As a New Year begins, SAFETY+HEALTH offers data to help paint a picture of the current SAFETY LANDSCAPE. Fall Protection - General Requirements (1926, 501) was OSHA'S most cited standard in FY 2017, with 6,887 violations. The largest penalty OSHA issued to an employer in FY 2017 was $2.6 Million. More than 9  out of 10 worker deaths occur off the job. The regulatory agenda published by the Trump Administration in August 2017 lists 14 OSHA regulations in three different stages: Pre-Rule Proposed Rule Final Rule The Fall 2016 agenda had 30. The National Safety Council estimates that work-related injuries and deaths cost society about $142.5 million every year. The three industries with the most work-related deaths are: Construction Transportation and Warehousing Agriculture According to the results of Safety+Health's Training Survey, the top 3 reasons for conducting workers safety training are: To reduce injuries and illnesses. To prevent complacency [...]

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 860 home fires caused by holiday decorations occur each year. An additional 210 home fires are caused by Christmas trees per year. Follow these steps to ensure you decorate your home safely during the winter holidays. Make sure all extension cords and electrical decorations are marked for proper use. Outdoor electrical lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). Inspect all lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage before using. Exercise caution when decorating near power lines. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet from power lines. Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to sleep. Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or electrical devices. They can overheat and cause a fire. Never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights together. Water your Christmas [...]

It is estimated that 37% of the U.S. workforce does not get enough sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, in the U.S. alone, there are 64,000 deaths and 50,000 injuries a year as a result of drowsy driving. We need proper sleep to recharge our stamina, face the day and avoid injuries at home and at work. It is important to know the risk factors and how to avoid them.  To be alert, well-rested and at your best, follow these tips: Get 7-9 hours of sleep every day. Create and follow a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day –even on weekends. Eliminate unnecessary light. Keep your bedroom temperate – neither hot nor cold. Make sure your bed and pillows are comfortable and support restful sleep. Avoid eating right before bed. Remember that bedtime is for sleeping, not reading or watching [...]

In a work setting, whether an office or highly-combustible industrial workplace like a factory, warehouse or manufacturing plant, housekeeping is crucial to fire prevention. Areas with hazardous materials, combustible dust, arc welders or flammable liquids require special attention. Below are some basic tips every employee should know: Keep combustible materials in the work area only in amounts needed for the job; store the rest in a safe area. Store quick-burning materials in designated locations away from ignition sources. Change clothes if they become contaminated with flammable liquids. Keep passageways and fire doors free from obstructions. Stairwell doors should be kept closed - Never store items in stairwells. Keep materials at least 18 inches (24 to 36 inches is recommended) away from automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers and sprinkler controls. Clearance of 3 feet is required between materials and the ceiling; if stock is piled more than 15 feet high, clearance should [...]

The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE - The Demo Expo) is the premiere event for utility industry professionals to gain comprehensive insight into the latest technologies, innovations, and trends affecting their industry. ICUEE features: Hands-on demonstrations of a broad range of construction and utility equipment. An education program inspired by the industry’s hottest topics and led by industry professionals. Opportunities to explore the newest industry products and innovations. A chance for attendees to network with thousands of industry peers. The iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo offered nearly 90 hours of educational sessions to choose from, covering everything from new NFPA 70E changes and OSHA rules, to safety leadership and innovative management approaches. These courses will help prepare Ed and Rebecca to pursue a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) certification.  The CUSP has been coined the “Defining Benchmark in Utility Safety” and is the only program that [...]

With hurricane season upon us, it is an important reminder that no matter where you live, you should have a disaster plan devised and ready! "Disasters Don't Plan Ahead. You can." Below are some things to consider when planning for your family's safety and the preparedness of your home: Prepare for what you are most likely to face.  If you live in Iowa, you likely don't need to be ready for a Hurricane. If you live in coastal Florida, you most likely won't experience a Tornado. When creating your plan, it's critical to plan for the disasters most likely to happen. There are many resources online to determine what disasters are most likely to happen in your area. Prepare some emergency supplies. Generally, it is a good plan to have one gallon of water per person, per day for all members in your home. If the water goes out, [...]

RFI's Project Managers, Supervisors and Small Job Foreman enrolled in additional training for Crystalline Silica for Construction in order to: Recognize workplace tasks that could result in exposure to crystalline silica Identify health hazards caused by exposure to crystalline silica Recall the various methods of communicating crystalline silica hazards: labels, safety data sheets, and signs Apply exposure control measures to protect themselves from the effects of crystalline silica dust Discuss the role a competent person plays in crystalline silica exposure control Explain the purpose of OSHA's required medical surveillance program   To learn more about "OSHA's Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica" visit: https://www.osha.gov/silica/

1. Slow down. Speeding and aggressive driving are major contributors to work zone crashes. 2. Expect the unexpected. Normal speed limits are often reduced, traffic lanes are often changed, and people are often working on or near the road. 3. Don't tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you (use the 3-second following rule). The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear-end collision. 4. Obey road crew flaggers. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely through the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions. 5. Keep a safe distance between you and the construction workers and their equipment. 6. Pay attention to the signs. The warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone. [...]

To avoid ladder accidents, you have to set up ladders correctly. Remember these setup tips:   1. Place the ladder on a firm, level surface, and check to make sure the ladder is stable. Use wide boards under the ladder to give stability if the ground is soft.   2. Never set a ladder on top of a drum, stack of pallets, or other object to gain more height. Use a taller ladder instead. If you set up a ladder on such an unstable base, you’re just asking for an accident.   3. Never set up a ladder in front of a door unless the door is locked or blocked—or you’ve got someone standing on the other side to keep people from opening the door.   4. Never lean a ladder against a surface that isn’t strong enough to support your weight, such as a window or an object that [...]

On January 30th, 2017, RFI staff participated in a company safety day with a US Training Consultant. Sessions included OSHA training overview/review of complacency, good-housekeeping practices, trenching, excavation, excavator basics, skid steer basics, general equipment safety. The afternoon included rigging, signaling and crane programs and the day closed off with lesson’s learned from the previous year. Thank you to everyone who participated!