How does your facility manage this?  These days most facilities use written Hot Work Permits, either because of regulatory requirements or they are required by their insurance company.  And most facilities also assign a fire watch for each permit.  But this is where the similarities end and how the fire watch personnel are managed is the common flaw in the execution of a safe hotwork...

A clear explanation of UL product certification will help customers and others understand the meaning of “UL Listed,” “UL Classified,” “UL Performance Verified” or “UL Recognized Component.” … HomeRead More »

Flammable or combustible liquids must be stored in tanks or closed containers. But how much flammable liquid can be outside of a flammable cabinet or storage room at any time? … HomeRead More »

What is a fire door and how they are designed to work… … HomeRead More »

Far from it!  You can find exit signs in all shapes, sizes, and colors and this is often the problem. … HomeRead More »

Did you know? … HomeRead More »

Many THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety! since 2005 since 2005 since 2008 2011 Fatality Tracker Electrical 18 (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment  32 (2010 = 110) (2009=88) Mining 71 (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 85 (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 14 (2010=50) (2009 = 82) Falls 42 (2010 = 139) (2009 = 172) (2008 = 250) Work Zone 7 (2010...

In the past few years, I have encountered these lockout devices for light switches.  I even witnessed an OSHA Outreach Trainer using a picture of a similar device in a 10-hr OSHA course during his LOTO presentation.  Now I know that a light switch can be wired in a special way that could make it an isolation device, but I would bet that 99.99% of light switches are NOT wired such that when...

For The Life of a Friend What would I have done, to save my friends life, Had I known he was going to die. What would I give now, not to wake up at night, To grieve, and to ask myself why? The risk that he took, must not have seemed bad No worse than some others he’d taken. He thought he could save time, without getting hurt, And this time, he was simply mistaken. We cannot take back that horrible...

Does OSHA require an “individual” be appointed as the “respiratory protection program administrator,” or can the written respirator program state the “safety department,” “EHS Department,” or “safety team members” are the program administrator? … HomeRead More »

Recently I was asked if a PSM/RMP program can be managed 100% electronically on a company intranet site or company internal server.  The short and simple answer is NO it may not.  In further discussion, it was asked if this would be permissible if the company kept a back up CD/Disk that operators could use if the intranet/server system crashed.  Again my answer is NO – at least...

Many THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety! since 2005 since 2008 2011 Fatality Tracker Electrical 17 (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment  31 (2010 = 110) (2009=88) Mining 66 (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 85 (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 14 (2010=50) (2009 = 82) Falls 42 (2010 = 139) (2009 = 172) (2008 = 250) Work Zone 6 (2010 = 50) (2009...