Don’t Let This Be You – Electrical Safety A crew of four linemen were installing intermediate poles on an existing single phase 14.4 KV distribution line. Three of the workers were journeymen with 30 or more years of experience. The fourth was an apprentice with almost 3 years experience. The following summary describes a tragic accident: One of the journeymen and the apprentice were belted off below the neutral bracket on a newly installed pole, using hot sticks to tie off the energized conductor. Another journeymen on the ground was using a hold-down to keep the conductor in place while the wraplock...

Eye Injury Prevention Personal Protective Equipment  One thousand eye injuries occur in American workplaces every day. These injuries are responsible for over $3,000,000.00 annually in medical, lost production and workers' compensation costs!! Why are these injuries occurring? Three out of five injuries happen because the worker was not wearing any eye protection at the time of the accident. About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some type of eye protection, but it was the wrong kind and failed to protect adequately. The leading cause in this category is the lack of side shields. Accident studies reveal flying or falling objects and sparks...

Do You Need To Travel With a Load? It is well known that vehicle accidents result in many occupational fatalities. Vehicle inspection and maintenance are important elements to a comprehensive fleet safety program. Another subject that deserves attention has to do with the cargo you are hauling. When traveling with loads, part of the pre-trip vehicle inspection process should include a thorough check to determine whether your load is adequately secured. An unsecured load may shift during your trip and could cause or contribute to an accident. Check the condition of tie downs and ropes to assure they are not damaged or...

Backing Into Trouble When we are walking around on the job, particularly when handling material, we are subject to many dangers. Think about the following scenarios and see if you have ever been in a similar position: An employee was inside a truck removing empty drums onto the truck's elevator tailgate and lowering it. Another employee was removing the drums and sending the elevator tailgate back up. The employee inside the vehicle had his back to the tailgate as he pulled the next drum towards the tailgate - which he thought was even with the bed of the truck. As he swung...

Cargo Dock Safety An accident in a warehouse can injure you or your co-workers, damage equipment, and ruin cargo. It is a potential for a multiple loss. The most common warehouse accidents involve forklifts and manual material handling. The forklift is one of the most important mechanical devices you have. It can also be one of the most dangerous if not properly used. Statistics show that forklifts are involved in only about 1% of lost time accidents, yet they account for about 10% of the serious injuries. Some of those injuries occur when: A forklift strikes a pedestrian. A load falls on...

Carelessness Have you ever done anything stupid, something that you know puts you at increased risk of injury? When you realize how stupid you were, whether you got hurt or not, do you ask yourself, "Why did I ever do that?" For your own future preservation, this should be a very important question for you to answer yourself. Consider the fact that approximately 20% of injuries are due to unsafe conditions and 80% are caused by unsafe acts. If you realize that most unsafe conditions are brought about by human failure, then virtually all accidents are brought about by unsafe acts....

Static Electricity – It can be a shocker! Remember when you dragged your feet across the rug and then touched your brother or sister’s ear! That got their attention! We have also seen the effects of "static cling," when our clothes cling together in the dryer. Static electricity, as a source of ignition for flammable vapors, gases, and dusts, is a hazard common to a wide variety of industries. A static spark can occur when an electrical charge accumulates on the surfaces of two materials that have been brought together and then separated (between two solids, between a solid and a liquid,...

Safety Eye Wear - For Sun & Shade The days of old style safety glasses are numbered. Today, you have a selection of protective eye wear that rivals the style of designer glasses. Employees can now select a style that is most flattering to their face. They also have a choice of different colors, protection factors and prices. When choosing "safety glasses" the primary consideration is to ensure that the glasses provide necessary impact protection and that they meet or exceed the ANSI Z87.1-1989 standard. Both frame and lens must meet this standard. The idea is to prevent flying and splashing objects...

A Single Second It takes a minute to write a safety rule. It takes an hour to hold a safety meeting. It takes a week to plan a good safety program. It takes a month to put that program into operation. It takes a year to win a safety award. It takes a lifetime to make a safe worker. But it takes only a second to destroy it all - with one accident. Take the time now to work safe and help your fellow employees to be safe....

Poisonous Plants Blue-Green Algae (appearance of blue-green paint or scum on the surface of the water): Wear boots and gloves when working in marine environments Rinse exposed skin with clean, clear water Minimize agitation of water that can cause aerosols – inhalation is a hazard Minimize time spent in affected area - conduct prep work outside of the area “When in doubt, stay out” Poison Ivy (vines or low shrubs, leaves are divided into 3 almond shaped leaflets, alternatively arranged): Learn to recognize native poisonous plants Wash clothing and tools exposed to the plant since allergens can remain active for...