Who is responsible for your safety?  Is it the safety manager?  Is it your supervisor?  Is it the owner of the company for which you work?  Sure, each of these people plays a part in building a framework that allows you to perform your job in a safe working environment, but in the end, the...

Safety goes further than just having the proper equipment in place. Now more than ever, it’s important to maintain a clean and sterile environment at the workplace. Using proper cleaning methods will prevent damage and increase the longevity of your gear.

There are obviously times when somebody will need to access the roof of your building or facility, whether it’s maintenance workers, contractors, or inspectors.  As we’ve discussed, roofs are inherently dangerous, so we develop policies to direct the behaviors of our employees and...

Look around your workplace--how do you store your chemicals?  During inspections, I notice that usually chemicals are stored (or not stored) randomly all over the workplace.  They are left where they were last used or shoved back onto shelves with newer chemicals placed in front of them. ...

Efficiency and safety are key factors for a productive workplace. One pivotal component is having safe and secure access to work through industrial safety platforms.

But can you just slap some plywood and 2x4s together to make a safe and compliant platform?

Maybe...

In this article, I’m...

Recently, we posted an article on the common hazards found during rooftop HVAC work.  In it was stated, “Routes of travel that take you past skylights or near the edge of the roof have now exposed you to fall hazards.”  This is not an empty warning.  Skylights are a hazard often overlooked...

With so many options available on a full body harness, it’s no wonder we primarily shop on price.

Price is important, and so are aspects such as size, buckle types, dorsal ring placement, and even color options! However, there is one major consideration that is not addressed that could...

If you’ve been a safety professional for any amount of time, you could probably write a book based on the excuses you’ve heard regarding why a worker or a company failed to adhere to safety rules and regulations. The excuses range from ignorant to absurd – from entertaining to...

A man named Joe, who worked for the same roofing company for 25 years, fell through the skylight pictured above to his death. He was not wearing any fall protection and the skylight was not protected in any way. On average 16 people die at work every day in the United States. That number is...

Sometimes you may have the luxury of working for a company that says, “Safety? Whatever you need, you get.”  However, that is certainly not always the case.  More often than not, you will need to work within a budget to meet your safety needs.  While it’s nice to say that safety is of...

Many don’t think about it except for how much of an eye-sore it can be, but rooftop debris is a dangerous hazard that will compromise your workers’ safety and the facility itself. People can be injured from projectiles, trips, and hidden hazards that would be avoidable if the debris were...

The following information is a general overview of major points and standards developed from OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D. Walking and Working Surfaces for General Industry.

Key Terms:

As rooftop solar installations grow, so grows the need to access the roof safely.

Part of roof top safety is having a proper rooftop railing installed. On a metal roof there are other safety concerns. The metal ribs can cause a significant trip hazard. Additionally, the metal roof may not be...

The moment you see or hear the word "mezzanine" in your workplace, your thought should immediately turn to fall protection. In general industry, the minimum height at which fall protection is needed is 4’. Because mezzanines are typically used to store goods or machinery up off the floor...

The following safety huddle represents OSHA's safety compliance regulations for positioning device systems 1926.502(e). Always consult directly with OSHA compliance standards and manufacturer recommendations before utilizing these systems. Positioning device systems are not fall arrest...

OSHA exists with the intention of protecting employees as they do their work. It is important that workers are safe, so that we can continue to support ourselves and loved ones. There can be a lot of rules to follow, but knowing and understanding them is crucial to workplace safety. However,...

Roof washing is probably never on anybody’s top-5 list of ways to spend an afternoon, but it certainly can become a necessary evil.  If it were just a matter of aesthetics, you could almost write it off as vanity and leave your roof to become whatever filthy mess it was destined to...