Tag Archives: machinery

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Respiratory Safety

HOW TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT WORK (GUEST POST)

People often talk about safety for motorcyclists, as there are plenty of roadside accidents that result in deaths of riders all over the world. There is no doubt that this is a serious issue and needs to be addressed in the most appropriate manner. However, there are some other fields where there is plenty of risk involved and they need to be taken care of as well.

One area where safety standards need an improvement is the workplace that involves dangerous equipment and heavy machinery. The employees working in such industries are always at a risk of losing their lives, so they need to be protected. No matter how tough you are, things can go terribly wrong for you if an object hits your head near a construction site or you get trapped inside a mine.

Just like some motorcycle products provided by stores such as Riderwear, there are some top quality companies developing safety equipment like helmets, gloves and goggles etc for employees at a dangerous workplace. It is the responsibility of the employers to provide such products to the workers, so that things continue working smoothly and there is minimum danger involved.

As an employer, there are quite a few steps that can be taken to ensure safety at workplace. Some of the most useful tips are as follows.

Be proactive

First of all, you need to be proactive and think of some innovative steps in order to make your workers feel safer. It is not ideal to wait for any bad incident to happen and then react. Therefore, you should assess the dangers involved in your industry; look at some mishaps that occurred in similar industries and find out what solutions are being used by other organizations in order to make the workplace safer. 

Warning Signs

Some of the employees might be new to the office and there is every chance that they end up in trouble. Therefore, it is always best to post warning signs alongside every machine or at every possible area where there is some danger involved. This way, the employee will himself take preventive action or will get assistance from a senior member. 

Protective Equipment

Next thing is to have the protective equipment provided to all of the staff. Not only do you have to make it available, ensure that each employee is fully geared up during the working hours. This should be mandatory for the workers otherwise they should be fined or given warnings. 

Skilled Personnel

Although inducting fresh workers is always a good idea, you should work according to the nature of your business. In case there are complex machines and hazardous products at the workplace, you should get skilled personnel if possible, rather than fresh ones, who are vulnerable to getting injured because of their lack of knowledge. 

Get Help

In case you are confused over something, try getting help from your seniors rather than going for experimentation. Things like these can put your safety under threat and even if you come out of the situation unhurt, you could lose your job. 

Written and contributed by Nicolle Suzan.

Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection

TOP TEN MOST COMMON WORKPLACE INJURIES (GUEST POST)

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 Every day nationwide, 12 people don’t come home from work. Workplace incidents kill over 4000 workers per year, when all they were trying to do was their job. Millions more per year are injured at work and over 3 million of those never recover from their injuries. Here are the top ten work-related injuries in the US, according to insurance statistics, starting with number 10. 

10. On the Job Violence – Nearly 30 years ago, in Edmond, Oklahoma, a disgruntled postal worker shot and killed 15 people, including himself, and wounded 6 others. Congress determined that the US Postal Service could have and should have taken steps to prevent the tragedy. The term “going postal,” was coined shortly thereafter to describe any incident where an individual loses control and causes mayhem and violence. 

The horrific violence of that day became a springboard for other disgruntled employees, who now account for nearly 500 workplace fatalities per year, mostly by shooting. Injuries from violence in the workplace are an astounding 15-16 injuries per 1000 working. The violence ranges from assault to rape. 

To prevent violence in the workplace, employers need to establish protocols in the event of violence or suspicious activities and train employees to be able to recognize potentially dangerous situations or environments. 

9. Repetitive Motion  – The Medieval working conditions of the 19th & early 20th Century didn’t concern itself with a silly injury such as this. Your back pain, sensory problems, or carpal tunnel syndrome were just good reasons to fire you and replace you with another able body willing to be broken. 

We may be a little more enlightened today but employers still need to make sure that procedures and equipment are ergonomically designed for the least amount of repetitive motion. When this isn’t feasible, then a rotation cycle between jobs needs to be in place to prevent this injury. 

8. Machinery – Nothing is quite as frightening than when a machine latches on to hair, clothing, fingers, or limbs and begins to devour the person attached.

 Employers need to have policies, procedures, and dress codes in place that minimize this type of accident. Additionally, emergency shut-off and back-up controls need to be easily accessible. 

7. Vehicles – Other than specific laws, public service announcements, law-enforcement, and backseat drivers, nobody monitors bad drivers. Consequently, accidents or “inevitabilities” occur. 

Employers can monitor the driving habits of their employees who drive for business by establishing certain driving policies, training, and reporting systems that reinforce good driving habits. 

6. Impacts – These are the injuries that may initially invoke a laugh when someone stubs a toe, walks into a wall, bumps into the corner of a table, or backs into a piece of equipment. It actually isn’t funny, especially when the impact causes serious head trauma or contusions.

Employers should play an active role in keeping walkways clear and welcoming feedback on existing hazardous conditions. Any hazardous condition should be rectified immediately. 

5. Falling Objects – Falling objects may be common in construction zones where hard hats are required at all times but one may not think to be wary in the office or in a retail environment. A case of copy paper falling from the storage shelf or a number 10 can falling from the top shelf of a grocery store may not be common enough to require hard hats in the office or grocery store but they do occur. 

Employers in all lines of work need to be wary of any existing condition where objects can potentially fall and injure an employee. Altering conditions and establishing policies can reduce this type of injury. 

4. Slipping and Tripping without Falling – Whew! You almost fell. That might have been less painful however, than the involuntary twisting and wrenching of your muscles, tendons, and other tissues trying to avoid the fall. These events can cause debilitating injuries and conditions that may cause you to lose work or need long-term medical attention. 

3. Falling from Heights – Taking a tumble off a ladder, scaffold, roof, or stairway, can cause severe injury, with head trauma being the most serious. Some jobs that carry the constant threat of falling will usually take extra precautions to alleviate that risk. However, many falls occur while performing simple tasks like changing a light bulb or carrying a box down a flight of stairs. 

Employers should create policy and procedures that take into consideration inherent dangers in the workplace. Employees should not ignore policy, no matter how skilled they feel they may be without safety equipment or procedures.

2. Slipping, Tripping, and Falling – Slippery floors, uneven surfaces, or out of place objects and equipment in walkways can cause slips and falls that can result in serious injury. 

Employers should make sure chronic problems such as uneven surfaces or items left in walk areas are rectified and solved. Policies regarding spills and wet surfaces, including having hazard markers, need to be in place. Employees should be aware of their environment at all times. 

1. Overexertion – And the number one work related injury is overexertion. Any physical activity that hasn’t been replaced by a machine, such as lifting, pushing, carrying, throwing, or pulling has the potential for exertion injury. Overexertion may ultimately be a relative term since it differs from person to person. However, anytime someone pushes himself or herself beyond physical capacity, injury may be imminent. 

Employers should be aware of all exertion regulations and not expect employees to push themselves beyond those guidelines. 

Conclusion 

Workplace injuries and deaths may seem inevitable, but by improving the safety surrounding the inevitable situation or removing that situation altogether could diminish their frequency. Employers and employees need to play an active role in making this happen. 

This piece was written by Kurt Dowdle, a writer for http://naqvilaw.com, a personal injury firm in Las Vegas, NV.

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

THE TEN MOST COMMON INJURIES SUFFERED AT WORK (GUEST POST)

Every day we go to work and assume that we will return home safely again at the end of the day.  Unfortunately this isn’t always the case.

Many people are seriously injured and sometimes killed at work, doing the job they are paid to do. Sometimes this is due to accidents and sometimes it can be due to negligence or lack of care.  Here are some of the most popular types of injury in the work place over recent years.

Overexertion Injuries

Physical activity such as pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing can all take their toll. Overexertion is ranked annually as one of the most common forms of workplace injury and account for millions in benefit costs every year.

Slips and Trips

Slips and trips can happen anywhere, but in the workplace the problem is more acute. Wet and slippery floors or objects left lying around can all contribute, but it is often up to the employer to ensure that spills are promptly cleaned and no debris is present which can be dangerous.

Collisions

This happens when a person accidentally collides with an object such as a wall, door, cabinet, windows, table, chair etc, resulting in an impact injury. An employee’s diligence and the employer keeping the work environment free from hazards are key to preventing these types of injuries, which account for thousands of lost hours per year.

Falls

Falls from an elevated area such as roofs, ladders, and stairways can cause serious injury and are very common in work environments such as factories and warehouses.  They can be caused by slips and falls or due to faulty equipment.  These types of accidents can be reduced by the use of proper personal protection gear, training and employee diligence.

Vehicle Accidents

Employees who drive for a living, such as taxi and bus drivers, are always at risk of being involved in an accident due to the amount of time they spend on the road. They are still entitled to as much protection as anyone else however, as they are technically in their place of work. Also, people using equipment such as forklift trucks and cranes can also be injured or even killed if not given the correct tuition.

Machine accidents

Usually occurring in a factory environment, where heavy equipment and machinery are used, clothing, shoes, fingers and hair can easily be trapped or caught; leading to serious injuries. The appropriate personal protective equipment and training should always be provided.  Leave the jewelry at home, and if you have long hair, tie it up.

Acts of violence

As bizarre as it sounds, attacks and other arguments can lead to serious physical injuries. Workplace violence, employee training and employee diligence can help keep these incidents at bay. As well as employee-on-employee violence, customer violence towards staff often contributes towards workplace injuries, a matter which many companies are taking more and more seriously.

Falling objects

Head injuries are often caused by falling objects, whether it’s from shelving, scaffolding or ladders. Employee diligence and employer focus are key to preventing these types of injuries from happening regularly. PPE such as hard hats can be instrumental in keeping incidents like this to a minimum.

Hearing loss

Constant exposure to loud noise can result in significantly reduced hearing. The effect can be subtle and gradual. Basic safety measures such as ear protection and ambient noise barriers can eliminate this injury from any workplace.

Burns

Burns are often caused by chemicals used in industrial settings such as labs or factories. They can also be inflicted by equipment that has become overheated; welding torches, irons and even a kitchen kettle. Clearly visible warning signs can go a long way to prevent such injuries occurring.

Matthew Crist is a journalist and blogger who takes accidents in the workplace very seriously. He has written this blog in conjunction with Minnesota personal injury lawyers – TSR Injury Law.

General Safety Issues

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES

Caught in a Mortar Mixer

An 18-year-old worker died after becoming entangled in a portable mortar mixer at a residential construction site. The victim was cleaning the mixer at the end of his shift to prepare it for the following day. A painter working near the victim heard yells for help and saw the victim’s arm stuck in the machine and his body being pulled into the rotating mixer paddles. He ran to the mixer and attempted to turn it off, but could not disengage the gears, so he yelled for help. A co-worker heard the commotion, ran to the machine and shut it off. Emergency medical services was called and responded within minutes. Rescue workers dismantled the drive mechanism to reverse the mixing paddles and extricate the worker. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Workers must be trained in safety procedures. A safety procedure that applies to this case is “lockout/tagout,” which requires turning off and disconnecting machinery or equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance. In this example, the worker died when he was pulled into a mortar mixer that was actively operating and not locked out.

To prevent this, employers must:

  • Ensure that equipment is turned off and disconnected from its energy sources before cleaning or maintenance.
  • Train employees in the recognition and control of hazards.
  • Ensure machine and equipment guards remain in place.
  • Establish lockout/tagout procedures to guard workers from the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.
  • Ensure that all warning labels on the equipment are clearly visible and equipment is properly maintained.
  • Assign safety responsibilities to a competent person at each job site with the authority to enforce safety requirements and take prompt measures to correct unsafe situations.

Every worker, regardless of their age, ethnic background, or gender should have the proper training when working around powerful machinery.   More of these stories regarding young workers can be found at the OSHA website.

Source: OSHA

 

General Safety Issues

USE CARE WHEN OPERATING MACHINERY

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How often have you read that on a medicine bottle or box – do not operate machinery while taking this medication?  The only type of machinery I think I would not want to operate if under the influence of a strong medicine would be my car.  Of course, if you think about it, there’s lots of small machinery in my kitchen, mixer, blender, food processor, stove, etc.  But that’s really not the kind of machinery we’re talking about today.

OSHA has standards that address every kind of possible scenario where an employee could be injured.  Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness.  Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries.  Any machine part, function, or process that could cause injury must be safeguarded, by lock-out tagout procedures, and the correct kind of safety PPE equipment.  When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the operator or others in the area, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled.

Workplace amputations can be prevented by reviewing workplace operations and identifying hazards associated with the use and care of machines.  A hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on the relationship between the employee, the task, tools, and the environment.  The entire machine operation production process, machine modes of operation, individual activities associated with the operation, servicing, and maintenance, as well as the potential for injury to employees, must be considered.  This analysis may then be used as a basis to design machine safeguarding and an overall energy control (lockout/tagout) program.

Machine guarding is required whenever an employee is exposed to or has access to a hazard created by a pinch point.  Guards must be designed and installed so that they do not present a hazard in itself.  All guarding systems are required to be installed in a manner that prevents access to the hazardous area by reaching over, under, around, or through the guarding.  Guards should be secured to a machine with fasteners that require the use of tools for their removal.  Always pay attention to danger and caution signs regarding machine lockout.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Secretary of Labor has designated certain nonfarm jobs as particularly hazardous for employees younger than 18.  Generally, these employees are prohibited from operating:

  • Band saws;
  • Circular saws;
  • Guillotine shears;
  • Punching and shearing machines;
  • Meatpacking or meat-processing machines;
  • Paper products machines;
  • Woodworking machines,
  • Metal forming machines; and
  • Meat slicers.

Any type of moving machinery must be respected and workers should have the proper training before operating them.  Servicing and maintenance activities are important issues that require all safety precautions be followed.

Source: OSHA

Ergonomics, Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

CONVEYOR BELT SAFETY

Conveyor belts are one of the most effective means of transporting bulk materials.  Because persons are working with a movable piece of equipment, there is a very serious chance of  injury or death if employees are not trained on how to work around conveyor belts.  Training is the basic and most fundamental part of preparing employees on how to keep themselves safe in all industrial settings.  Management must convey all safety issues to their new employees and be certain that they understand about how dangerous the equipment that they will be working from can be.  

Listed below are some general requirements from Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

  • An audible signal shall be sounded immediately before starting up the conveyor.
  • If operating station is at a remote spot, similar provisions for stopping motor or engine shall be provided at the motor or engine location.
  • There should be an emergency stop switch arranged so that the conveyor cannot be started again until the actuating stop switch as been reset to running on the “on” position.
  • Screw conveyors shall be guarded to prevent employees’ contact with turning flights.
  • Guards shall be provided to protect employees required to work below the conveyors that pass under work areas, aisles or thoroughfares.  Those crossovers, aisles, and passageways shall be conspicuously marked with suitable signs.
  • Conveyors shall be locked out or rendered inoperable and tagged with a “Do Not Operate” tag during repairs and when operation is hazardous to employees performing maintenance work.
  • All conveyors in use must meet applicable requirements for design, construction, inspection, testing, maintenance and operation as prescribed in ANSI B20-1-1957, Safety Code for conveyors, cableways and related equipment. 

Conveyors contribute to the one of the most common ways of being injured.  When visitors are in the facility, they should be informed of the ways to be safe around conveyors and other moving equipment. 

Other important rules regarding conveyor belt safety are:

  •          Only authorized maintenance personnel should service conveyors.
  •          Never ride, step, or sit on a conveyor belt at any time.
  •          Never remove guards.  They are there as protection from moving parts, such as gears and chains. 
  •          Know the location of start/stop controls, and keep the area free from obstructions.
  •          Clean only when the conveyor is stopped.
  •          Report all unsafe practices to your supervisor.
  •          Never load a stopped conveyor or overload a running conveyor.  This will assist in preserving your equipment, as well as not overheating it. 
  •         Trying to clear converter jams can create unsafe conditions and possibly damage equipment.
  •         Use correct lifting techniques.  Unsafe position and posture  could cause injuries while working around conveyors.
  •         Be sure the area is clear of debris and tripping hazards.
  •         If persons work beneath conveyors, there should be nets installed to catch any falling items. 
  •         Maintenance should never be performed on the conveyor until all hydraulic, electric and gravity energy sources    have been locked out and blocked.
  •          It is recommended that the right Personal Protective Equipment be used, relevant to the task and work area.  Gloves that furnish good grip are needed for handling bulky items, safety glasses should be worn when the materials on the belt are hazardous, and safety back supports will assist workers required to do lifting.
  •          Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and all body parts away from the conveyor belt. 

Anyone who does this type of work knows that it isn’t like the old “I Love Lucy” episode when Ethel and Lucy were working at the candy factory  and couldn’t keep up, when the conveyor belt started going faster.  They tried to eat the candy and hide it in their aprons!   This is a very serious occupation and those companies that train their employees to be vigilant toward safety are to be commended.  It requires a good safety plan, excellent training, and dependable supervision to be successful in protecting conscientious workers.

Eye Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection

SAFETY FIRST IN MACHINE SHOPS

It there’s one place I would just as soon not enter, it’s a machine shop- there’s just too much going on!   Those who run any type of machinery, have to be very smart and very careful.  There are too many ways one can get injured around moving equipment, so we are going to mention some rules that apply to staying safe while working in this environment: 

1.      Shops should be kept clean.  Dirty, wet floors, tools left lying around, trash and debris should not be part of the picture.  A clean environment is a safe one.

2.      There should be enough space between machines and materials to maneuver.

3.      Walkways should be marked, to distinguish between work areas and safe walkways.

4.      There should be good ventilation in all machine shops.

5.      Be sure that flammable liquids are stored in closed containers.

6.      The correct type of fire extinguishers should be readily assessable:  Class A – Combination; Class B – Liquid Fuels; Class C- Electrical Fires.

7.      Persons with long hair/beards should tie them up in order not to get caught in a moving machine.  Do not braid long hair, as the entire hair could be pulled into a machine.

8.      Never wear jewelry, loose clothing, or gloves.  If you must wear gloves while preparing sharp materials, be sure to remove them before the machine is turned on.

9.      Open toe shoes (sandals) are forbidden in machine shops; steel toe boots are preferred.

10.  Never interfere with someone running another machine; their concentration may be disturbed, causing an accident.

11.  Understand the machine you are running.  Be completely familiar with it, and never leave it unattended.

12.  As in many other things, the buddy system is the safest.  Don’t be alone while running equipment.

13.  In cleaning your machine, do not use high-pressure air.  It can push chips into moving parts and cause wear on the machine.

14.  Wear the correct personal protective equipment, such as:

  •         Earplugs – protect your hearing based on the noise level of the equipment.
  •         Safety glasses, goggles, or faceshields – you must protect your eyes and face from flying objects, dust, etc. 
  •         In some shops where there are hoists to lift heavy objects, hardhats would also be required for safety.

Exercise caution when running machinery.  Work areas should have non-slip material for walkways, and all equipment should have working guards and covers.  There should be eyewash stations and first aid kits on hand.

   Machine tools can be hazardous- even for experienced machinists.  There are all kinds of opportunities in manufacturing, and it is a great trade to learn.  Just be very careful, as with many other occupations, we don’t have a replay button.