http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2014_28.pdf

    2014 Fatality Tracker Electrical 25 (2013 = 32) (2012 = 68) Forklift/Manlift 29 (2013=62) (2012 = 52) Mining* 388 2013=87*) (2012 = 92*) *no longer includes China Explosions 63 (2013=194) (2012 = 241) Cranes 14 (2013=51) (2012 = 52) Falls 59 (2013=106) (2012 = 99) Work Zone 15 (2013=42) (2012 = 62) Trenching 8 (2013=25) (2012 = 44) LOTO/Guards 23 (2013=31) (2012 = 44) Confined Space 26...

Report Date: 4 June 2014 Scissor Lift Accident – 3 June 2014 – Facility 9555 Contractor personnel involved and contractor owned equipment. The scissor lift failed while in raised position. The lift lowered in an uncontrolled manner, which resulted in the injury of the two personnel. The personnel were transported to the hospital for evaluation. Initial report of failure was hydraulic failure....

Can you spot the hazard/unsafe act in this photo?  Yep, someone has parked in the fire lane!  If I were a betting man I would say these workers are the owners of the cars parked in the FIRE LANE below them!!!!

As end-of-summer harvest time nears, grain storage facilities will be gearing up to accept crops from farmers’ fields. Many of these products produce combustible dusts that can result in catastrophic explosions when there is a suitable mix of air and fuel, as well as an ignition source such as a hot bearing, overheated motor, misaligned conveyor belt, or when welding, cutting and brazing are taking...

This incident is a PERFECT example of how work within the space can CREATE its own HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERE!  This tank was sitting in a lay-down yard and had been painted on the inside.  Not sure if it was a “new” tank or one that was being reworked, but nonetheless it was NOT attached to a process or anything for that matter at the time of this accident.  The vessel was being...

OSHA recognizes that in some situations, violations of certain standards which require the employer to have a written program to address a hazard, or to make a written certification (e.g., hazard communication, personal protective equipment, permit-required confined spaces, and others), are perceived to be “paperwork deficiencies” rather than critically important implementation problems....

This new Respiratory Protection Directive updates OSHA’s inspection procedures and enforcement policies since the previous update, September 25, 1998. This Instruction provides guidance to the national, regional, and area offices for performing compliance inspections involving OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134. This Instruction also serves to inform industry, employer and...

Have you ever seen several full tanker trailers parked without their mode of transport under them or a railcar with the Class 3 Flammable placard hooked up to the process and being used as a storage tank? Although OSHA’s 1910.106 makes no specific prohibition against this practice, I would like to point out that the International Fire Code (IFC) of which many states in the USA have adopted as their...

A number of years ago the SAFTENG team was asked to aid in an investigation involving a flash fire that injured a worker. The State Fire Marshall was able to establish the flash fire was ignited OUTSIDE of the atmospheric vessel. We were challenged with finding out how and why. This incident was traced back to an IMPROPER change to the vessel which was NOT identified via the MOC that was completed...