safety in workplace

Tips from OSHA on Electrical Safety

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Electrical Safety

Working with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, linemen, electricians, and others who work with electricity directly, and workers who work with electricity indirectly may be exposed to serious electrical hazards. Here are some facts from OSHA that you need to know to work safely with electricity.

Power Lines

Overhead and buried power lines are especially hazardous because they carry dangerously high voltage. Fatal electrocution is the main risk, but burns and falls are also hazards.

  • Look for overhead power lines and buried power line indicators.
  • Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines and assume they are energized.
  • De-energize and ground lines when working near them.
  • Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines.

Generators 

Generators are commonly used as a replacement source of electricity when electrical power is lost. Most generators are gasoline or diesel-powered with internal combustion engines which turn an alternator to produce electricity. One of the hazards from gasoline or diesel-powered engines is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced during the operation of gasoline-powered generators. When inhaled, the gas reduces your ability to transport oxygen. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, and fatigue that can lead to unconsciousness and ultimately prove fatal. The following information is a list of best practices to identify hazards when operating around power lines and electrical equipment. 

  • DO NOT operate a generator indoors. Generators should be placed outdoors in a location where the exhaust gases cannot enter a home or building. Good ventilation is key to operating a generator safely. 
  • Be sure the main circuit breaker is OFF and locked out prior to starting any generator. This will prevent inadvertent energization of power lines from backfeed electrical energy from generators and help protect utility line workers from electrocution. 
  • Turn off generators and let them cool prior to refueling.

Electrical Incidents

If the power supply to the electrical equipment is not grounded or the path has been broken, fault current may travel through a worker’s body, causing electrical burns or death. Visually inspect electrical equipment before use. Take any defective equipment out of service.

  • Ground all power supply systems, electrical circuits, and electrical equipment.
  • Frequently inspect electrical systems to ensure that the path to ground is continuous.
  • Do not remove ground prongs from cord- and plug-connected equipment or extension cords.
  • Use double-insulated tools and ground all exposed metal parts of equipment.
  • Avoid standing in wet areas when using portable electric power tools.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Workplace Safety Resolutions for the New Year

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Workplace Safety Resolutions

Each new year brings about new resolutions that range from the achievable to the downright absurd. Most resolutions tend to center around personal well-being, such as promising to spend more time at the gym to get fit and setting goals to achieve professionally. However, very few take the time to ponder on how to improve health and safety while in the workplace. If you find yourself belonging to the majority who don’t make resolutions concerning workplace safety, then why not make this year the time to start making them?

After all, health and safety should always come first. Create resolutions to act on improving health and safety in the workplace. They not only ensure personal safety but also make the environment safe and ideal for others as well.

Here are some resolutions that focus on workplace safety for the New Year.

1. Review Company Policies on Health and Safety.

Take some time to look through the company policies, and review health and safety rules and regulations. Check if there are ample facilities that can prevent any hazardous substances and materials from sticking to skin and hair. Know your rights as an employee, and find out if the company that you’re working for has provided sufficient information on keeping safe in the workplace.

2. Inspect Personal Safety Equipment and Gear.

Is the safety vest still properly fitted, or have the boots lost their non-skid ability? Do the safety glasses still allow clear vision, or does the helmet need replacement? Don’t skimp on this resolution, and ensure that all your safety equipment and gear are in tip-top shape before starting work on the New Year. Otherwise, it’s out with the old, and in with the new.

3. Acknowledge Distractions – and Throw Them Away.

Distractions take away the concentration that should be poured into the task at hand. One seemingly small slip may have serious repercussions in the form of health risks, or worse, loss of life. Keep these distractions at bay when working, and focus on the job that needs to be done.

4. Know Who to Call in an Emergency.

For any workplace safety-related concerns, knowing who to call or approach is as vital as knowing how to avoid hazardous situations. Emergency situations call for immediate action, so it’s best to find out beforehand who to turn to for those times when safety is compromised at work.

Even though you’re most likely have regular safety check-ups, there’s never any harm in taking extra precautions. The New Year can bring new regulations and changes so make sure you are keeping up with current OSHA policies and rules.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Holiday Safety Concerns in the Workplace

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holiday safety

This holiday season is a much-needed distraction from the curveballs of 2020. Decorating the house, hosting family members, purchasing gifts, and working out the logistics of how you will be celebrating this year can cause any employee’s mind to wander during work hours. From a safety perspective, it’s worth considering how these issues affect workers on the floor, on-site, on the road, or at home.

Holiday Fatigue

Fatigue can hit hard during the holiday season. Extra tasks like decorating the house, staying up late to binge all your favorite Christmas movies, fitting in your holiday shopping before/after a shift, etc. can all contribute to fatigue, which can become an issue whether you’re engaging in high-risk work or not.

As a result of this extra fatigue, injuries, and major safety oversites can occur. So, although fatigue is a complex issue that lacks a single easy solution, it might be a good idea to consider longer breaks or alter work schedules to help compensate for seasonal fatigue.

Ladder Safety

Ladder use increases at home and at work during the holiday season. It’s important to provide a refresher on ladder safety. For example, people should ensure the ladder’s stability before use, keep three points of contact at all times, and never place a ladder on a surface other than the ground. It’s also worth mentioning that decorating is much easier and safer to do if the task is not left to one person. That’s because they might be more inclined to rush or ignore the need for three points of contact in order to carry bulky decorations up the ladder.

Electrical Safety

With decorating comes new electrical challenges around the office or at home. Electrical fires and burns are always a concern during this time of the year. Electrical incidents are usually due to the misuse of older decorations with faulty fuses. Ensure that your decorations are still in good shape and that they aren’t overloading your sockets. Employees should also be reminded of the importance of unplugging decorations before leaving the office or going to sleep in their homes. 

Slips, Trips, and Falls

We spend the majority of the year without holiday decorations so it can be easy to forget they’re there. Don’t let your decorations become a tripping hazard and make sure they are properly and securely hung. 

Depending on the weather, ice can be a big slipping hazard. Always be aware of your surroundings when you step outside. Snow, ice, and rain are the main culprits, especially because they’re coupled with shorter, darker days that make it easier for people to miss or misjudge a step when walking outdoors.

We all want our holiday season to be accident-free. Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

What is the Benefit of Working with ResponsAble?

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working with responsable

If you’re considering solutions for staffing your sites and jobs, you may be thinking to yourself – why would I hire ResponsAble? It’s a valid question. We’d love to tell you some of the perks and benefits of being our partner, as well as some secrets behind our process.

We’re driven by value. ResponsAble is a sincere company. We truly want to be valuable to our customers. We know that what we do isn’t needed by everyone, but we’re the best option for those who do. We want you to know that we’re here to create value for those who have a need for safety personnel.

We take what we do very seriously. We’re in this business because we believe safety matters. It’s the livelihood of real people. We also know the only way to develop a valuable business relationship is to do good work. We want to provide the best match for every job. As an additional service, we also want to be a resource for our clients in whatever their safety needs may be. We’ve built a team that takes both seriously.

We can accommodate your needs. We work with a variety of customers in different work environments. This allows us to keep our employees consistently working and allows them to bring more experience to your jobsite. As they work, they gain more and more exposure and opportunity to grow their safety tool belt.  You can discuss specific needs you have and we’ll supply the perfect person for the job.

We do both temp and direct hiring. Whatever your safety staffing need, we are equipped to handle it. Keep all of your business under one partnership. If you don’t have the internal personnel to cover your safety needs, we can supply ongoing support or on a project-to-project basis.

We keep it simple for you. We assign a ResponsAble Project Manager to every project. Their job is to assist you with the staffing needs, support you in managing safety compliance, and help recruit, vet and staff as your needs change! That’s right, we do all of this for you so that you can focus on your project.

ResponsAble helps you find the right people with the necessary skills to effectively and safely complete the job. Big or small, temporary or permanent. ResponsAble has the ability to truly customize our approach. We have the ability to staff experienced Safety Professionals and Managers, Confined Space/Hole Watch Attendants, and Industrial Laborers. Get in touch and let’s talk about how ResponsAble may be a benefit to you. 

Creating an Environment of Safety

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environment of safety

In the type of work you do, safety is no joke. The responsibility for your staff’s safety and wellbeing is a heavy load. Here are a few tips for creating a culture and rhythm of prioritizing safety in your workplace.

Include intensive safety training in the onboarding process. When you hire a new staff member, don’t skimp on the onboarding process. This training is critical to staff competency and efficiency. It also sets expectations and defines priorities for the work environment that you want to create.

Provide clear guidelines and checklists. Make sure your employees know what the safety protocols are and are equipped to follow them. 

Host monthly safety lunches. Provide lunch one day a month and have a project manager present relevant safety topics. Discuss topics that apply to current jobs or projects so that workplace safety is fresh. When you make it a priority to present information, your staff understand it as an important workplace consideration.

Post safety information in the workspace. Hang posters, reminders, and instructions around the workplace as visual reminders of safety considerations and information.

Orient staff on new equipment. When new tools and equipment are introduced, set aside time to go over instructions for use and safety considerations of the new equipment. Many suppliers will include safety information that can be easily shared with your staff as they begin use.

Lead by example. Your company’s leadership should prioritize safety as much as they desire the staff to. They should implement the same precaution and follow the set guidelines as are expected of all employees.

The liability is not worth the risk of safety. Promote an environment of safety in your workplace by creating intentional touchpoints and rhythms that communicate it as a priority to your staff. This investment will pay dividends over time.

Tips for Keeping Your Shipping & Receiving Center Running Safely

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shipping receiving safety

While OSHA does not have specific safety regulations for shipping and handling centers, there are many aspects of the safety procedures that apply to these staff. Any employee that is exposed to hazards or risks should be protected to the extent possible on the job site. Consider these employees as you create workplace procedures and protocols.

Some Common Threats

This type of work requires frequent lifting and moving of incoming and outgoing materials. Back and muscle injury is easily incurred.

Use of equipment such as dollies, forklifts or hand trucks are also common. Accidents can occur, particularly with potential injuries to appendages.

Stacked packages or out of reach materials also produce a falling object hazard.

Additionally, tools for cutting, packaging, and strapping materials also create risk to staff in shipping and receiving.

Shipping & Receiving Safety Tips

It may be time to add some additional regulations for you staff in your shipping centers and warehouses.

Here’s a checklist that may be a helpful start point or reference.

  1. Make sure the warehouse area is clean and free of clutter and unnecessary items.
  2. Always use necessary equipment for heavy, large or bulky materials.
  3. When using cutting tools, always cut away from yourself and others and make sure that tools are closed or covered when not in use.
  4. Be careful when stacking or storing materials at height. Ensure the base of the stack is stable by placing heavy items closest to the floor with lighter items on top.
  5. When loading trucks, make the heaviest point of the load forward on the truck axle for stability.
  6. Feel free to take two trips whenever necessary rather than piling a load too high.
  7. When in doubt, ask for help with materials and work with one or more people to get the job done.
  8. Be sure to position materials on shelving in a way that fall hazards are reduced – far enough back from the edge.

These tips are generalized considerations for many shipping & handling centers. However, to ensure the safety and well-being of your staff the manager should conduct a safety audit of your specific workspace. Pay attention to any special considerations and create policies to keep your team safe. For more safety tips like these, view other articles on the ResponsAble blog!