Chemical hazards are one of the most common and misunderstood risks workers face in almost every industry. Whether you’re in manufacturing, construction, laboratories, healthcare, or even an office setting, you interact with chemicals daily. Understanding what...
Written by Chris Mitchell Director, Health & Pharma | CSP, CHST Workplace incidents don’t come with a warning. Whether it’s a contractor injury on a large construction site or a chemical exposure in a lab, what happens in the first three minutes can change...
Industrial hygiene is one of the most critical yet often overlooked components of workplace safety. It is the science of identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace environmental stressors or hazards that could affect workers’ health and well-being. By...
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been a cornerstone of workplace safety for decades. From industrial worksites to healthcare facilities, PPE acts as the last line of defense against serious injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Over time, as industries and...
Safety violations in the workplace happen more often than most people realize—and they’re rarely intentional. Whether it’s a missed training, a damaged guardrail, or an outdated label, these gaps in compliance can put workers at risk and expose companies to serious...
Written by Randy Gieseking, President | Safety Management Group In high-risk industries, there’s no room for guesswork. Whether you’re managing a construction site, a manufacturing facility, or a large utility project, one thing is certain: safety and...
Written by Chris Mitchell Director, Health & Pharma | CSP, CHST OSHA exists to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for employees across the United States. By setting and enforcing standards and offering training, outreach, and assistance, OSHA plays a...
Written by Duane Freyberger, Vice President, Client Strategy | Safety Management Group When it comes to workplace safety, record keeping isn’t just a box to check. It’s a fundamental part of a company’s responsibility to protect its people and comply with the law. The...
Written by Duane Freyberger, Vice President, Client Strategy Every workplace, no matter the industry, benefits from having someone who understands how safety, health, and the environment intersect with operations. That person is the EHS Manager. In today’s regulatory...
Written by Mark Steinhofer Director, SMG U | CSP, CHST, CUSP, PhD Most people don’t fall because they’re careless. They fall because they’re comfortable. Slips, trips, and falls happen during the routine—on the walk to the breakroom, across the shop floor, or...
NFPA 70E is the National Fire Protection Association’s standard for electrical safety in the workplace. It outlines best practices to protect workers from electrical hazards, such as arc flashes and shock. This standard is essential for maintaining compliance and...
Written by Mike Martin Vice President, Services | CHST, CUS Personal fall arrest systems are a direct result of personal falls continuing to be one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities, especially in construction, utility work, and industrial...
By Mike Martin, CHST, CUSP Vice President, Services | CHST, CUSP When it comes to workplace safety, most companies understand that OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the top regulatory authority. But understanding how OSHA enforces its standards...
Construction safety isn’t just a field concern. It’s an organizational performance indicator. In high-risk industries, the strength of your safety culture is visible long before an incident occurs. It shows up in how your teams operate, how supervisors lead, and how...
Safety Management Group (SMG), a national provider of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) services, is deepening its investment in the Lone Star State with the launch of a new Dallas/Fort Worth office. The move reinforces SMG’s long-standing partnerships in Texas...
Written by Mike Martin Vice President, Services | CHST, CUSP Burns are a serious workplace hazard, whether caused by fire, chemicals, electricity, or even friction. While many teams focus on high-risk hazards like concrete burns or electrical arcs, friction burns are...
Written by Mark Steinhofer Director, SMG U | CSP, CHST, CUSP, PhD Work shouldn’t hurt—but too often, it does. Whether it’s wrist fatigue after a long shift or chronic back pain from daily lifting, ergonomic hazards are one of the most preventable sources of...
Written by Mark Steinhofer Director, SMG U | CSP, CHST, CUSP, PhD Safety commitment isn’t a poster on the wall or a speech during orientation. It’s what shows up in how people do the work. When a team is truly committed to safety, you see it in their habits,...
Electricity is an integral part of modern life, powering homes, workplaces, and industries. However, improper handling or negligence around electrical systems can lead to severe injuries, property damage, or even fatalities. Over the years, electrical safety has...
Situational awareness is a crucial skill that helps individuals stay safe and make informed decisions by understanding their surroundings. In both personal and professional settings, situational awareness enhances safety, prevents accidents, and enables quick...
Written By: Jordan Hollingsworth, CSP, CHST, CUSP, STSC Arc flashes represent one of the most dangerous risks on industrial and construction sites, capable of causing catastrophic injuries, equipment damage, and operational delays. Arc flashes are not just...
Construction work is one of the most hazardous occupations, involving diverse risks that can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Understanding the most common construction accidents and how to prevent them is key to maintaining a safer work environment and...
Workplace safety is a critical concern, especially in the construction industry. Among the most hazardous risks identified by OSHA are the “Fatal Four” — four types of accidents that account for nearly 60% of construction worker fatalities annually (OSHA)....
Understanding the 7 phases of incident response is crucial for any organization to manage potential threats effectively and maintain safety and compliance. Whether responding to safety incidents, cybersecurity breaches, or operational failures, having a well-defined...
Workplace safety is a critical priority for businesses across all industries. An OSHA compliance checklist helps organizations systematically evaluate their safety practices, ensuring they meet regulatory standards and protect employees. This guide covers essential...
Written by: Craig Clark Environmental compliance is vital in ensuring organizations operate responsibly within regulatory frameworks while minimizing their environmental impact. As industries face increasing scrutiny, adhering to environmental regulations isn’t...
Written By: Mark Steinhofer OSHA compliance is a fundamental part of workplace safety and regulatory management, ensuring that businesses meet legal requirements to protect their employees. Adhering to OSHA standards helps reduce workplace injuries, avoid fines, and...
Written By: Stu Hanebuth Overview: Trenching remains one of the most hazardous activities in the construction sector. Tragically, most trenching-related fatalities are entirely preventable. To safeguard lives, both individual workers and their teams must embrace a...
Written By: Jordan Hollingsworth At Safety Management Group, our commitment is to ensure that you stay at the forefront of regulatory changes that impact your operations. A significant revision has been made by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)...
Written By: Randy Gieseking Overview: Integrating risk management into organizational culture is key to transforming safety from a checkbox to a core value. This involves leadership actively participating in safety practices, making safety a collective responsibility...
Written By: Ron Hanson Overview: Effective risk management requires clear communication and collective action among all stakeholders. This blog outlines strategies for making complex risk assessments understandable and actionable for everyone, from executives to...
Overview: To enhance workplace safety, construction leaders must prioritize mental health as vigorously as physical safety. Key strategies include allocating sufficient resources, securing management buy-in, and embracing cultural sensitivity to ensure inclusivity....
Overview: The construction industry has made significant progress in physical safety but faces a silent epidemic of mental health issues, including high suicide rates. Integrating mental health into safety practices involves regular toolbox talks, designated...
Overview: In the construction industry, mental health often takes a back seat to physical safety, but it’s just as crucial. By integrating mental health discussions into safety meetings and toolbox talks, companies can create a culture of understanding and...
Written By: Bob Sheridan The challenge of ensuring compliance, managing risk, and maintaining safety standards across your organization and your contractor base can be overwhelming. At Safety Management Group (SMG), we understand the complexities and challenges...
Written By: Craig Clark Overview: To prepare for tomorrow’s evolving risks, it’s crucial to adopt dynamic risk management strategies that keep pace with technological advancements, industry shifts, and workforce changes. Key actions include regularly...
Written By: Bob Sheridan Overview: Learn how to stay compliant with evolving safety regulations and manage risks effectively in our guide. Discover tips on adhering to international and national standards, using compliance software, and implementing contractor...
Written By: Jordan Hollingsworth Eclipse on the Horizon As April 8, 2024 approaches, bringing with it the extraordinary spectacle of a total solar eclipse, Safety Management Group (SMG) is dedicated to ensuring the safety and preparedness of construction sites...
As we gear up for the 2024 solar eclipse, our Indianapolis headquarters will be right in the path of totality, marking a significant moment not only for celestial observation but also for safety in travel management. Indiana State Police and INDOT have underscored the...
Written By: Chris Mitchell Overview: This blog explores the application of the Hierarchy of Controls in mitigating workplace risks, emphasizing the framework’s effectiveness across various hazard types. It covers strategies from elimination and substitution to...
Written By: Mark Steinhofer Overview: This blog explores how to effectively analyze, evaluate, and prioritize workplace hazards using risk matrices. It outlines the process of risk analysis by assessing hazard probability and severity, and introduces the risk matrix...
Summary: This blog details key techniques for identifying both obvious and hidden workplace hazards, emphasizing visual inspections, employee feedback, incident reports review, equipment and safety data sheets analysis, task analysis, industrial hygiene monitoring,...
Overview: Risk assessments are crucial for maintaining safety, compliance, and operational continuity across all industries. By identifying, analyzing, and mitigating potential hazards, organizations can protect employees, prevent financial and reputational damage,...
Written By: Jordan Hollingsworth Overview: Learn how SMG’s SWPPP Audit/Inspection Service can improve your construction site’s stormwater management practices and ensure regulatory compliance. Discover the importance of proactive stormwater management in...
Overview: Learn about the importance of multi-sector stormwater audits in ensuring effective stormwater management across industries. Discover how these audits evaluate compliance with environmental regulations and promote sustainable practices. Embrace the benefits...
Overview: The blog emphasizes the importance of protecting groundwater through the Groundwater Pollution Prevention (GPP) Plan, which involves identifying pollution sources, assessing risks, implementing preventive measures, and establishing emergency response...
Overview: Discover the importance of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) for managing stormwater runoff and the necessity of compliance audits. Explore common audit findings and potential consequences of non-compliance. Learn about the benefits of partnering...
Overview: In manufacturing, near misses are shifting from being viewed as negative occurrences to valuable learning opportunities. Forward-thinking facilities encourage reporting and analysis of near misses, fostering a proactive safety culture. By addressing near...
Written By: Mark Steinhofer Overview: As technology integrates into manufacturing safety, companies leverage predictive analytics and mobile safety apps to predict and address safety concerns efficiently. Wearable devices, machine learning, and ergonomic tools...
SMG’s work for the Midfield Terminal Expansion at the Indianapolis Airport serves as a standout example of our commitment to embedding safety from the project’s very beginning. This project was not a simple request; it was a landmark effort, especially in the...
Written By: Mike Martin Building the future involves intricate planning and management, especially for critical airport infrastructure projects. However, the post-9/11 era brought unprecedented obstacles, forever changing the field of aviation security. One remarkable...
SMG consistently achieves remarkable safety outcomes, significantly surpassing industry standards. Our approach has resulted in maintaining Total Recordable Incident Rates (TRIR) that are consistently 2.5 times lower than industry average, reflecting a sustained...
Written By: Randy Gieseking In the construction sector where the stakes for safety are high, there’s a growing realization that safety should be more than just a priority—it should be a mission. With a growing rate of fatalities and injuries, as well as the...
Written By: Mike Martin In the construction industry, the stakes for safety are not just high—they’re monumental. Recent data – including construction fatality rates – from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor sheds light...
It goes without saying that industrial equipment can be dangerous when it’s being used. That’s why machines are designed with safety equipment and operators wear personal protective equipment when using them. But machinery can also present hazards when it’s not in...
Written By: Jason Jones“We have a state-of-the-art training trailer ready to go at your convenience — any time, any day, any place,” said Ron Eastham, trainer and account manager with SMG University. SMG University offers a diverse catalog of training opportunities on...
Winter is on its way, which means it’s almost time for snowflakes on your windshield and slippery roads ahead. Stay safe by following these tips on how to avoid incidents and prepare to drive in bad weather. A little prevention and preparation will go a long way...
Written By: Randy Gieseking Safety Management Group (SMG) has a bright new jewel in its crown of safety achievements. Earlier this year, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) recognized us as a Ruby tier Certification Champion, as we currently have 43...
Sure, your company has a great safety program. Yes, you have trained safety professionals on your team. You think all your workers are following the safety guidelines outlined in your organization’s safety program. And yet — injuries and incidents are still happening....
Next week, kids, and adults, will celebrate Halloween. Here are a few tips to keep in mind whether you are accompanying trick-or-treaters, driving, or attending Halloween parties....
Written By: Craig Clark When we take a time out to consider safety protocols on any given project, risk reduction starts with the job safety analysis (JSA). Let’s consider this analogy: It’s fourth down and two with less than a minute to go in a closely fought...
Getting a driver’s license is something most teens can’t wait for — freedom, independence, excitement. But getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and driving is a huge responsibility that involves not only paying attention to what you are doing but also what everyone...
Written By: Mike Martin Professional sports teams, at their most basic level, are athletes with strikingly different skills brought together in order to achieve victories. A pitcher and a third-basemen work just feet apart, but each has specific responsibilities. A...
It’s back-to-school time, which means students and school buses are back on the road. Whether you’re driving a fleet vehicle or just your personal car, this 90-second video covers what to do in the event of a bus stop. Parents should also remind their children about...
Written By: Mike Martin It’s been on the news time and time again — a window washer crew or a crew utilizing some form of suspension scaffold is trapped in mid-air stories above the ground. Their work platform has failed in some way, and the workers are dangling from...
INDIANAPOLIS (July 12, 2023) Safety Management Group (SMG), an industry-leading safety, environmental and quality services firm, hosted 120 golfers at its 21st Annual Charity Golf Outing on Friday, June 23, at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Indianapolis. The event raised...
Written By: Randy Gieseking Personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the last line of defense against occupational safety and health hazards; however, it is still an essential aspect of a safety program. And because PPE can’t provide the right level of...
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), work-related medically consulted injuries totaled 4.26 million in 2021. June is National Safety Month, and preventable injuries — or accidents — are the fourth leading cause of U.S. deaths. The top causes of workplace...
Written By: Ron Hanson INDIANAPOLIS (June 1, 2023) — Safety Management Group (SMG), an industry-leading safety, environmental and quality services firm, has announced the company will exhibit in booth #903 at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety...
Written By: Mark Steinhofer Whenever groups of people are together, conflict is inevitable. It isn’t that people are fundamentally angry or looking to pick a fight — the root of conflict is in the differences between us. Each of us has different goals and...
The SMG team believes in building lasting relationships. Safety management is all about maintaining this kind of longevity — keeping people and businesses thriving in trusted hands. One of the ways we strengthen our bonds on a yearly basis is by inviting our...
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that mental health issues are among our nation’s most pressing concerns. We often think about mental health in terms of our families and communities, but one of...
Safety Management Group’s Insights department isn’t a team that just walks through a jobsite or gives a presentation and then leaves you to fend for yourself. It serves as your company’s safety net for the long haul, growing stronger and more supportive as your...
Incorporating sustainable practices into workplace operations not only demonstrates corporate responsibility but also aligns with regulatory compliance, reducing environmental risks and fostering long-term operational efficiency. In this article, we explore the role...
Written By: Jason Jones INDIANAPOLIS (April 17, 2023) — Safety Management Group LLC (“SMG”), a portfolio company of NMS Capital (“NMS”), announced today it has acquired Trinity Safety Group LLC (“Trinity” or the “Company”). Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Trinity...
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. While most people associate distracted driving with the use of our smartphones, there are many other things that can remove our focus from the road — even for a few seconds. For example, trying to reset your car’s...
Written By: Harvey Galberth There’s an old adage that says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s applicable to many situations, but especially so when it comes to workplace safety. Safety professionals have long recognized the value of prevention,...
Written By: Bob Sheridan Protecting the safety of workers may sound like a simple concept, but managing a complex safety program is anything but simple. Fortunately, Safety Management Group has simplified the process for owners, general contractors, subcontractors,...
Written By: Chris Mitchell Concrete has been a popular construction material for hundreds of years, thanks to its inherent strength and its ability to be molded and shaped. Nearly every construction project includes it to some degree, whether that’s for structural...
Storage tanks of a variety of shapes and sizes can be found in all sorts of industries. While we typically associate storage tanks with refineries and other petrochemical-related facilities, you’ll see them at nearly every type of production facility. They may hold...
It doesn’t matter whether you work in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. Look around, and you’ll see that electric power transmission lines are a familiar part of the landscape. From the wood poles that deliver service local customers, to the giant towers carrying...
Like fire, chemicals are very useful for a broad variety of functions. But just like fire, many chemicals are inherently hazardous or even deadly when they’re not used in a properly controlled manner, or when accidents occur. That’s an important fact to remember,...
Written By: Duane Freyberger When you look at OSHA’s most recent list of the top ten most frequently cited violations, three of the ten (and two of the top three) have something in common: they involve injuries related to overhead work. Specifically, the #1 violation...
Drywall is a simple product that revolutionized interior construction by eliminating the extra time and craftsmanship required for traditional lath-and-plaster walls and ceilings. Today, nearly all commercially available drywall is made of gypsum plaster with a paper...
By Jordan Hollingsworth, CHST, CSP, CUSP Lead Advisor Reprinted from Incident Prevention Magazine (link) Many OSHA regulations call for someone on the job site to make sure that people, equipment and the site don’t come together in the wrong way. Generally known as a...
By Safety Management Group It was only a small propane tank, similar to those used on construction sites and in industrial locations. The propane was supposed to be supplying a small heater, but much of it was actually escaping through a leaky valve. The gas ignited,...
By Safety Management Group Workers in many industries perform their tasks with and around a wide variety of chemicals. Each of those chemicals may pose some level of danger to the workers’ well-being, depending upon how closely and how long they come in contact. But...
By Alison Montgomery, API Safety Advisor Safety Management Group For most of us, our familiarity with emergency evacuations goes all the way back to childhood. When the school’s fire alarm sounded, we lined up and moved outside in an orderly fashion as the teacher...
Statement from Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels on 2013 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Bureau of Labor Statistics reports steady decline in workplace injuries and illnesses WASHINGTON, December 4, 2014 – Dr. David Michaels, assistant...
By Safety Management Group If it seems as though towers are sprouting out of nearby fields, industrial parks, and neighborhoods with increasing frequency, it’s not your imagination. Communications companies and others have been scrambling to keep up with the...
By Safety Management Group You’re supervising a jobsite that’s two hours away from your company’s offices, and the unthinkable happens: one of your subcontractor’s craftspeople has been seriously injured. His coworkers are performing first aid, and you can hear the...
By Safety Management Group There are many hazards around workplaces that are all too easy to ignore, because they seem to be benign. One of those is the use of vacuum. Workers may encounter vacuums both in the permanently installed systems that are used in many...
By Safety Management Group Even if they were not mandated by law, workplace safety programs benefit workers and employers alike by reducing the number of injuries, enhancing productivity, and even improving the quality of work. When everyone knows and follows...
By Safety Management Group Electricity is so commonplace in our lives and on our worksites that it’s easy to forget that it’s potentially dangerous. When most people consider the dangers of electricity, they think about the potential for being shocked or electrocuted....
By Dave Remter, Account Manager, and Mark Steinhofer, Ph. D., CHST, Account Manager Safety Management Group It happened again in September. A 25-year-old man working for a wireless tower installation company climbed behind the controls of a small crane in...
By Safety Management Group Trains have long fascinated and frustrated people. For every child who hypnotically watches a long train full of colorful freight cars roll by, there a driver who’s running late and wishes railroads had never been invented. Railroads play a...
By Safety Management Group We use them around the house for everything from touching up patio furniture, to dusting furniture, to making the air (or people) smell better. You can find them on nearly every jobsite, in most work vehicles, and in offices. They’re small...
By Jordan Hollingsworth As with many of the conveniences of the modern job site, petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and oil are so familiar that we don’t give them a second thought. But that familiarity masks the inherent dangers associated with these...
By Safety Management GroupConstruction is an increasingly complex business. As buildings become more sophisticated and owners more sensitized to issues such as energy efficiency and “green” materials, and as organizations become smaller in an effort to...
Written By: Daniel Scott When most people think about industrial safety, the images that come to mind are of massive machinery in factories, the inherent dangers of construction sites, or the destructive potential of power tools. By comparison, office environments...
