Latest Construction News
Preventing Accidents by Improving Crane Safety
Cranes are among the most important pieces of machinery ever invented. They allow the construction and manufacturing of many things that would simply be impossible without them. That being said, they can also be extremely dangerous if they are not properly used. If your company relies on cranes for any type of work, it is important to develop a comprehensive crane safety strategy that is implemented and followed at all times. It is not enough …
Safety Signs + Labels for Construction Sites
Visual communication is essential for safety at any workplace. This is especially true for construction sites. This type of environment often has a variety of different activities going on throughout the area, which can make it very dangerous if people are not careful. Alerting people to what types of hazards exist in which areas is a great way to make sure that everyone is taking proper precautions, including wearing the right personal protection equipment, at …
A Brief Introduction to Personal Protective Equipment
PPE includes goggles that prevent debris from entering the eye, hard hats that protect workers from falling objects, rubber gloves resistant to electric currents, and any other type of equipment or garment designed to be worn for protection. When other safety measures fail and a worker comes in contact with a hazard, PPE will be the last line of defense protecting the employee from harm. There is personal protective equipment for virtually every part of …
Creating Arc Flash Labels
Multiple methods exist for helping you determine the content of arc flash labels. Some companies choose to use software to calculate incident energy, some consult the calculations in the appendices of the NFPA 70E, some refer to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) guide—IEEE 1584-2002: Guide for Performing Arc Flash Calculations—and others hire electrical engineering firms to assist them. Any of these methods is acceptable. It is the employer’s responsibility, though, to make …
The Importance of Forklift Operator Training
The cornerstone of any good safety program is training, and the same is true for powered industrial vehicle (forklift) safety. Any person who operates a forklift is required by OSHA to take a training program set up by his or her employer. It is up to the employer to ensure that this training includes general safe principles of truck operation, the types of trucks used, the hazards of the vehicle, and the safety requirements of …
What Is A Gemba Walk?
In short, a gemba walk is an expedition to examine a workplace with the overall goal of locating and eliminating inefficiencies. “You can’t solve a problem until you’ve seen the problem,” is the logic behind the gemba walk concept, and while these treks are usually the realm of management, anyone wishing for a more holistic understanding of a business and the processes therein can benefit from the occasional gemba walk. Gemba walks are not to …
Latest Industrial News
What Color Code is Used for a Piping System Conveying Gaseous Elements?
Piping systems are used to transport various types of fluids, including gaseous elements. The color code used for a piping system conveying gaseous elements is going to be determined based on the ANSI/ASME standards. The specific color used for piping systems that are transporting gaseous elements will depend largely on the type of gases that are present. If the gas is oxygen, it would be white lettering on a green background. If it is medical …
Preventing Accidents by Improving Crane Safety
Cranes are among the most important pieces of machinery ever invented. They allow the construction and manufacturing of many things that would simply be impossible without them. That being said, they can also be extremely dangerous if they are not properly used. If your company relies on cranes for any type of work, it is important to develop a comprehensive crane safety strategy that is implemented and followed at all times. It is not enough …
A Brief Introduction to Personal Protective Equipment
PPE includes goggles that prevent debris from entering the eye, hard hats that protect workers from falling objects, rubber gloves resistant to electric currents, and any other type of equipment or garment designed to be worn for protection. When other safety measures fail and a worker comes in contact with a hazard, PPE will be the last line of defense protecting the employee from harm. There is personal protective equipment for virtually every part of …
Labeling Materials for Your Food Processing Facility
Food processing in general often entails using harsh liquids both for cleaning of the food and freezing purposes. The byproduct or results of using those fluids is often the creation of debris and unwanted elements in the food processing environment which then need to be disposed of. It is, in many cases, the residue of these elements that create what we can call a harsh, sometimes caustic environment. To properly handle, dispose of, or avoid …
Creating Arc Flash Labels
Multiple methods exist for helping you determine the content of arc flash labels. Some companies choose to use software to calculate incident energy, some consult the calculations in the appendices of the NFPA 70E, some refer to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) guide—IEEE 1584-2002: Guide for Performing Arc Flash Calculations—and others hire electrical engineering firms to assist them. Any of these methods is acceptable. It is the employer’s responsibility, though, to make …
A Guide to GHS Pictograms
A compliant GHS label has all six required components: contact information, product identifier, a signal word, hazard statement(s), precautionary statement(s), and hazard pictogram(s). Pictograms graphically represent a chemical’s hazards. The GHS pictograms used for packaging labels are built out of two elements: a red diamond and a black image. The space between these two elements should be white. GHS Pictograms for Packaging When chemicals are shipped in boxes or other larger containers, these 9 GHS …