MANY THANKS to Bob Cornett @ MSHA and his safety sharing group for this info. “No one wants to learn by mistakes, but we cannot learn enough from successes to go beyond the state of the art.” Henry Petroski Creating a safe work environment, like any other organization-wide initiative, can only be assured when everyone, in every job, takes ownership and accountability for making the workplace safe. First,...

I wonder how many safety pro’s have thought about this hazard when doing a JSA on loading/unloading trucks. … HomeRead More »

Not to make light of a very serious hazard, I just could not resist passing this on.  You know it is time to implement your heat safety program, when… … HomeRead More »

by John Newquist, Assistant Regional Administrator at DOL-OSHA It seems like everyone has a list. Here are four that I thought had some good advice. My #1 tip is use state consultation….. … HomeRead More »

MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety”for their support! Polyone since 7/11, S-Con, Inc since 7/11, Michels Corporation since 7/11, Fluor-B&W Portsmouth since 6/2011, and Suzlon since 2009 2011 Fatality Tracker Electrical 44 (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 53 (2010 = 110) (2009=88) Mining 136 (2010...

If you have ever pumped gasoline for your vehicle, you have seen all the warning signs about static and cell phones.  I will reserve my comments about cell phones @ gas pumps causing fires, but one thing I can almost guarantee is that if your PLASTIC gas can is sitting on the carpeted floor board inside your car, or in the bed of your truck (especially if you have a bed liner), or you choose to...

In my last article, I wrote about “grounding” and the types of hazards that can be introduced into a hazardous process involving flammable liquids and gases. A worker moving through air will generate a static charge. It is our hope that this charge will go to the ground as fast as it is generated, thus resulting in NO ACCUMULATION of a charge. If the worker does not dissipate the charge...

Most everyone who works around flammable liquids knows about bonding and grounding; but, do workers and engineers really UNDERSTAND the principles behind bonding and grounding. In this article, I will try to explain “grounding” in very simple terms in the hopes that more workers can understand exactly what they are trying to achieve when they use bonding and grounding on containers AND...

Just mention the letters “MOC” to an engineer or manager at a PSM/RMP facility and watch the eyes roll, the sighs let out, the clearing of throats, and so on.  MOC is probably in the top three of the most despised elements of PSM/RMP; and yet, to no safety professionals surprise, failure of doing an MOC has found its way into almost every PSM/RMP related incident or audit report since...

This week EPA announced a MAJOR RMP settlement agreement with one of the nation’s largest Ammonia distributors.  This settlement agreement is HUGE in that it requires the company to install fixed Ammonia detectors at 14 different facilities in 12 states and over 2 EPA regions.  These detectors are direct wired to the local FD, and not sure how, but surrounding neighbors will also be...

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(Author Unknown) Sandwiched tightly between Top Brass and the teaming masses sits a wild-eyed individual madly singing a safety tune. He’s the most misunderstood, maligned and unsung person in all the world of business. He’s the proverbial “SAFETY PROFESSIONAL”. … HomeRead More »