Although the top violations didn’t change, there was some movement within the list. Fall Protection – General Requirements remains the #1 violation for the 13th year in a row, followed by Hazard Communication and Ladders.

The list is based on data from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. It was announced at the National Safety Council’s 2023 Safety Congress & Expo.

The Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2023

1. Fall Protection, general requirements (1926.501) – 7,271 violations (+2,011 vs. 2022)
2. Hazard Communication Standard, general requirements (1910.1200) – 3,213 violations (+789 vs. 2022)
3. Ladders, construction (1926.1053) – 2,143 violations (+2,011 vs. 2022)
4. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (1926.451) – 2,859 violations (+801 vs. 2022)
5. Powered Industrial Trucks, general requirements (1910.178) – 2,561 violations (+812 vs. 2022)
6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), general requirements (1910.147) – 2,554 violations (+577 vs. 2022)
7. Respiratory Protection, general industry (1910.134) – 2,481 violations (+296 vs. 2022)
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503) – 2,112 violations (+556 vs. 2022)
9. Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) – 2,074 violations (+673 vs. 2022)
10. Machinery and Machine Guard, general requirements (1910.212) – 1,644 violations (+274 vs. 2022)

This list shows what OSHA has been watching, which makes it a good place to start when reviewing safety needs of your business or making a safety plan. Fall Protection is clearly an area of increased focus for OSHA inspectors.

For comparison, the 2022 Top 10 were:

1. Fall Protection, general requirements (1926.501) – 5,260 violations
2. Hazard Communication Standard, general requirements (1910.1200) – 2,424 violations
3. Respiratory Protection, general industry (1910.134) – 2,185 violations
4. Ladders, construction (1926.1053) – 2,143 violations
5. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (1926.451) – 2,058 violations
6. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), general requirements (1910.147) – 1,977 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks, general requirements (1910.178) – 1,749 violations (+23.2% vs. 2021)
8. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503) – 1,556 violations
9. Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) – 1,401 violations
10. Machinery and Machine Guard, general requirements (1910.212) – 1,370 violations

Additional Resources:

• Review the top 10 OSHA violations of 2021 and 2020.
• Easily make custom OSHA and other safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

The post Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2023 appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Follow These 5 Electrical Safety Tips To Avoid Trouble

It’s easy to become too comfortable when you’ve had a lot of experience working around electricity. But no matter how experienced you are, you should always remain on your guard. Think through every situation before you work with any objects that have electrical currents flowing through them. These tips will help you keep yourself safe.

1. Don’t Let Electrical Equipment Get Wet

Water and electricity make a deadly combination. While this is common knowledge, many electrical accidents happen because people become careless around electricity and water. To stay safe, keep water and all other types of liquid at least 5 feet from any source of electricity. In environments with moisture, install ground fault circuit interrupters to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock, overheating and other electrical incidents.

2. Properly Ground Equipment

Proper grounding of equipment is one of the most important electrical safety tips you can follow. Improper grounding of equipment increases the risk of electrocution. Refer to grounding guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure you’re following grounding requirements. This will not only help keep you safe but also help you avoid any penalties due to noncompliance.  

3. Cover Any Exposed Electrical Parts

Open power distribution units, temporary lighting and detached insulation parts on electrical cords can all be hazards. It’s important to immediately secure these items by repairing them or using appropriate guarding mechanisms to keep them covered.

4. Do Not Fix Electrical Equipment Unless Qualified

One of the most important electrical safety tips is to never attempt to fix electrical equipment or tools unless you’re qualified to do so. You should always contact someone who is qualified to make the types of electrical repairs you need.

If you’re not sure whether a piece of equipment poses a risk of electrocution, look for cuts, abrasions or cracks on any wires, cords or cables. If you see any but you aren’t qualified to fix them, contact someone who is. If you are qualified to make electrical repairs to equipment, always follow established Lockout Tagout procedures and use lockout tagout safety tags to protect yourself and other workers on site.

5. Use Appropriate Signage

In areas where potentially hazardous electricity is in use, post signage to identify hazards and keep everyone safe. For example, install safety signs near high-voltage power lines or electrical panels. Use other signs to identify shock hazards and electrostatic-sensitive areas. A wide variety of electrical safety signs are available for almost any situation.

Use these five electrical safety tips to help minimize risks on the job site.

Electrical Safety Resources:

• Learn 5 things to keep in mind when implementing a LOTO program.
• Review electrical equipment safety guidelines for worksites.
• How to avoid hazardous arc flash sparks
• Browse electrical safety signs and voltage labels at ComplianceSigns.com.

The post 5 Essential Electrical Safety Tips appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

What Types of Workplace Safety Tags Are There?

There are four standard OSHA signal words used on tags, and those words indicate varying levels of workplace hazard.

• Danger: Only used for major hazards with a risk of serious injury or death
• Caution: Used for minor hazards, situations where possible safety risks might cause less serious injuries
• Warning: Used when a hazard risk is lower than danger tags but greater than caution tags
• Biohazard: Always required for any immediate or potential biological hazards, including containers, rooms, equipment or animals

OSHA Standard 1910.145 requires that signal words on a tag must be visible from a distance of at least 5 feet. This means a letter height of 0.16 to 0.33 inches, depending on the surroundings.

What Do Safety Tags Mean?

A proper safety tag includes two key elements to help convey its meaning:

Color

OSHA has specific requirements for the colors you choose for your tags. Using the right color is essential to communicate clear messaging to employees:

• Red: Danger tags, emergency instructions and safety cans
• Yellow: Caution tags, falling hazards and some containers for corrosive materials
• Orange: Warning tags, often used for equipment maintenance hazards
• Fluorescent orange-red: Biohazard tags for blood and other biosafety risks
• Black/white/yellow: Boundary tags, often with “Caution” in the label
• Green: Safety tags related to first aid equipment, eye protection and safety equipment locations
• Blue: Information tags with general info, such as notices

Major Message or Hazard Symbol

Every safety tag should have a signal word or easy-to-identify symbol, such as the biological hazard symbol, as well as a “major message” that indicates the specific hazardous condition or instruction to be communicated. Common major messages include:

• Do Not Operate
• Out of Order
• Electrical Hazard
• Do Not Enter
• Do Not Use

Status tags provide key information such as inventory levels or inspection records, or the status of an items such as gas cylinders, ladders and scaffolds, or other equipment.

When Should You Use Tags or Signs?

A tag isn’t meant to be a replacement for a warning sign. Tags are usually designed to be temporary to identify or address:

• Temporary risks: A tag can help you warn employees when a safety risk is temporary, such as a piece of equipment in an unusual location.
• Interim warnings: Until a permanent safety sign is in place, you need a tag to highlight risks.
• Ongoing monitoring: Tags can be a convenient way to keep inspection records close to the item you need to monitor, such as forklifts or pumps.

In other words, tags complement safety signs for a safer workplace.

How Can You Encourage Employees To Read Your Tags?

Creating an environment of workplace safety requires training. Walking your team through different scenarios can help them feel comfortable using different tags.

Safety Tag Resources:

• OSHA 1910.145, Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags
• Using Lockout Tags to save lives
• Learn about Flap Tags for harsh environments
• Browse safety tags at ComplianceSigns.com

The post How To Read a Safety Tag appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

If you think of safety tags and your mind jumps to lockout/tagout procedures, that’s good! Those are very important tags to have and to use. But, there are other tags that you need in the workplace. Here are six types of safety tags you need and why they’re important.

Lockout/Do Not Operate Tags

Most companies have machines. And, like all machines, that equipment needs work from time to time. It may be a significant project, or it could be a simple maintenance issue. In either case, you will shut down equipment and machinery for someone to work on it safely.

That’s where lockout-tagout (LOTO) tags come in. Lockout/tagout tags let other workers know that the machine is currently being serviced and that they should not try to turn it on.

In 2019, lockout/tagout was the 4th most commonly cited violation by OSHA. The penalty for lockout/tagout citations in 2019 was as much as $13,260 per violation. Additional fines of up to $13,260 are added per violation per day past the deadline to fix the issue.

Ladder & Scaffold Tags

Falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries. Improperly used, constructed, or maintained ladders and scaffolding are accidents waiting to happen.

Scaffolding and ladders came in #3 and #6 on OSHA’s most commonly cited violations for 2019. Ladder and scaffold tags are a big part of the solution. These tags communicate to employees which ladders and scaffolding have been inspected, which are safe to use, and which are unsafe.

Ladder and Scaffold Tags

OSHA citations for ladder or scaffolding violations can cost $13,000. Additional fines are added for each day past the deadline to remedy the issue. Having the proper type of tags in place improves communication and reduces the risk of improper use of ladders and scaffolding, which reduces your risk of a hefty fine.

Inspection Tags

Regular equipment inspections reduce the chances of equipment failure and worker injury – and help ensure your equipment will be ready for use when needed. But, you need to keep track of your inspections, so you know when they are done and what the results are for each one.

Inspection tags make it easy. These types of safety tags are made so you can identify the piece of equipment, the location, as well as the date of each inspection, and the name of the person who signed off on it.

Inspection Tags

Some items, like portable fire extinguishers, are required to have an annual maintenance inspection. Others, like forklifts, need daily inspections. Keeping inspection tags on hand and on equipment is an easy way to keep track of when each item is inspected and by whom.

Machine Tags

Machines are an integral part of many businesses, but they also come with significant injury risk, especially when they are not in good working condition. Keep tags on hand that will alert employees when a machine is not operating or should not be turned on for any reason. Without the proper machine safety tags, a worker could fire up a faulty machine without knowing it and cause injury to themselves or others in the area.

Machine Safety Tags

Barricade Tags

Barricades serve a simple purpose, to keep people out of a restricted area. Barricade tags are a great way to add a little more information to the situations.

By adding barricade tags, you can alert workers to the reason the barricade is there, who is authorized to enter, and who is in charge of the barricade should there be any questions.

Confined Space Tags

Working in confined spaces adds an extra level of danger. That’s especially true if that space has one of the following OSHA recognized hazards:

• a potentially hazardous atmosphere.
• material that can engulf an entrant.
• walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant.
• other serious physical hazards such as unguarded machines or exposed live wires.

A confined area meeting any of these criteria must be identified by the employer who is obligated to inform employees who may be exposed, of the existence and location of such spaces and their hazards.

Confined space tags help to identify these areas, clearly marking them as a “permit-required” workspace.

Confined Space Tags

Small Tags That Make a Big Difference

Although safety tags are less than 6 inches tall, they can have a big impact in your workplace. Proper tagging throughout your facility is a key component of a safety program. Not only do tags communicate vital information, they are required by OSHA regulations and can save your company a lot of money in fines.

From equipment inspections to confined spaces, these 6 different types of safety tags help to keep your team safe and your workplace free from costly accidents.

Additional Resources:

• Compliance-Resource Bulletin on Lockout / Tagout
• OSHA Lockout/Tagout page
• OSHA Lockout/Tagout training
• NIOSH Lockout/Tagout Proecdures bulletin
• Browse all types of safety tags at ComplianceSigns.com

The post The 6 Types of Safety Tags You Need appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Among the elements of a safety program, lockout/tagout (LOTO) is one of the most important pieces. LOTO is among the top most frequently cited OSHA standards. OSHA estimates that 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries are prevented each year by compliance with LOTO standards.

So how can you stay on top of this important standard and protect your employees and business? Read on to learn five things to keep in mind when developing a LOTO program.

1. Take Training Seriously

To properly follow the LOTO standard, employees must be trained on the aspects of the energy control program, LOTO procedures, and OSHA standards. Some businesses simply run through the motions on this requirement, and their program suffers.

Because it’s the foundation of your LOTO program, take this training seriously. With the right approach, you can maximize the effectiveness of this training. Some potential ideas to incorporate are:

• Make sure the trainers are experts in the material they present.
• Structure the training to be activity based where possible, rather than lecture based.
• Provide enough room and materials, and a good instructor to trainee ratio, to make the training environment appropriate.
• Include methods to check whether trainees understand the material.
• Involve employees that perform LOTO in the training development.

When you take the time to think through the nuances of your LOTO training, it can pay off in improved awareness of the process. Concepts are better understood and the whole team is safer as a result.

2. Document Visually Where Possible

Of course, documentation of your LOTO program is essential, but how you go about documenting it can make a huge difference. Becoming more visual in nature can be a great way to improve understanding in your LOTO program.

For example, diagrams, or pictures with clearly labeled lockout points may serve your operation better than paragraphs of text. These can be hung near the equipment, so they are always available.

Another option to make things more visual is to go digital and use devices like tablets near the LOTO process. With a digitized LOTO system, employees can go a new level of understanding.

3. Standardize LOTO Process

Standardizing your LOTO process will help promote the safety at your site. This can mean many things, but the goal is to improve clarity of the LOTO process overall by always following a standard method.

For example, every procedure should follow a similar cadence. Additionally, all forms and tags should be filled out in the same way. In another example, it should be clear that the name, date, and reason for LOTO are listed on the tag. Everyone should be certain on the criteria for removing a lock and closing the LOTO procedure.

The roles in LOTO process should be very clear to all employees. Meaning, the authorized employee (or person locking out) and the affected employee must be understood.

Adherence to a standard process will aid in LOTO process understanding, which will help with overall compliance.

4. Organize Your Lockout/Tagout System

The organization will go a long way in tightening up your LOTO system. An organized LOTO process improves efficiency, promotes standardization, and reinforces the importance of the program.

Purchase high quality LOTO materials such as lockout tags, locks, and boxes. Quality materials help employees take pride in their work and show that you are serious about safety.

Think about establishing a LOTO board or station or organizing your existing space. If you have everything in its proper place, employees know where exactly to find each LOTO item. This can be taken a step further by using specific color locks for different job functions. That way you can look at locks and know exactly who is working on the equipment.

Have a clear system for marking lockout tags. The same information should always be in the same positions on the tags. (This also emphasizes standardization.)

5. Regularly Assess and Make Changes if Needed

As with any entrenched system, it is always beneficial to hold regular reviews. Equipment deteriorates, you purchase new assets and LOTO devices, OSHA changes some if its safety recommendations. Go through your LOTO program and procedures periodically with representatives of each step of the process.

Communication is important for this step. Engage your employees to provide feedback from all levels and take the feedback seriously.

Then, use these employee comments to act. Adjust your LOTO program and tailor it to your specific business needs. The whole program is stronger when all employees feel they have a say in the process.

Conclusion:

Lockout/Tagout continues to be a critical component of safety programs in manufacturing.  It remains one of the last lines of “defense” for personnel working on equipment.  As they are putting themselves at risk, they will depend on the integrity and accuracy of the LOTO program. Following these tips will ensure that your LOTO program is in top condition, and your employees are safe when they are performing important downtime servicing.

About the Author:

Bryan Christiansen is the founder and CEO of Limble CMMS. Limble is a modern, easy to use mobile CMMS software that takes the stress and chaos out of maintenance by helping managers organize, automate, and streamline their maintenance operations.

The post 5 Things To Keep in Mind When Implementing a LOTO Program appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Here are some electrical equipment safety guidelines to help prevent these incidents before they occur:

Start With On-Site Risk Assessment

Electrical safety starts with an on-site risk assessment to determine where problems might occur. This step includes identifying potential hazards and anything that could interfere with electrical equipment, creating a shock or fire risk. The assessment should also include things like the location of power lines, both overhead and buried, so that there’s no chance crew members accidentally connect with or cut through them.

Maintain and Enforce Lockout/Tagout Procedures

Lockout/tagout procedures are one of the most useful tools in the electrical equipment safety arsenal. According to OSHA regulations, workers must complete any servicing of electrical equipment while the tools or equipment are in a de-energized state. Lockout/tagout procedures ensure that no one attempts to turn on a piece of equipment in need of repair while a service crew is working on it, preventing accidents on the job site.

Provide Sufficient Training Before and During Employment

When it comes to electrical equipment safety, training is the most important thing to remember. Electrocution is one of the fatal four — the four most common causes of construction worker fatality. Along with falls, being struck by an object and getting caught between two objects, the fatal four are responsible for more than half of construction worker deaths in 2014.

Training, both before a crew member enters a job site and throughout their employment, can prevent common accidents. Crew members should receive comprehensive training for each piece of equipment they’ll use during the course of their duties. Electrical equipment safety guidelines training should be reinforced and refreshed regularly.

Create and Practice an Emergency Plan

In addition to comprehensive training, worksites need to establish an emergency plan to handle an electrical emergency if one arises. This procedure should include a list of responsibilities for each employee, as well as a list of first-aid steps and which first-responders to contact if necessary.

During an electrical emergency, the first step should always be to shut down the power to the emergency area. For a home or building, someone can use the circuit breaker. On a job site, however, it might be challenging to shut off the power quickly enough to make a difference. For sites that use temporary power hookups, companies equip them with an emergency shut-off and ensure that everyone on the site knows where it is and how to use it.

Be Aware of Environmental Hazards

When using electrical equipment, crewmembers should also be aware of any environmental hazards that could increase their risk of electrical shock. These risks include water in the area that could conduct electricity, poor weather that could lead to power surges, sunlight that could make equipment overheat and anything else that might impede work while creating a safety hazard.

Environmental hazards can change from site to site and day to day. As a result, construction organizations must ensure that everyone is aware of any potential dangers and be vigilant for them.

Electrical Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility

Electrical equipment appears on nearly every job site around the globe, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure workers use it safely. These electrical equipment safety guidelines, from implementing training solutions to developing emergency procedures, can help managers, supervisors and business owners keep their crew safe while ensuring productivity and worksite efficiency.

Electrical Safety Resources:

• Resource Bulletin on arc flash safety
• Resource Bulletin on NFPA 70E
• Resource Bulletin on Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
• OSHA lockout/tagout tutorial
• Browse electrical safety signs and labels at ComplianceSigns.com

The post Electrical Equipment Safety Guidelines for Worksites appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Humans are good conductors of electricity. This means if the open electric circuit comes in contact with our body, we’ll get a shock. The electric current will pass through our body from one point to another causing great pain, burns, damage to the tissues, nerves and muscles. This could even lead to death.

Types of Workplace Electrical Injuries

The four types of injuries that can occur due to electricity are:

• Electric shock
• Burns
• Falls
• Electrocution

How Injuries Can Happen

• Direct contact with exposed electrical circuits or energized conductors.
• Electricity arcs (due to exposed energized conductors or circuit) circulating in the air can pass through a person who is grounded.
• If the skin gets in touch with the heat generated from electric arcs, it burns the internal tissues.
• The light emitted from an electric arc flash (UV and IR) can cause damage to the eyes.
• When the potential pressure is released from an arc flash, there is an arc blast, which can collapse your lungs, cause physical injuries, or create noise that can damage hearing.

Common Electrical Hazards

Most injuries are a result of the following:

• Poorly installed, faulty and/or ill-maintained electrical equipment.
• Faulty wiring.
• Overloaded or overheated outlets.
• Use of flexible leads and extension cables.
• Incorrect use of replacement fuses.
• Use of electrical equipment with wet hands or near the source of water.

It is important that you educate your office workers about electrical safety. Here are some important tips to prevent electrical incidents.

Electrical Safety Signs

Tips to Prevent Workplace Electrical Incidents

• Unplug or switch off electrical appliances when not in use or while cleaning, repairing or servicing.
• Ensure that all electrical appliances are turned off at the end of the day.
• Don’t forcefully plug into an outlet if it doesn’t fit.
• Refrain from running electrical cords across doorways, under the carpets, or in areas that witness regular activities.
• Maintain a clearance of at least 3 feet from all electrical panels.
• Use only equipment that is double-insulated and properly grounded.
• Don’t overload the outlets.
• Ensure that two extension cords are not plugged together.
• Only use electrical equipment that is approved by a national testing laboratory. Buy electrical equipment from trusted electrical liquidators who sell good quality electrical surplus materials.
• Pay attention to the warning signs. Equipment may heat up, spark, smoke or make weird noise; Identify the signs and immediately take it out of service.
• Regularly check for defects in cords and equipment. Report immediately if any.
• Place a cover or guard to exposed electrical components or wires.
• While unplugging, grip the plug and pull. Don’t pull the cord from a distance.
• Do not use electrical equipment or appliances with wet hands or near water and wet surfaces.
• Clearly identify potential electrical hazards, such as electrical panels, with appropriate safety signs.

Proper employee training plays a crucial role in avoiding electrical injuries at work. Fortunately, most of the electrical hazards can be easily prevented and controlled with a little caution and regular checks.

Electrical Safety Resources:

• Electrical safety while working from home
• OSHA electrical safety page
• NIOSH electrical safety page
• Electrical safety signs, labels and tags at ComplianceSigns

Learn More:

• Electrical Equipment Safety Guidelines for Worksites
• What to Know About Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Signs
• What to Know About Arc Flash Safety Signs

Author bio – Jeson Pitt is a professional electrician who works with the marketing department of D&F Liquidators and regularly writes to share his knowledge while enlightening people about electrical products and solving their electrical dilemmas. He’s got the industry insights that you can count on along with years of experience in the field. Jeson lives in Hayward, CA and loves to explore different cuisines that the food trucks in the Bay area have to offer.

The post Electrical Safety Tips: Preventing Workplace Electrical Injuries appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

In 2015 alone, eighty-two construction workers died from electrocutions, per the Center for Construction Research and Training. 

Although the number of electrocutions on construction sites has reduced throughout the years, the number of injuries and deaths that still occur are unacceptable. Electrocution deaths commonly are caused by direct or indirect exposure to more than 220 volts of electricity via power lines, transformers, converters and the like.

In a high hazard profession such as the construction industry, workers are often exposed to electrical energy while completing their daily responsibilities. Injury costs can reach $15 million or more in direct and indirect costs to the company. 

Ensure your workers are aware of the potential electrical risks by posting voltage and shock hazard signs to alert them of high voltage. 

What’s the most common major electrical hazard in the construction industry?

Overhead and buried power lines carry extremely high and hazardous voltage. Fatalities are possible as electrocution is the main risk. However, burns and falls from elevations are additional hazards when working in the area of high voltage power lines. Workers may not realize that cranes are not the only equipment that reaches overhead power lines.

Safety measures like regular tool inspections and maintenance and precautionary measures like using nonconductive ladders and cover-up equipment can help prevent electrical-related injuries and deaths.

What does OSHA say about preventing electrical-related injuries – even death when working on a construction site?

Before work begins, be sure that:

• Equipment/activity is located within a safe working distance from power lines.
• The utility company has to de-energized and visibly ground the power lines or installed insulated sleeves on power lines.
• Flagged warning lines have been installed to mark horizontal and vertical power line clearance distances.
• Tools and materials used are nonconductive.

OSHA recommends identifying major electrocution hazards. They’ve created the BE SAFE acronym to help workers and employers by recognizing, avoiding and protecting against the high voltage hazards below.

B-E S-A-F-E when working around electricity:

B = Burns: A burn is the most common shock-related injury and can result from three types of electricity:

• Electrical
• Arc/Flash
• Thermal Contact

E = Electrocution: Electrocution is fatal. Electrocution results when a human is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy.

S = Shock: Shock results when the body becomes part of the electrical circuit; current enters the body at one point and leaves at another. Electrical shock is defined as a reflex response to the passage of electric current through the body.

A = Arc Flash/Blast: An arc flash is the sudden release of electrical energy through the air when a high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between conductors. An arc flash gives off thermal radiation (heat) and bright, intense light that can cause burns. High-voltage arcs can also produce considerable pressure waves by rapidly heating the air and creating a blast.

F = Fire: Most electrical distribution fires result from problems with “fixed wiring” such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords (such as extension and appliance cords), plugs, receptacles, and switches also cause electrical fires.

E = Explosions: An explosion can occur when electricity ignites an explosive mixture of material in the air.

Construction workers on job sites are often working at various heights, in extreme locations and need to be informed and protected from serious injuries – including how to prevent and watch out for potential electrocution.

ComplianceSigns.com has arc flash signs and many other electrical safety signs and labels you need to keep your construction and utility workers safe.

Download an electrical safety for non-electricians card from CPWR.

The post High Voltage Hazards in the Construction Industry appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Realizing the need to foster safety at every level of an organization is critical for cultivating safe behaviors. Identification solutions like safety products reinforce the importance of making safer choices. But customizing safety messages goes beyond standard identification. Customization can create a safety-first culture with unique messages.

With hundreds of safety messages out there, you don’t want to settle for a standard stock message. Identify a unique-to-your-business hazard with custom safety signs and labels. 

Customized identification will help you create a safety-first culture in your workplace. Here are a few benefits to customizing safety signs and information items.

1) Provide clarity – Custom safety signs, labels, tags, permits and banners give employers a better, more accurate understanding of safety messages and hazards in the work environment. Instead of settling on a generic safety message, a custom product will provide better clarification of the hazard. 

2) Increase safety awareness – Sometimes you need a large sign to capture the attention of your audience. Customizing your product will increase safety awareness and create a safety-first culture. When workers are aware of safety practices in unique and visual ways, they’re safer. The best custom identification experts offer a large selection of materials, sizes, color options, finishing, and more to help you communicate your messages.

3) Stay compliant – With custom products you can create completely unique signs and labels that also follow OSHA and ANSI standards. Whether you need to identify hazardous situations, remind employees to when to wear PPE, or need to inform others about chemicals in your facility, custom safety signs and tags allow you to have the exact message you need so you can stay compliant.

4) Employee involvement – One of the most effective ways to get your employees buy-in to your safety-first culture is to get them involved. Get co-workers excited about safety and ask them to conduct a walk-through of the facility.  Find ways you can work together to come up with unique safety messages that complement your culture.  Include your company logo, safety themes or images of employees to capture the attention of others. You’ll be surprised with the results – because chances are you’ll realize some of the messages weren’t effective and needed to be updated.

5) Create safety champion – Customized messages talk to your workers – the same group of people you spend most waking hours with. You know what resonates with them because you know them. Communicate your safety messages in a unique way that sticks and keep them safe for life.

Contact ComplianceSigns.com for your custom safety signage solutions. We’re making the world a safer place, one step at a time.

The post Why Customization Can Enhance a Safety-First Culture appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

All industries have their fair share of hazards but none compare to the daily challenges of utility worker safety. Many utility workers are required to perform work in the pouring rain in the dark of night to repair hazardous energy, like an electrical or water outage. Whether working overhead, underground or in the streets, utility workers are regularly faced with serious risks on the job, in unstable environments often created by Mother Nature.

Before a utility worker completes their task, not only are they subject to the elements – they work with gas, electrical hazards, and vehicles – all while working at various heights. At any given moment, utility line workers could be seconds away from potential injuries – even death – if they don’t follow safety procedures.

Failure to identify dangers on the job is a recipe for a serious workplace accident. Safety procedures are critical to ensure utility worker safety from such hazards. Safety signs and labels provide an effective way to communicate hazards related to utility work – such as electrocutions, trench collapse, work above, and high voltage, in addition to reminding workers to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Although signs and labels are imperative, OSHA standards for keeping utility workers safe is key.

What are the OSHA standards that protect workers in the utilities industry?

• Electrical  General Requirements – (1910.303)
• Electrical Wiring Methods – (1910.305)
• Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution – (1910.269)
• Personal Protective Equipment, Subpart I – (1910)
• Fall Protection – (1926.501)
• Hazard Communication – (1910.1200)
• Respiratory Protection – (1910.134)
• Lockout/Tagout – (1910.147)

What are the most important hazards associated with utility work?

All hazards are important but some are more common than others. For instance, the construction industry had the highest number of electrocutions, followed by the manufacturing, transportation, communications, and public utilities. According to OSHA, the most important hazards associated with work performed closely to electric power generation, transmission, and distribution are:

• Electrocution
• Falls
• Confined spaces
• Fires and explosions
• Sprains, strains, and fractures
• Environmental stress

Avoid the above hazards and ensure utility worker safety by following OSHA Standards, using the proper personal protective equipment and providing employee training. Additionally, with a front line safety leader, such as a supervisor, foreman or operations manager, they can consistently enforce safety on the jobsite.

When it comes to safety – you can’t cut corners! OSHA requires employees to either (1) be trained as qualified employees, or (2) must be undergoing on-the-job training, have demonstrated an ability to perform duties safety at their level of training, and be under the direct supervision of a qualified employee.

With the proper training, procedures, and safety programs in place, accidents can be avoided. The idea is to set realistic goals so your managers and supervisors are committed to implementing a strong safety program. But don’t stop there! You’ll need to continue to promote safety to better protect the men and women in the general and construction industry who work on or near electrical power lines every day.

Utility Safety Resources:

• ComplianceSigns.com has all your utility sign and label needs.
• Read more about the role of safety signage in pipeline safety.

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