The Ten Commandments of Good Safety Habits Good safety habits help prevent injuries by making safe behavior part of the way we perform every task. The actions we repeat each day eventually become habits, so developing the right habits—and avoiding unsafe shortcuts—is an important part of working safely. Guide for Discussion 1. Set...

Respirator Fit Check - Personal Protective Equipment A respirator fit check—also called a user seal check—must be performed every time a tight-fitting respirator is put on. Even a properly selected and fit-tested respirator cannot provide its intended protection if there is leakage between the face and the respirator facepiece. Respirators are used...

Unsafe Equipment - Reporting Equipment Hazards Unsafe equipment must be identified, reported, and removed from service when defects could expose employees to injury. Employees who operate or work around tools, machinery, vehicles, and other equipment are often the first to notice developing problems and play an important role in preventing equipment-related...

Abrasive Blasting Safety Sandblasting Hazards and Controls Abrasive blasting safety requires controlling airborne contaminants, high-velocity abrasive materials, excessive noise, hazardous coatings, and respiratory hazards. Blasting operations can expose both operators and nearby employees to serious health and physical hazards if appropriate controls are not established before work begins. Airborne Dust and Contaminants Abrasive...

Fall Arrest & Fall Restraint Systems Understanding the difference between fall restraint and fall arrest is essential when working at heights. Although both systems protect employees from falls, they work in very different ways. Whenever feasible, the preferred approach is to prevent the fall from occurring rather than rely on equipment to...

Hazard Awareness – The Little Things Count Most of us have heard the saying, “It’s the little things that count.” This is especially true when it comes to workplace safety. Major hazards such as energized electrical equipment, unguarded machinery, hazardous chemicals, and work at heights usually get our attention. However, seemingly minor...

Entering and Exiting Vehicles Safely Drivers and employees who frequently enter and exit trucks, vans, heavy equipment, farm equipment, and other large vehicles can suffer serious injuries from slips, trips, and falls. Sprains, strains, fractures, and back injuries often occur when employees jump from vehicles, miss a step, lose their grip,...

Fiberglass Safety and Health Hazards Fiberglass safety requires workers to understand the potential for skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and to use appropriate controls and PPE when handling fiberglass materials. Fiberglass, also called fibrous glass, is a synthetic material made from glass fibers. It is commonly found in insulation, roofing materials, ceiling...

Welding Flashback - Preventing Fires and Explosions Welding flashback can occur during oxy-fuel cutting, welding, brazing, or heating when a flame travels backward through the torch and into the hoses, regulators, or fuel-gas system. Proper equipment setup, inspection, operating pressures, and safe lighting procedures are essential to preventing fires, equipment damage,...

The Basics of Workplace Safety Years of incident investigations have shown that workplace injuries rarely result from a single cause. Unsafe conditions, equipment hazards, inadequate planning, and human actions can all contribute to an incident. While employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace, every employee also plays an important role...