Close Calls - Take a Close Look at Close Calls Close calls or accident without injury is easy to shrug off and forget. But, there is a danger in brushing off accidents that don’t hurt, harm or damage. When a “close call” happens, it should immediately send up a red warning flag that something was wrong, unplanned, unexpected, and could happen again. The next time it happens, it could result in serious damage, injury or death. For every accident there are usually several contributing factors, most of which can be controlled. The best way to prevent the reoccurrence of an accident is...

Accident Investigation Establish an accident investigation team: Include employees who have been trained to conduct an effective investigation. A typical team might include: An employee from the work area where the accident occurred A supervisor from a work area not involved in the accident A maintenance supervisor or an employee who understands equipment or processes associated with the accident The safety supervisor A safety committee representative Gather information: Record the facts about the accident. Interview witnesses and others involved. Analyze the facts: Identify the accident’s causes and contributing factors. Determine how the accident could have been prevented. Report the findings:...

Concrete Construction Safety Concrete is a versatile and strong material for construction. Concrete workers are just as versatile when performing excavations, carpentry, metalworking, pouring, and smoothing to create concrete structures. Pay attention to the variety of hazards while you work with concrete. Personal protection equipment (PPE) keeps you safe on the job. For digging, forming, and exposure to concrete, wear sturdy gloves and safety boots to protect your hands and feet. A hard hat protects your head from falling objects and bumps. Consider ear plugs depending on the noise level of your equipment and job site. Safety glasses and face shields protect...

Chainsaw Injuries Cutting down on chainsaw injuries Chainsaw injuries can lead to serious injury and even death. Each year, hospital emergency rooms see approximately 30,000 catastrophic injuries from chainsaws. The most frequent chainsaw injuries occur to the left leg and the back of the left hand. These injuries are usually related to kickback and losing control of the saw. Learning about chainsaw accident and injury risk reduction techniques can help you to avoid becoming a statistic. Kickback occurs when the tip of the saw touches an object or when the wood closes and pinches the chain. Tip contact makes the chainsaw immediately reverse...

Don't Get Caught in the Crush Crushing accidents occur when the body or any part of the body is squeezed between two moving objects or caught between one moving and one stationary object. Minor crushing accidents can cost workers in many ways, in pain, disability, and the loss of a job. Major crushing accidents can even cost a life. There are some simple things workers can do to lessen their chance of experiencing crushing injuries. The first, and most important thing, is for workers to know when they are placing themselves or any of their body parts in a situation of possible...

Diesel Exhaust What is Diesel Exhaust? The diesel engines in automobiles, buses, and trucks produce exhaust from the combustion of diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust is made up of harmful chemicals including very small toxic particles and hazardous gases. Some of the hazardous gases in diesel exhaust (e.g. nitrogen oxides, benzene, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde) have been found to possibly cause cancer. Health Hazards of Diesel Exhaust Breathing diesel exhaust is the most common method of exposure. As we breathe, the fine particles and toxic gases in diesel exhaust can enter into the lungs. Being exposed to diesel exhaust for short periods of time may...

Lawyer Safety Practicing law is usually more than a full time job. A lawyer and his or her team spend countless hours doing legal research, writing, court appearances, client visits, and extensive driving lead to fatigue and stress. Computer use, phone work, and heavy case files increase your ergonomic injury risks. Interface with clients and the public exposes you to workplace violence. Acknowledge the risks and plan strategies to prevent injuries. Long office hours can lead to ergonomic injuries; consider an ergonomic evaluation or use online tools to assess your workstation. Maintain good posture by keeping your monitor and keyboard directly in...

Stay Safe At All Hours When you find yourself alone in the workplace because you: work early or late hours, work at mobile remote sites, or provide services on the go, you must keep yourself safe at all hours by following your own gut instinct, and following your employers established safety procedures. Perform a walk through with your employer to identify the potential hazards you may encounter while performing your duties. Once the hazards are identified, devise safety solutions to control or eliminate the situation. Some solutions may include: Personal panic alarms Sensored path lighting Security cameras Walkie Talkies/Cell phones Create and implement...

Overhead Shop Crane Safety Overhead shop cranes move heavy items in manufacturing and production areas. Although shop cranes are useful, “overhead” can sometimes be “out of sight and out of mind” when it comes to safety. Workers need training on crane hazards and operation, and they should never forget the safety issues moving overhead. Only trained operators should use overhead shop cranes. They should always be inspected and tested before operation. Shop cranes require audible warning devices when moving unless the crane is operated by a floor worker using a suspended controller. Everyone on the worksite should be trained on the...

Detention Facility Workers Detention facility workers should be continuously aware and prepared for the risks they might face on the job. The work in these facilities can be extremely stressful—both physically and mentally for guards, custodians, or medical personnel; they also run the risk of exposure to physical attack or infection from bodily fluids. Bodily Fluid Exposure Bloodborne pathogen exposure from splashes or contact with blood is a serious hazard when violence erupts. The most common exposure is a splash of blood or other bodily fluids to an eye, nose and mouth or a puncture from a bite, scratch, or serious wound. If...