Construction sites are bustling hubs of activity, with various tasks and projects unfolding simultaneously. While much attention is given to the grand structures being erected, it’s crucial to recognize the safety of the workers who are integral to the process. One particularly hazardous aspect of construction work is confined spaces, where the risks can be significantly amplified.
In today’s complex business landscape, ensuring your employees’ and customers’ safety and well-being is paramount. As a result, many organizations turn to safety consulting firms for expert guidance and support in developing and maintaining effective safety management systems. Safety consulting firms can provide invaluable expertise to help meet regulatory requirements, enhance workplace safety, and minimize the risk of accidents. However, selecting a firm can be a challenging task. You want to get the most value while ensuring high-quality services, but with numerous options available, it can be challenging to determine which firm to choose. Not all safety consulting firms are equal in quality or capability. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide on choosing a safety consulting firm to provide you with essential factors to consider when making this decision.
As the calendar turns, ushering in a new year, it’s a time for personal resolutions and fresh beginnings and an excellent opportunity for businesses and organizations to renew their commitment to safety. One effective way to ensure a safe and secure workplace is by thoroughly reviewing your safety manual. A safety manual is a cornerstone for establishing guidelines, protocols, and best practices that protect employees and stakeholders. Safety should always be a top priority, and what better time to ensure your safety practices are up-to-date and effective than the start of a new year?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role in workplace safety and is a fundamental element of any comprehensive safety program. Its importance lies in protecting workers from various occupational hazards and reducing the risk of injuries, illnesses, and even fatalities. Tailored for specific workplace risks, PPE encompasses specialized equipment that protects individuals from potential workplace hazards. The required types of PPE can vary depending on the specific industry, job tasks, and potential risks. Many OSHA standards require the employer to provide PPE to their employees. Serving as the ultimate safeguard, PPE constitutes workers’ last line of defense. Here are the key reasons why PPE is essential for workplace safety:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is crucial in ensuring workplace safety across various industries in the United States. To maintain safety standards, OSHA regularly inspects workplaces and enforces compliance with various regulations. OSHA has updated its list of the most frequently cited standards for all industries for its fiscal year 2023, which runs from October 1-September 30. Not surprisingly, these are the same standards cited from 2022; only the order of some standards has changed. Powered Industrial Trucks rose two spots while Respiratory Protection fell several spots on the list. Other standards have shifted within the list, but fall protection remains the number one from the previous year.
Construction sites can be high-risk areas where accidents can happen if proper safety measures are not taken. It is important to follow all OSHA guidelines and remember the hierarchy of controls to eliminate the hazard if possible. Safety on a construction site must be constant and consistent. Here are fifteen crucial tips for construction site safety that can significantly enhance workers’ well-being and protect them from harm.
A safety consultant’s primary role is to assist with ensuring a safe workplace. Safety consultants are professionals with expertise in workplace safety regulations, risk assessment, and hazard management. They play a crucial role in helping organizations identify potential safety risks, implementing safety protocols, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. They assess workplaces and make recommendations for eliminating workplace safety hazards. They develop health and safety policies and procedures. Their day may include everything from performing audits and training, updating safety and health manuals, conducting accident investigations, and dealing with OSHA citations. Quality safety consultants have knowledge of safety, physics, chemistry, physical science, mathematics, industrial hygiene, fire safety, and business and are skilled at communication, safety training, and education. Often, every day looks different, and each day brings a new challenge.
NFPA 70E is a standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), focusing on workplace electrical safety. It provides guidelines for establishing safety practices to protect employees from electrical hazards. NFPA 70E provides a comprehensive approach to electrical safety in the workplace and covers various aspects, including risk assessment, safe work practices, maintenance procedures, and personal protective equipment. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E focuses on preventing electrical injuries and fatalities and is widely recognized and adopted in many industries. NFPA 70E compliance saves lives, reduces injuries, and can help avoid lost production and fines.
When it comes to safety, do you want to be lucky, or do you want to be good? To be good, you have to avoid complacency every day. Far too many companies rely on luck, and unfortunately, when their luck runs out, the result is often a serious accident resulting in injury, property loss, damage, fines, or worse. If you have worked on a job site, in a manufacturing facility, or held a supervisory role, you have probably heard the following excuses or different versions of them many times.
June 13, 2023, is National Forklift Safety Day and an excellent opportunity to focus on forklift safety. Forklifts, also known as powered industrial trucks, are standard on construction sites, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities, helping with efficiency. There are many types of powered industrial trucks, each unique. Weighing between 4,000-9,000 pounds, they are versatile equipment for loading and unloading supplies, moving heavy materials, and transporting goods. They are helpful as they combine a lifting tool’s functions with a vehicle’s mobility. However, working on or around forklifts/powered industrial trucks is associated with significant risks. Forklifts pose collision, falls, tip-overs, and struck-by hazards. Safe forklift operation involves proper safety training and proper forklift maintenance.