It is the SIMPLEST, FASTEST, and CHEAPEST way to save a life! … HomeRead More »

  It is the SIMPLEST, FASTEST, and CHEAPEST way to save a life! … HomeRead More »

Safety Professionals are just Guardian Angels in training!  A sign that our work will NEVER be done.  Work hard and leave a legacy of safe workers who will teach their children to be safe workers and one day we may be able to put an end to workplace fatalities.  May God Bless the deceased workers and their families. … HomeRead More »

Last week I posted the requirements for workers verifying a Zero Energy State (ZES), and it was ALL about operators and NOT electrical workers. In this post, I will explain the EXTRA steps that “qualified electrical workers” MUST DO BEFORE they begin their electrical work. I will use the OSHA regulation for electrical work…1910.333 “Selection and use of Work Practices.”...

Poorly-constructed air tank explodes Below are pictures of an air tank that was purchased from an auction. The tank was not built to ASME code and not registered with the National Board. The drain valve on the tank was removed, probably because it was leaking, and replaced with a plug. The accumulation of water in the vessel caused severe corrosion and thinning of the metal on the bottom...

Air tank corrodes, explodes in home garage This air tank compressor exploded in April 2004 at a homeowner’s garage in Alexandria, MN. No one was injured when the tank failed. Its tank water should have been drained on a regular basis to remove water and help prevent the bottom of the tank from corroding. Since this compressor was in someone’s home garage, it was...

Too much pressure This air tank compressor failed due to improper maintenance. Its tank water was not drained on a regular basis and the bottom corroded. Since this compressor was in someone’s home garage, it was not required to be inspected under current Minnesota laws. No one was injured when the tank failed. Source: MN-OSHA

The photos below are from a 1,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia nurse tank explosion June 6, 2005, at the Cenex Co-op yard in Morris, Minn. The explosion released approximately 841 gallons of anhydrous ammonia to the atmosphere. … HomeRead More »

WARNING!!! Some images may be upsetting. … HomeRead More »

We see a lot of so-called trained rescuers in our line of work. Many of these rescuers can show you a certificate that “certifies” they are indeed confined space rescuers. When we asked a few questions about this training, we found that the training was NOT EVEN COME CLOSE to preparing the team to enter permit-required confined spaces (PRCS) to affect a rescue. We have even encountered...

Many THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety! since 2005 since 3/2011 2011 Fatality Tracker Electrical 14 (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment  31 (2010 = 110) (2009=88) Mining 66 (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 83 (2010...

These ten principles sum up what Lockout/Tagout is ALL ABOUT. Always remember…LOTO is ALL ABOUT YOU, and it is NOT a team activity! … HomeRead More »