germs of all kinds can be long-standing and difficult to win.

When an ordinary citizen reads these sorts of reports, their assumptions of the ways in which modern advancements in technology and the mass proliferation of medicine are combating the germs we encounter on a daily basis are rapidly dashed. If hospitals cannot fight the proliferation of microbes, how then can the other places we visit on a daily visit? One source of major concern for most Americans is the cleanliness of the workplace. Many people spend over eight hours each day in a small environment surrounded by others. For this reason, it is somewhat worrying to consider how the standard work environment could already be a potential hive for harmful microorganisms that are ready to pounce. 

If you are wary about the overall cleanliness of your workplace, there are many areas to look out for, including kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, doorknobs and toilet seats that may be contaminated with bacteria, even when they do not look visibly stained or “dirty”. Regular cleaning products successfully remove some types of dirt, but only antibacterial cleaning products and powerful disinfectant cleaners can effectively kill germs that cause serious health problems. 

According to Web MD’s “The Six Dirtiest Places in your Office” article, the following places scored the highest when tests were carried out to see if they provide a breeding ground for bacteria: break room sink-faucet handles, microwave door handles, computer keyboards, water fountain buttons, refrigerator door handles and vending machine buttons. Many pairs of hands come into contact with these places during the day. Due to the fact that “80% of common infections are spread by hands,” it is extremely important to wash your hands thoroughly. Always remember that proper hand sanitation is the best way to decrease the possibility of infection and illness in the workplace. 

Seeing as the majority of office workers use a keyboard for long periods of time, it is imperative that you clean it out at least once a week. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact of life that germ levels will keep increasing. Consequently, you should have some disinfecting wipes close at hand for the surrounding desk area, as well as a strong alcohol-based sanitizer to clean the keyboard. Before doing so, a few sprays of compressed air can help to uproot any keyboard gunk and food crumbs that have accumulated over time. 

It is vital that everyone partakes in disinfecting their own desk. This is because, no matter how spotless your own area is, germs can multiply swiftly and, if your neighbor is guilty of having a filthy workstation, then all of your hard time and effort will be for naught in the long run. Germs can travel from one desk and/or cubicle to another unless those who work in your vicinity do enough to curb their propagation themselves. It is essential that you wipe clean and disinfect areas in the kitchen, break room or around your desk, including your keyboard and telephone. 

Regardless of the time of year, an extensive spring-clean will help you to carry out the proper precautions necessary to curtail the spread of bacteria. After all, untidy, disorganized and overcrowded workplace areas help no one and are a hindrance to everybody’s general wellbeing! 

Anago are proud to offer their green cleaning services to residents living in the Greater Savannah area, including Beaufort County, Sheldon, Pooler, Georgetown, Savannah, Thunderbolt, Allenhurst, Ridgeville, Townsend and Brunswick. Anago specializes in affordable cleaning services for auto dealerships, restaurants, country clubs, healthcare facilities and government buildings. Please visit us online at

Anago Cleaning Systems or call 912-544-6401 today for more details.

Sources:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/05/cdc-hospitals-contributing-to-rise-of-superbugs/http://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2013/dpk-vs-hai.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2133933/Ibid. http://www.healthunit.org/infectious/handwashing.htm

General Safety Issues

FILLING MACHINE SYSTEM SAFETY (GUEST POST)

Filling Machine Safety

When purchasing a filling machine system, one of the most important factors to consider is the safety features. Filling machines are used in a wide variety of industries and environments, making it essential to ensure that they are built to the highest standards and meet all regulated safety standards. These safety features are necessary to protect operators and other workers, as well as to prevent product and revenue loss during production.

Filling Machine Safety Features

Although each industry may have different safety needs for their products and environment, there are some standard safety features to look for on filling machines. It is important that the machine is built to meet all UL standards and has the proper safety precautions and guards in place to make it safe to use. Some of the features to look for include: 

  • Guard enclosures. Operators must be properly protected from possible splashing or spilling of hot or dangerous products that may be used on a filling machine. Guard enclosures insulate the operators from hazardous materials by the use of interlock doors, with a safety feature that does not allow machine function unless the doors are shut. These doors should be made to withstand chemical and heat exposure, protecting the operators behind them.  In some cases, it may be necessary for operators to wear protective clothing.
  • Electrical panels. All electrical panels should meet UL standards for safety. For filling machines used in hazardous locations, they should come equipped with electrical panels that are built to UL listed Class1/Division1/Group D electrical standards that meet all insurance requirements. This protects the electrical components from exposure to possible combustible materials that are found in these hazardous locations.
  • Machine construction. Filling machines should meet construction requirements for safety, such as components made of stainless steel and stainless shrouded aluminum for wash down capabilities. In addition, the filler functions should meet all NEC regulations using mechanical activation features.
  • Software. The software used in filling machines is also critical for safety. Software should include built-in safety features to regulate automatic shut-off or no-start mode when there is a jam or filling jets are not properly aligned. In addition, software should prevent spills that may be hazardous to workers, as well as costly during production. 

Ensuring your filling machine is made to the highest standards of safety should be a top priority when purchasing new equipment. Lack of quality safety features can be costly, causing unnecessary employee injuries and expensive losses in production. It is worth taking the time and money to invest in filling machines that meet and exceed all safety standards for your company’s industry.

 

Sam Lubus is the owner of Inline Filling Systems, a liquid filling machine manufacturer with over twenty years of experience in the industry. Made in the USA, and installed Worldwide, we believe in safety first when installing our machinery at business locations.

 
 

—

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

SAFETY TIPS FOR GARAGE DOOR PROFESSIONALS (GUEST POST)

 Garage doors having worn out parts can pose serious safety challenges for both novices and veterans. Read on to know what garage door professionals should keep in mind when at the site!   

Garage doors are highly useful for numerous reasons including storage and safety, but they always have certain potential risks associated with them. Since your garage door is the biggest moving thing within your home, it can lead to serious injuries and damages when out of order or wrongly used! 

Handling a garage door, especially during repair and maintenance work, can be risky not only for homeowners, but also trained and experienced professionals. There are several complicated parts such as a torsion spring that can turn highly dangerous after wearing out.

Considering this, ASAP has come up with some handy and useful safety tips for garage door experts to practice when at work:

Stay Attentive While Replacing Broken Springs

While torsion springs are doubtlessly the most important part of a garage door, it is equally true that they can be highly risky to handle when worn out. Since broken springs become easily breakable, they often cause injuries during garage door inspection and repair.

When replacing a torsion spring, use complete safety equipment including gloves and safety glasses. Also, if the garage door you are repairing has two springs, consider replacing both with new ones, even if only one has worn out. This will prevent any serious mishap from happening in future and keep the door functioning with all its efficiency.

Check Cables Carefully

It remains important to be careful when visually inspecting the cables that combine the entire spring system with the bottom brackets at each side of the door. When worn out, they can break easily and lead to serious and fatal injuries. The right way to handle these cables is to stay fully equipped and always use the right tools. You need to be a little extra considerate when completely replacing cables, for they are associated with high-tension springs.

Tackle a Struggling Door with Care

A garage door that doesn’t properly go up and down implies a risky and dangerous situation, regardless of how old a garage door system you are repairing. If you are trying to operate the door manually and the problem is still the same, it must be due to a faulty spring system. And since an out-of-order spring system is dangerous, it should be tackled with complete care. Make sure you fully replace the broken spring system as it can wear and tear other door components that are adjacent to it.

Get the Old Track Replaced

Most homeowners want to save some dollars by using the old track while getting a new garage door replaced. As a garage door expert, however, it is on your part to make the garage owner understand why changing the old track is important.

Technically, a new door will barely fit well on an old track because of the difference in the weight of the door, thickness of sections and several other parts. Emphasize on the installation of the track that best fits the garage door.

Author Bio

Oren Linder is author and founder of ASAP Garage Door Services Inc. He usually writes for garage door repair, safety tips and garage door installation etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

HOW TO PREVENT WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS (GUEST POST)

When it comes to safety in the workplace, there should be a cooperative effort between the employer and workers to avoid accidents and injuries while on the job. As the employer you are legally responsible to ensure that proper safety procedures are in place in the workplace, and as an employee it is in your best interest to follow them. By taking preventive action you can drastically decrease accidents and create a work environment that is void of hazards and promotes your company’s stance on health and safety. 

According to the latest statistics from the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, HSE, between 2012 and 2013 there were 27 million working days lost due to workplace injuries or illness, 78,000 officially reported injuries and 148 deaths. 

Almost all work-related injuries are preventable, yet they are still happening at an alarming rate. Employers need to take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees by creating stringent policies that are strictly enforced. These three steps will help you to avoid accidents in the workplace, and move forward toward a safer and brighter future for all.

 Implement Company Safety Policies 

Every employer should have formal safety rules and procedures in place for their employees to follow. If you don’t have an official company policy yet, this is a great place to start. Creating a Health and Safety section in your company handbook that employees can reference not only provides helpful guidance, but is there officially when an employee does not follow official protocol. 

There should be a person in your company that is in sole charge of safety at the workplace. This safety coordinator ensures that protocols are followed, policies are adhered to, and government regulations are being met. 

Perform a Thorough Inspection of the Workplace 

Once you have a clear company safety manifesto in place, along with a person in charge of it’s implementation, you should do a top to bottom inspection of your workplace to pinpoint safety risks and create a response plan.

Identify areas that could be improved or that require further safety protection, and meet with the area’s supervisors to discuss possible solutions to the issues. 

Common problems include faulty vehicles, lack of proper personal protective equipment, debris and clutter, and areas prone to spillage. Do frequent checks to make sure your vehicles and machinery are inspected frequently and repairs are done as necessary. Requiring your employees to keep a certain standard of housekeeping and to wear protective equipment such as eye safety goggles, hard hats, and steel toe shoes will go a long way. Always be sure that any areas with safety concerns have clear signs informing employees, as well as company protocol that addresses the best way to handle those concerns. 

Provide Comprehensive Safety Training 

Safety in the workplace is an ongoing issue and should be addressed with your employees by providing regular training. Any new employee should be required to go through full training before stepping foot on the work floor, and permanent employees should have refresher trainings at least annually and anytime they will be using new equipment or performing a task they haven’t in the past. 

Putting a transparent and enforced safety policy in place at your workplace will help to decrease accidents and injuries on the job. Employees will be more productive and happier when safety concerns are at a minimum, and you will have done your legal duty to protect those under your watch. 

This article was provided by Essential Industrial, specialists in bearings and power transmissions and provide PPE equipment.

 

 

General Safety Issues

ARE YOU CONSIDERING DOING “SHIFT WORK?”

With the recent “Spring Forward” change to “Daylight Saving Time” for certain areas, it makes us wonder if the hour’s difference affects those who work on shifts.  It would seem that getting up an hour earlier might be the worst part of it.  However, those who work day shifts would get home an hour earlier than usual, but the night shift folks have to adjust as well.

It has always seemed that the “graveyard” shift would be the hardest, but there are certain people who love to work during those hours.  If you are considering changing to night shift work, it means you’ll be awake when other folks are snoozing, and trying to sleep when most of the world is active.  Some folks take well to the transition, but it can take time and effort on your part.

Here are some of the jobs that include shifts, and we’ll take a look at what health effects may be involved:

  • Nurses
  • E.R. Physicians
  • Manufacturing plant employees
  • Pilots
  • Airline attendants
  • Ground crews
  • Air Traffic Controllers
  • Convenience store employees
  • Police
  • Firemen
  • EMT Rescue Teams
  • Trucking
  • Miners
  • Military

You may be able to name many others, but these are among the busy folks that work day and night, through shift work.  Our military forces must be on the alert all the time, 24/7, and we mentioned them because of the stress factors they face.  Police, firemen, rescue teams are also under much stress.  Firemen work shifts that require them to be on the premises for 48 hours, then off 48 hours, etc.  This may take away from the rest they try to get, because of noise going on in the firehouse.  Earplugs would be of help to them!  They also have a greater risk of injury and metabolic syndrome.

Airports are some of the busiest areas in the world; anyone involved with working for an airline will tell you there is plenty of stress on their job, night or day!  Weather delays, controlling flights, getting passsengers safely to their destinations, can be telling on the health of pilots and other employees.  Lack of sleep is one of the obstacles that have caused problems for pilots.

Laws forbid long-haul truckers to log over a certain amount of driving hours, but they are under pressure to get their loads to a certain spot at a designated time, causing them to try to go a little farther down the road.  Miners are certainly under a strain, to say the least, regardless of the shift they work.  It’s dark in those mines; of course they are well-lit, but miners face so many hazards on a daily basis.

It is a proven fact that long hours + overtime + short sleep (less than 6 hours per day) = depression, injuries, and poor health.  If you decide to take a job that requires shift work and changes your routine, go to your physician and get a good checkup to ensure that your body is healthy enough to adapt.  Be sure you eat the right kinds of food and exercise, as well as take breaks regardless of the shift you work.  It is a fact that night shift is a little harder on the body, so take care of yourself and stay healthy and safe.

 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Safety

TOP FIVE TIPS FOR CREATING AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY PLAN FOR ONSITE EQUIPMENT OPERATION (GUEST POST)

Onsite equipment operation can put operators at high risk for injury, no matter their skill or experience level. In fact, it was reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that in just one year, 8,450 amputations were performed due to occupational injuries caused by machine operation. To significantly reduce the risk of worker injury, it is imperative that employers make equipment operation as safe as possible on their job sites. While there is always risk for injury, there are certain measures you can take to eliminate a substantial amount of risk in your operations. To give you a better idea of how you can start developing a plan for safer equipment operation, we’ve provided the following five safety tips to help you get started!

  1. Safety equipment

Safety equipment is a vital component of any workplace, especially for onsite equipment operations. To increase the safety of your workers, facilitate and enforce the use protective clothing and gear. Goggles should always be supplied and used to protect your workers’ eyes. Depending on the type of equipment you operate on your site, you may want to use full face goggles. It is also imperative that your employees wear gloves and closed toe shoes. Hard hats are, of course, another important item to include in the safety gear you provide your workers with. You will also want to include ear protection, dust masks, safety signs, and first aid kits.

       2.  Training

Workers face fewer hazards when they have the proper training and information necessary to operate the machinery onsite. Employers need to provide employees with training, offer instruction manuals, and make certain that each employee can effectively operate their equipment before allowing them to work independently.

         3.  Driving and Operating

Before your employees operate any equipment, it is important that you make sure that it has been properly inspected and serviced. Training your employees to thoroughly check surroundings and confirm full clearance before moving or backing up will also prevent accidents. It is important that your employees know to never leave a machine on an inclined surface with the engine running and never allow additional riders on equipment that does not permit them.

       4.  Maintenance and Repair

When gear is under repair, place a sign saying “Under Repair” in the seat, remove the start key, or lock out controls. Remind your workers to stop engines during refueling and shut off equipment before making repairs. It will also be important to carefully inspect all used construction equipment before putting it to work to ensure that it has been properly maintained and is ready for safe operation.

         5.  Parking and Security

Remind your workers to always lower allocates and set the parking brake before dismounting the equipment. Be sure that they are securing the equipment when finished for the day, making sure it is clear of foot traffic. If it is not clear, they will need to mark it with glares or red lights and lock it up.

Your employees need proper training, safety evaluated work areas, proper safety equipment and effective operation procedures to operate industrial machinery and high-tech equipment. Safety is always the most important objective when operating heavy equipment. Now that you know how you can create a safety plan, it’s time to get to work! Start by developing policies, ordering necessary safety equipment, and updating your workers’ training as well as your machine maintenance.