Ladder Safety Ladder safety requires selecting the correct ladder, inspecting it before use, setting it up properly, and following safe climbing practices. Falls from ladders can cause serious or fatal injuries, even from relatively low heights. Portable ladders are primarily intended to provide access to elevated work areas. When prolonged work at...

Forklift Fatalities Forklifts are powerful material-handling equipment, but their weight, limited visibility, changing center of gravity, and interaction with pedestrians can make an accident extremely serious. Tip-overs, struck-by incidents, crushing hazards, falling loads, and falls from elevated forks or platforms can result in severe injury or death. Older forklift accident statistics are...

Signaling Techniques Signaling techniques are essential whenever workers direct the movement of vehicles, forklifts, cranes, or suspended loads. Clear, standardized signals help prevent misunderstandings that can result in struck-by injuries, equipment collisions, dropped loads, or property damage. Guide for Discussion Know and Understand the Signals Before operations begin, the operator and signal person must...

Accident Prevention - Seven Common Accident Causes Accident prevention starts with recognizing the behaviors and conditions that increase the likelihood of an incident. Accidents rarely occur for only one reason, and identifying underlying causes helps employees correct hazards before someone gets hurt. Guide for Discussion Many workplace incidents involve a combination of unsafe...

Don’t Gamble With Personal Fall Arrest Equipment Personal fall arrest systems are designed to stop a fall before a worker strikes a lower level. However, simply wearing a harness and lanyard does not guarantee protection. Damaged, improperly maintained, incorrectly connected, or incompatible equipment can fail when it is needed most. Never trust...

Hand Protection Your hands are essential to nearly every task you perform. Because they are frequently close to tools, equipment, materials, and moving objects, they are also highly vulnerable to injury. Cuts, punctures, burns, crushing injuries, and amputations can happen quickly and may result in permanent damage. Protecting your hands starts with...

Office Safety – Preventing Common Office Hazards Office safety depends on recognizing and controlling everyday hazards. Although offices are generally considered low-hazard workplaces, poor housekeeping, unsafe storage, electrical hazards, improper lifting, and inadequate emergency preparedness can result in serious injuries. Housekeeping and Walking Surfaces Good housekeeping is one of the most effective ways...