Category Archives: Powered Equipment

Keep It Clear: Electrical Panels

Look for new requirements for keeping the area around electrical equipment (panels, shut offs, etc) clear.  This is from a recent National Electrical Code update: Keep It Clear:Proposal for 2014 NEC would sharpen requirements for clear work space Jeffrey Sargent … Continue reading

Posted in News, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OSHA cites Wisconsin company after fire

Fontarome Chemical, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company located in St Francis, WI (just outside of Milwaukee), received 17 citations from OSHA after an investigation following a fire at their facility last year.  Most of the citations and accompanying proposed fines of … Continue reading

Posted in News, Personal Protective Equipment, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New OSHA website provides information on preventing backover incidents

I was surprised to read how many workers die from being backed over.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 70 workers died from backover incidents in 2011. A backover incident occurs when a backing vehicle strikes a worker … Continue reading

Posted in Outdoor Safety, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lockout/Tagout

Lockout/tagout refers to securing tools and equipment when they are being repaired to reduce or eliminate the chance of accidental release of energy.  What that means is that if you are working on equipment that could accidentally start up, or … Continue reading

Posted in Powered Equipment, Safety policies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Electrical History Quiz

Most of us take electricity for granted.  It is an interesting story about how the electrical grid got built.  GE started making appliances to increase the demand for the real product–electricity. Did you know that the electrical code addressed charging … Continue reading

Posted in Home safety, News, Personal Protective Equipment, Powered Equipment, Safety tip | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Safety tip: Young Workers

Young workers are often hired to assist with summer projects.  They may be at higher risk of injury as they often do not recognize hazards and are provided with less training.  WorkSafe BC published a short brochure designed for younger … Continue reading

Posted in Outdoor Safety, Powered Equipment, Safety tip | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

May is National Electric Safety Month

This article was in a recent National Fire Prevention Association newsletter: Flipping a light switch. Plugging in a coffeemaker. Charging a laptop computer. These activities are second nature for most of us. Electrical appliances and devices make our lives easier. … Continue reading

Posted in Home safety, News, Powered Equipment, Safety tip | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Green Job Hazards

OSHA recently (in March 2012) posted information on Green Job Hazards, covering safety hazards associated with different green technologies: in wind energy, solar, geo-thermal energy, biofuels, recycling, green roofs, hydrogen fuel cells and  weather insulating/sealing.  If you have employees working … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental issues, Home safety, News, Outdoor Safety, Personal Protective Equipment, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chainsaw & Tree Trimming Safety Videos

Spring is early this year.  With it comes spring clean up and tree trimming.  If you have employees felling or clearing trees or using chainsaws it is a good time to remind them about chainsaw safety.  OSHA has several QuickCards–short … Continue reading

Posted in Home safety, Outdoor Safety, Personal Protective Equipment, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Large OSHA Penalties- Feb 2012

I was reading the Feb 15, 2012 OSHA QuickTakes and was struck by the listing of large penalties: $365,500 to Wal-Mart’s Rochester NY facility for repeat and serious safety and health hazards.  Some of the hazards identified were: fall hazards, … Continue reading

Posted in News, Personal Protective Equipment, Powered Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment