OSHA requires businesses to have an Emergency Action Plan for the workplace that addresses possible emergencies and how employees are to respond to such emergencies. The plans are to provide emergency response contact information, as well as exit routes, shelter-in-place locations, and safe areas for different types of emergencies. Employers should test their plans to ensure that their plan works and employees have practiced the plan. Although not specifically mandated in OSHA, there is a strong suggestion that emergency plans be tested to identify errors and to get employees involved. This is commonly viewed as a lesson learned and a great opportunity to test the plan for needed updates. Continue Reading →

Nearly one-third of reportable injuries and 40% of fatalities in construction result from slips, trips, and falls (STF). These injuries result in 50% more days away from work than other injuries. Let’s take a look at some common areas of risk and some safe work practices. Continue Reading →

OSHA maintains general industry regulations on walking / working surfaces that guard against hazards such as; excess clutter, protruding objects, and wet conditions just to name a few. These hazards can harm everyone in a facility, regardless of their job title or job responsibilities. In the images below, we look at some of the most common STF hazards found on industrial sites. Keep an eye for these types of hazards when performing work on industrial sites. Continue Reading →

Slips, Trips, and Falls (STF) often occur due to a loss of traction between the foot / shoe and the walking surface. Common locations of risk are doorways, ramps, hallways with different floor surfaces, stairs, and when obstacles like rugs or cords are present. Continue Reading →

Moving from a safety policy to a safety culture requires guidelines that are aligned with the organizational brand, mission statement, principles, and values. Continue Reading →

Deciding to follow every single safety rule or procedure does not come natural to us. We constantly have to work towards making the right decisions every single day. Many times individuals find ways to rationalize not working safely. It is important for each employee to recognize this error trap and address it when it arises. Continue Reading →