By Safety Management Group Pressurized vessels are so common on construction sites and in industrial environments that people often don’t pay much attention to them. In simple terms, a pressurized vessel is any kind of closed storage tank or other container that holds liquids or gases at a greater than normal atmospheric pressure. The air tanks on compressors are one …

By Safety Management Group Safety sounds like a simple concept, but when it comes to workplace safety, that isn’t always the case. As our professionals interact with companies and workers in many industries, they frequently hear things that may sound plausible, but that really aren’t true. We’ve collected several of the most common here. Myth #1: Risks can be completely …

Annette Thom Safety Advisor Workers in all sorts of industries use, or may become exposed to, various types of hazardous chemicals and other substances on a regular basis. Sometimes those hazards are part of a production process, while in other instances it may be something used to clean a worksite. That’s why OSHA requires employers to develop a HazCom plan …

By Safety Management Group When most people think about farming, they imagine a quiet, peaceful life in the country. Few realize agriculture has long been one of the most dangerous occupations, with high injury and death rates. One of the most hazardous areas within agribusiness is the handling of grain. With the development of the ethanol industry, many new jobs …

John Boley, CHST, CIT, CUSP Lead Safety Advisor It happens on nearly every jobsite and nearly every day. A worker performs a task without using the proper safety procedures and a safety professional walks up to correct him. The mood becomes tense, the worker’s resentment is obvious, and the safety pro becomes defensive in return. The safety professional doesn’t understand …

By Safety Management Group Unlike many types of businesses, hospitals and other healthcare facilities don’t have the luxury of shutting their doors when there is a need for construction or renovation. During normal operations, a long list of Life Safety Measures protects the safety of patients, visitors, and workers. When construction, renovation, or maintenance projects create additional complexity, a new …

Tom McCoy Safety Advisor Regular workplace inspections play an essential role in preventing all sorts of incidents, injuries, illnesses, property damages, or loss of revenue. Some companies, largely out of a desire to reduce expenses, skip these important inspections. That creates a short-term solution at best — or at worst, an accident waiting to happen. The reality is critical examinations …

By Vincent Plank, CSP Safety Management Group You’ve probably seen ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) at home near bathroom and kitchen sinks, but how exactly do they work and where are they required? OSHA defines a GFCI as a device for the protection of personnel that can deenergize a circuit or portion of a circuit within an established period of time …

Christopher Herbert MPH, MSK Safety Advisor | Ergonomist If you work regularly at a desk, are you completely comfortable? After sitting for an hour reading emails or performing some other task, do you feel stiffness in your legs? Are there twinges of pain in your thighs? How about your neck? Often, when we notice pain and discomfort, we immediately think …

By Safety Management Group It’s a small number that carries a huge impact for a contractor’s business. It affects their ability to stay competitive and maintain profitability, and it gives owners and construction managers powerful insights into the contractor’s business philosophy. It says so much that owners and CMs use it to decide whether the contractor’s workers can set foot …