Hot work dehydrates employees. A urine color chart can help workers monitor hydration by checking the shade of yellow. So says government agency NIOSH, the National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH has a new study, the first in 30 years. They say, during hot work, use urine color charts. Workers in a hot environment should monitor their urine color. Pale yellow is normal, deep amber like is bad. The worker needs to hydrate. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/hot-work-you-need-a-urine-color-chart/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Eye and face protection must be worn correctly by the worker and provided by the employer. Hear OSHA’s answers to important questions in this podcast. There are so many workplace hazards affecting eye and face safety. Here are some of the questions and answers from OSHA’s Eye and Face Protection eTool. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/eye-face-protection-answers-osha/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Emotional driving makes a person ten times as likely to get in a crash. Hear how driving mad or sad can be worse than using a cell phone behind the wheel. That’s a red flag for company owners and their employees who drive for work. Drivers who are noticeably emotionally agitated are a huge crash risk. A new study says the cause of vehicle crashes has shifted substantially in the last few years. Distraction, fatigue, impairment and other driver-related factors are now present in almost 90 percent of crashes. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/emotional-driving-spikes-crashes-tenfold/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Thermal imaging can make a safer workplace. Add-on thermal imaging devices are available for your smartphone. Soon we’ll see the first smartphone with a built-in thermal camera. Workplace safety and efficiency can increase with thermal imaging: • Electricians can discover electrical shorts and overheating wires. • Plumbers can trace hot water pipes and find water leaks. • Contractors can find missing insulation and air leaks. • Rescue workers can use it to find buried victims. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/thermal-imaging-with-a-smartphone/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Chemical hazards can lurk, unseen. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) says we should learn from the West Fertilizer Company explosion in Texas. Listen for their study results. Chemical_Hazards_And_Emergency_Planning-Creative_Safety_Supply-250X250The CSB recently released its investigation findings into the 2013 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in Texas. In this podcast, Dan Clark describes what caused the April 2013 chemical disaster in West, Texas. The CSB determined a combination of zoning laws, storage conditions, and lack of training and education led to the explosion killing 15, injuring 260, and destroying homes and businesses. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/chemical-hazards-and-emergency-planning/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Occupational skin disease (OSD) is caused by hazardous agents directly affecting the skin or creeping through it to wreak havoc with other body parts. In this podcast, Dan Clark tells how to prevent occupational skin disease, the 2nd most common type of occupational disease. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/occupational-skin-disease-stopped-cold/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Safety signs help companies be OSHA compliant based on ANSI Z535 safety sign and tag standards. Hear about four categories of workplace safety signs. OSHA adopted sign standards from American National Standards Institute, ANSI. OSHA also incorporates sign requirements from the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA. In this three minute podcast, Dan Clark spells out the requirements for: https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/safety-signs-you-need-in-the-workplace/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Portable containers for hazardous chemicals in the workplace can have NO labeling in only two situations, according to OSHA’s HazCom 2012 standard. In less than three minutes, Dan Clark explains how a worker may transfer a hazardous chemical from an HCS 2012-labeled container to a container with no warning labels whatsoever. Seems odd, doesn’t it? The current Hazard Communication Standard allows an employee to use a hazardous chemical in an unmarked container if (1) they are the only person to use it; and (2) only for the duration of their shift. Listen more more details. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/portable-containers-in-hazcom-2012/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Carbon monoxide hazards spike in winter when heaters and fuel-gobbling equipment are used indoors. Beware of poisoning from odorless carbon monoxide. Take three minutes to hear this important podcast about the dangers of CO, the invisible toxic gas. Dan Clark spells out carbon monoxide hazards and solutions for both the workplace and home. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/carbon-monoxide-hazards-in-winter/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Permit-required confined spaces aren’t just sewer pipes. Semi-trailers can be hazardous too. Hear about hazards in three trailer types, empty and loaded. In this 3½ minute podcast, Dan Clark describes OSHA’s standard on PRCS (permit-required confined spaces) for big-rigs. Dan also defines confined spaces (CS), and offers tips on CS and PRCS programs for safety managers. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/are-tractor-trailers-permit-required-confined-spaces/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Forklift blind spots are everywhere. Forward, back, left and right. Hear how to avoid collisions and injuries when hauling large loads or driving backward. Sometimes powered industrial trucks, a.k.a. forklifts, have more blind spots than areas of clear vision. A full load can completely block the forward view. Parts of the forklift itself are culprits in obscuring the operator’s view. In this podcast Dan Clark lists best practices for drivers and pedestrians around forklifts, including education of all staff, facility planning, and preparation for changing conditions. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/forklift-blind-spots-are-unforgiving/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Storm cleanup done by company employees can cause them injury. Listen for tips on how to protect workers from the four major dangers of storm cleanup. Slips, trips and falls, water hazards, electrical hazards, and debris hazards all need to be avoided if a company chooses to do its own cleanup after a storm. Dan Clark details each of the hazards and how employees can prepare for them. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/4-hazards-of-storm-cleanup/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
PPE vending machines in the workplace can increase safety and lower cost. Hear about the many types of machines and the five arguments for installing one. Personal protective equipment dispensed by machine can be a big benefit for workers. They have quicker access to the safety gear and don’t have to interrupt a manager, increasing efficiency. A PPE vending machine also better manages inventory. See links to suppliers in the transcript below. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/5-reasons-ppe-vending-machines/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
First aid kits in the workplace are mandated by OSHA. Hear about the minimum standard changes in 2015 and if a trained person is necessary. If a company’s work location is far from emergency services, OSHA requires that a person be qualified. For the workplace, OSHA refers to ANSI’s standard. Hear about the two types of kits in ANSI’s standard, Class A and Class B, and which is right for your company. ANSI revised its standard in 2015. See the transcript for a link to their Minimum Requirements. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/first-aid-requirements-for-workplaces/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
OSHA 300A is a safety form most employers need to display in the workplace by February 1 annually. Hear how to fill out the form and who is exempt.
An OSHA 300A form is an employer’s report to employees on recordable injuries for the previous year. In this podcast, Dan Clark explains what counts as a recordable injury.
Some businesses are exempt from posting the form. In 2015, classification of many businesses changed, requiring them to post OSHA 300A for the first time in 2016.
Temporary wiring (like an extension cord) gets the thumbs-up from OSHA in just four settings. In only a couple of minutes, Dan Clark lays out the details. In this podcast, hear about OSHA’s temp wiring standard in workplace remodeling, experimentation, holiday lighting and emergencies. We also list considerations when selecting and using extension cords and other flexible wiring. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/temporary-wiring-is-ok-in-only-4-situations/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Arc blast dangers can be minimized with a Hierarchy Of Controls. Hear the difference between arc flash and arc blast, plus the five methods to prevent them. The surface of the sun is cooler than an arc blast. This explosive electrical hazard can easily kill and injure. In this podcast we present the Hierarchy Of Controls to prevent arc blast: Elimination/Substitution; Engineering Controls; Administrative Controls; Work Practice Controls Personal Protective Equipment. The hearing protection requirement for arc blast in NFPA 70E 2015 is also reviewed. Stay safe with electricity! https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/arc-blast-hierarchy-of-controls/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Snow safety avoids on-the-job cold stress and slips, trips and falls. Plan ahead for the next flurry with the right PPE, equipment and vehicles. A snowfall adds additional hazards for outdoor workers. In this podcast, hear about the four major cold stresses caused by exposure to winter weather. Host Dan Clark offers tips on avoiding slips, trips and falls in snow. He also has advice on workers pacing themselves in cold weather, driving for work in snow, and how employers should plan and prepare for a blanket of white. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/5-tips-for-snow-safety-at-work/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Ladder safety begins with both the boss and the worker. Hear tips on how they can increase safety on freestanding and self-supporting ladders. Ladder safety rules are important for companies to establish and post. They should provide properly maintained ladders made from material appropriate for the job. Workers should inspect a ladder before each use. They must know how to properly use a ladder, including leveling, placing it at the correct angle and staying centered. In this podcast, Dan Clark offers more ladder safety tips in a follow-up to his previous podcast, Ladder Safety At Work. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/ladder-safety-at-work-pt-2/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.
Trench sloping at a safe angle prevents cave-ins and saves lives. Trench Right is the free mobile app designed to calculate safe slopes in all soil types. Trench collapses needlessly kill workers every year. In this podcast, Dan Clark describes the new tool to avoid collapses. Simply input excavation dimensions, soil type and penetrometer readings into Trench Right. It quickly reveals the safe angle for trench sloping. See the transcript for links to the iOS and Android versions of the free app. https://safetybrief.creativesafetysupply.com/trench-sloping-made-easy-with-mobile-app/ Contact Us! 1-866-777-1360, info@creativesafetysupply.com, or visit http://www.CreativeSafetySupply.com for more information.