There are many ways to track claim losses for your business: accident investigations, incident rates, claim costs, and claim frequency, among others. Tracking losses helps identify the strengths and weaknesses in your business, and where you should concentrate to reduce your risks and costs.

Preventing accidents from happening at all is...Full story

Not all safety audits need to be done every month by the same people or take an entire day. A layered audit involves more people working at different intervals. This is a suggested method for creating a layered safety audit.

Shift Team: more frequent – one area

Frequency: Daily

Participants: Safety team member,...Full story

A loading dock is considered an “unprotected side edge” in a building, according to OSHA, whichmeans fall protection is required if it is open and 4 feet or more above the ground below. Fallprotection can be as simple as a guardrail, a solid barrier made of metal or other material...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

When working in places we are employees are not familiar with, the potential for injury increases. When alone, response time can be delayed, and the seriousness of injury can increase. When we are both alone and in an unfamiliar place, the result of an injury can be catastrophic.

The potential of...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

Concerns and Hazards

Metal working operations use a wide variety of equipment, from brand new items to decades old machines. But no matter what type they are, metal working machines often present similar mechanical hazards. Injuries from machine operation are typically very serious but can be prevented with proper machine safeguarding...Full story

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

Imagine an emergency situation: You see smoke coming from a trash can. Is the nearest fire extinguisher blocked? Or maybe you need to reach an eyewash station quickly but can’t because it’s walled off by boxes.

Safety stations and equipment are not useful if they are not accessible. Simple guidelines can...Full story

A comprehensive, informative occupational safety and health program should include 10 sections. Below are guidelines to develop a plan for your workplace.

Section 1: Employer Information

• Basic information about the company and the type of business you conduct.
• Company name.
• Primary business address, city, state, and ZIP.
• Contact information (phone numbers, email, social media sites).
• Type...Full story

Many serious injuries can be prevented by wearing common personal protective equipment. PPE is available to cover and protect every part of the body. Having PPE and using it correctly is not optional — it is a requirement to use many kinds of equipment and to work with chemicals and...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

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

How much in extra sales do you need to make to cover the cost of workplace accidents? Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical and wage losses but does not cover all accident costs.

Indirect costs include:

• Administration expenses to handle claims
• Customer service delays
• Damaged material or customer property
• Lost sales or technical skills
• Personal impact on...Full story

Any building located in an area with below freezing weather and snow is subject to damage from frozen pipes, water leaks, or roof collapses. Damaged buildings can interrupt business and daily life! Practical steps can be taken to reduce the risk for damage from cold weather.

Key Practices

• Plan: Time is critical....Full story

Slips, trips and falls are among the leading cause of workplace injuries in schools. Two of the most common causes of slips, trips and falls are slippery walking surfaces and uneven walking surfaces. You can prevent slips, trips and falls by following some basic safety measures.

Prevention Requires Teamwork

Safety is everyone’s...Full story

Spring and summer are good times to review emergency response procedures for tornadoes and severe weather.

General Response and Shelter

Everyone must be familiar with the severe weather warning signal and where the nearest shelter is located. It’s very important to know how to respond before an event to reduce time...Full story

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) is a foam insulation used to insulate spaces and maintain either cold or heat temperatures depending on the need. SPF is found on interior walls and ceilings, cold storage rooms, coolers, controlled-atmosphere rooms, general barns, and pole barns. SPF is flexible and can be applied to...Full story

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

Manage Repetition

Try to eliminate redundant lifts or movements by planning how you will complete...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