Effects of Weather Weather conditions can change quickly and create serious hazards on construction sites. Although workers cannot control the weather, they can control their exposure to weather-related hazards through planning, monitoring conditions, and adjusting or stopping work when conditions become unsafe. Wind High winds and sudden gusts can affect employees, equipment, structures,...
Keeping in Shape Staying in shape is one subject that is rarely discussed when safety is the topic. However, a person who stays in good physical condition is less likely to be involved in an accident. They are usually more alert, less subject to the adverse effects of weather and generally...
Common Sense Safety - Preventing Workplace Accidents Common sense safety means recognizing hazards, thinking before acting, and avoiding unnecessary risks that can lead to workplace accidents and injuries. Safe work requires more than simply knowing the rules—it requires applying good judgment to every task. Guide for Discussion Think Before You Act Many workplace injuries...
Near Miss Safety – Pay Attention to the Warning Near miss safety begins with recognizing that a near miss is an unplanned event that could have resulted in an injury, illness, property damage, or other loss—but did not. The difference between a near miss and a serious accident may be only...
Aerial Work Platforms Aerial work platforms, including boom lifts and scissor lifts, provide efficient access to elevated work areas. When properly selected and operated, they can provide a stable work platform and eliminate the need for other access methods. However, improper use can expose workers to falls, tip-overs, crushing hazards, falling...
Shop Safety - Safe Work Practices Shop safety requires employees to recognize and control hazards associated with machinery, tools, material handling, electrical equipment, vehicle movement, housekeeping, and other shop activities. Regular inspections and consistent safe work practices help identify hazards before they result in injuries. Guide for Discussion Shop Inspections Frequent and regular inspections...
Foundry Worker Safety Foundry operations expose workers to a combination of serious hazards, including molten metal, extreme heat, fires and explosions, hazardous fumes, respirable crystalline silica, machinery, noise, and material-handling hazards. Employees must be properly trained and follow established procedures for the specific equipment, metals, and processes they perform. Personal Protective Equipment PPE...
Hazard Recognition - Recognizing Unsafe Conditions Hazard recognition is everyone’s responsibility. Every employee, from a new worker to senior management, has a responsibility to identify unsafe conditions and unsafe actions, take appropriate corrective action, and report hazards before they result in an injury, illness, property damage, or other incident. What Is an...
Lockout/Blockout Safety Lockout/blockout safety protects workers from the unexpected startup, movement, or release of hazardous energy from machinery and equipment during cleaning, servicing, adjustment, maintenance, or repair. Before beginning work, identify every energy source and make sure the equipment cannot move, operate, or release stored energy while anyone is exposed to...
Why Accidents Occur Accidents do not simply happen without cause. Workplace incidents usually result from a combination of unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, or failures involving the worker, tools and equipment, materials, or work methods. Understanding why accidents occur helps us recognize hazards before someone gets hurt. When an unsafe act or condition...