In a confrontation between you and mobile equipment, you will always lose. Most contractors, and many otherbusinesses, use mobile equipment every day, ranging widely in variety from wheeled vehicles, to large tracked equipment, down to bobcats. In fact, it’s rare for a jobsite to not have exposures from mobile equipment...Full story

The thought, “it will only take a minute,” has led to many catastrophic accidents related to shortcuts in machine safeguarding practices. Reduce machine related accidents by keeping guards in place, note hazards where additional guards are necessary, and follow lockout procedures.

Be alert to these basic safety practices when working around...Full story

Failure to follow lockout/tagout rules on equipment is responsible for about 10% of all industrial accidents. Never forget that that these accidents almost always cause a severe life-changing injury or even death.

For equipment that has been properly de-energized, most accidents occur when someone fails to follow basic rules regarding locks....Full story

Metal working and forming operations can work with a wide variety of metals and alloys. Each presents its own risks to health. Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) can pose a significant hazard to people who work with stainless steel or other alloys. It is a hazard that must be addressed even when...Full story

Vehicles that aren’t used or maintained properly are a risk not just to others on the road, but anyone behind the wheel or even near a vehicle. Tractor and highway-related accidents account for 49% of agricultural fatalities each year.

Equipment Safety

• Seat belts, rollover protection, and...Full story

Whether you’re a first-generation farm owner or farming has been in your family for decades, you know that managing risk is vital to your success. Any loss to your crops, animals, or equipment can have devastating consequences for your business.

Indirect losses are not...Full story

Your hearing changes as you get older, but that’s not the only thing that can affect how much you can hear. Loud noises— either sudden ones like an explosion or constant sounds like in a manufacturing plant — can also cause hearing loss.

Noise is measured in decibels:

• Whisper: 20 decibels
• Speech: 50...Full story

While most incidents involving particles or material in the eye are addressed by flushing and basic treatment, many are more severe and can lead to long-term negative effects on eyesight. OSHA estimates that 1,000 eye injuries occur every day in U.S. workplaces and that most eye injuries can be prevented...Full story

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a familiar site on farms, in big backyards, and anywhere people can ride for fun. Four wheelers can be useful for hauling equipment or getting from one place to another quickly. But their increased use has also led to more serious...Full story

It only takes a few adjustments...

• Keep your neck straight.
• Keep your shoulders relaxed.
• When typing, keep forearms parallel to the floor and wrists straight.
• Make sure your back has full contact with the backrest (sit all the way back in your chair)and that your lower back fits into curved lumbar support.
• Keep your thighs...Full story

Grain dryer fires can be devasting, especially when they occur during key harvest periods. They destroy crops that cannot be replaced and impair drying operations. Fires also endanger people who are working nearby, as well as other storage bins, buildings, and equipment. Reduce your...Full story

Good health is critical to strain and sprain prevention. Stretching and flexibility is an important part of staying healthy. Stretching increases flexibility, improves circulation, and decreases muscle tension. These guidelines do not provide an exercise program. It is very important to consult your physician regarding exercises. Also consult your physician...Full story

We use our shoulders every time we lift, reach, or move our arms. Shoulders are versatile; however, they also very complicated and engage muscles, ligaments, and tendons constantly. Even though shoulders are strong, they are also easier than you think to overload and injure, sometimes requiring lengthy healing time or...Full story

Toilets are heavy, awkward, and hard to grip. The tank alone is typically between 25 and 40 pounds, while the bowl is 50 pounds or more — meaning an entire toilet weighs 70 to 100 pounds, and that weight isn’t distributed evenly.

Lifting and moving a toilet requires preparation to avoid...Full story

Most people will experience fatigue or a strain injury at some time in their lives. Strain injuries are not often caused by a single lift or one reach, but more commonly result from doing something repeatedly that involves awkward postures, heavy weights, or excessive force. We can avoid fatigue or...Full story

Lifting, carrying, and reaching are leading causes of workplace injuries. Because lifting is very much a part of everyday life, we have a tendency to lift without much consideration — until there’s an injury.

By learning proper lifting techniques and the basics of back safety, you may be able to save...Full story

The increase of strain risk isn’t just a matter of the weight being lifted or task being done. You can reduce the strain risk by paying attention to the following factors:

• Manage repetition: Try to eliminate redundant lifts or movements through pre-planning the task and staging materials closer to where work...Full story