Katie – BabelPlex

New Fall Protection Website for Residential Construction Workers

August 30, 2021December 5, 2014 by Katie

3 min read Falls are the number one cause of fatal accidents in construction, with these deaths accounting for 36.9 percent of construction fatalities in 2013. Many of these deaths occur in residential construction, and beginning in 2010, OSHA began enforcing its fall protection standard for all residential construction sites, not just commercial construction sites (see 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)). To assist residential construction companies in achieving compliance with this standard, OSHA has published helpful guidance documents. To further educate contractors …

Lead Hazards in the Workplace

August 30, 2021November 14, 2014 by Katie

4 min read The hazards of lead are well known, so people may assume exposures to this dangerous metal have been reduced. To a certain extent to this true; lead levels in the general population have decreased since the 1970s. In some workplaces, though, lead continues to be a serious problem. The Seattle Times recently published a series of investigative articles about lead poisoning at shooting ranges across the country and found that workers and in some cases patrons …

Permit-Required Confined Spaces – Do You Know What They Are?

August 30, 2021November 6, 2014 by Katie

4 min read Confined spaces in the workplace are common, and they may even be more common than you think. For example, sewers, storage bins and tanks can all be confined spaces, but in many cases so are silos and open pits. Some confined spaces may not pose great harm, but others can be very dangerous to anyone entering them. One example of a tragic accident involving a confined space occurred at Precision Industrial Maintenance Inc. of Albany, New …

Pipe Marking – 7 Things You Should Know

August 30, 2021October 17, 2014 by Katie

5 min read Does your facility have pipes? If so, those pipes need labels. While pipe labeling may seem like a confusing process with many requirements, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Starting with a plan will make your pipe-labeling project easier and more organized. Then once your facility’s pipes are labeled, you’ll see communication about pipes improve. Using visuals like labels makes communication direct and simple, and it reduces the need for asking questions about pipe contents. …

How to Fall Safely (and Avoid Falling in the First Place)

August 30, 2021October 3, 2014 by Katie

3 min read Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common accidents in many kinds of workplaces, and these incidents often result in injuries that prevent people from doing their jobs. Businesses should take steps to reduce the hazards that cause slips, trips and falls such as implementing housekeeping procedures for floors, using salt or sand on icy patches of ground, keeping cords out of walkways and installing traction tape. But what can workers do to …

Demolition Safety Planning

August 30, 2021September 26, 2014 by Katie

3 min read Construction sites pose many hazards, and as OSHA puts it, demolition is “construction in reverse, with additional hazards.” Therefore, OSHA has dedicated extra time and attention recently to demolition safety, and it developed a resource page explaining the standards specifically related to this kind of work (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart T). This emphasis on demolition safety came in the wake of a series of fatal accidents including the collapse of a four-story building undergoing demolition in …

Methods for Machine Guarding

August 30, 2021September 25, 2014 by Katie

3 min read The industrial workplace is filled with machines, and many of them have sharp or moving parts that can pinch, crush and cut workers. Too often machines are even responsible for amputations and fatalities when proper procedures for performing maintenance (like lockout/tagout) aren’t followed. According to OSHA, about 18,000 amputations, lacerations and other injuries are sustained by employees who work around machines each year. To prevent these accidents, workplaces should install machine guards that prevent workers …

10 Places to Use Safety Signs & Labels in the Industrial Workplace

August 30, 2021September 25, 2014 by Katie

3 min read A visual workplace is one where information related to safety, rules, instructions, machines and other commonly asked questions is communicated through visuals like signs, labels, and posters. Visual cues allow workers to easily see and understand what they need to do in many situations without needing to stop and ask questions. This type of workplace is often very efficient. Time isn’t wasted and employees feel more confident about the tasks they need to perform. Safety signs …

Prevent Backover Accidents in Construction

August 30, 2021September 12, 2014 by Katie

3 min read A recent review of fatalities at road construction sites by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that 143 deaths between 2003 to 2010 were the result of being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment that was backing up. Dump trucks were responsible for the greatest number of backover fatalities (84), but other vehicles like semis, forklifts and garbage trucks are frequently involved in these accidents, too. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) …

Use Tools Safely

August 30, 2021September 3, 2014 by Katie

3 min read Construction sites are filled with tools. Workers use hand tools like hammers, screwdrivers and wrenches all the time. They use power tools like drills and chainsaws on a regular basis, too. Tools may seem pretty straightforward, but you shouldn’t assume that everyone understands how to use tools properly and safely. (A recent survey even found many millennial workers don’t possess as much knowledge of tools as older workers.) When used improperly, tools can pose …