‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the North Pole every creature was stirring, safety was taking its toll. OSHA threatened a shut down if Santa didn’t use care. Would St. Nicholas even be there? The children were nestled all snug In their beds; visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. Santa and the elves scrambling day and night, prayed they’d be in compliance...

T’was the night before Christmas (12:01 A.M. EST 12/25/2006) and all through the house (single family, masonry veneer 1 1/2 story with basement, 1128 ground floor sq. ft. 5-6 corners, territory 68, PC 1) Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (through pride of ownership and excellent maintenance.) The ( flame retardant) stockings were hung by the (contractor installed) chimney with...

Buckling up right is a snap!  And it can keep you out of the hospital. … HomeRead More »

The IRSST has recently published a technical data sheet that provides companies with a means of verifying the content of a lockout program.  Lockout is defined as placing a lock or tag on an energy-isolating device following an established procedure, indicating that the energy-isolating device is not to be operated until the removal of the lock or tag following an established procedure. A lockout...

EXCELLENT video for those of us that have Hazardous Locations and utilize “explosion proof” equipment.  This is the type of equipment that contains an explosion within the device and does NOT allow the flammable atmosphere outside the device to be ignited.  This video CLEARLY shows how easy it is to DEFEAT this safety critical feature, simply by scar the flange edge!  I bet...

OUTSTANDING 3-minute video from WorkSafe BC on Guarding and LOTO; but the best part of the video is they use a conveyor system as the focal point of the LOTO and Guarding discussion.  The video could be used as a “Conveyor Hazard Identification Training” video. … HomeRead More »

This is a version of the presentation I use at the safety conferences I speak at.  I attempt to highlight those “little items” that can make a HUGE difference in safely entering a PRCS. … HomeRead More »

We have all seen a blower the size of a lunch box attempting to ventilate a 500,000-gallon vessel!  The permit calls for a “blower,” so to meet the permit conditions; the team grabs the nearest available blower and NOT necessarily the CORRECT BLOWER!  However, on the other side of the argument, most written CS entry programs and training materials do NOT provide the knowledge...

On October 17th, 2011, ANSI approved the ISEA revision of the 207 Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests. The official designation is ANSI // ISEA 207-2011. Printed copies will be available for purchase through ISEA before the end of 2011. … HomeRead More »

EVERY business that has workers entering Permit-Required Confined Spaces should seriously consider updating their written program to include this type of detail and specifications.  COUPLED WITH OSHA’s 1910.146, these requirements regarding the means used to isolate the space and test the atmosphere are an EXCEPTIONAL improvement over OSHA’s basic definition of “isolation”...