March 2017 OH&S

March 2017

  • LOCKOUT/TAGOUT: ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 (2016): Bringing the Latest Practices to Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods
  • LOCKOUT/TAGOUT: Making Sure Your Organization is All In
  • HEARING PROTECTION: Ear Plug Selection and Fitting Best Practices
  • FALL PREVENTION: The National Movement in Ladder Safety
  • HEAD & FACE PROTECTION: Alleviating the Risk from Above
  • INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE/HAZMAT: Staying on Top of Hazmat Training Requirements
  • PROTECTIVE APPAREL: Beyond Compliance: Specifying Reliable Flame Resistant Workwear
  • PROTECTIVE APPAREL: The Need for a Shield Against Steel
  • HEAT STRESS: The Dangers of Heat Stress
  • TRANSPORTATION SAFETY: How to Make Railroad Crossings Safer and Smarter
  • FIRE SAFETY: Maintaining Fire Compliant Openings
  • FIRE SAFETY: Fire Alarm or Test?
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Cover Story

The 2016 standard was written to be scalable to meet the needs of both large and small companies with varying levels of technology present in their machinery and processes.

ANSI/ASSE Z244.1 (2016): Bringing the Latest Practices to Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods

By Todd Grover

The 2016 standard was written to be scalable to meet the needs of both large and small companies with varying levels of technology present in their machinery and processes.


Features

Several U.S. fall protection manufacturers have been stressing the importance of preventing dropped-tool incidents and injuries in recent years and also introducing new products for this purpose, including lanyards, tool pouches, tool belts, and soft buckets to hold tools.

Alleviating the Risk from Above

By Jerry Laws

Hazards overhead are a concern for workers in many industries, notably upstream oil and gas and construction.


Not every idea will work in every situation, but that should not deter you from engaging your shop floor experts to incorporate new tactics. (UL EHS Sustainability photo)

Lockout/Tagout: Making Sure Your Organization is All In

By Eric Glass

When it comes to LOTO, a worker may not expend the effort to get critical information or supplies if he has to go more than 20 steps or wait more than 10 seconds. This is especially true when there is intrinsic motivation to "help" the team.


Incorrect: A missed bottom step can cause a fall. (Little Giant Ladder Systems photo)

The National Movement in Ladder Safety

By Dave Francis

New, safer designs will help prevent those accidents when we are in a hurry or forget the basic rules.


Smart crossing systems are adopting the latest in CCTV surveillance and image processing technology to visually inspect boom gate conditions, identify trapped objects, and monitor objects’ movements in real time. (Moxa, Inc. photo)

How to Make Railroad Crossings Safer and Smarter

By Charles Z.K. Chen, Harry Hsiao

Smart crossing systems are adopting the latest in CCTV surveillance and image processing technology to visually inspect boom gate conditions, identify trapped objects, and monitor objects' movements in real time.


Multiuse protective fabrics are designed to protect against numerous types of hazards in one single garment for workers in molten metal environments.

The Need for a Shield Against Steel

By Tim Cashell

It is important to understand the entire spectrum of risks steelworkers are exposed to and consider multifunctional PPE alternatives to protect against each hazard.


Misting fans combine water and airflow, which is one of the most effective methods for both preventing and reversing heat illness in outdoor working environments such as construction sites, agriculture operations, mining, and industrial dock areas. (Big Ass Fans photo)

The Dangers of Heat Stress

By Paul Murray, Scott S. Moody

Fans improve safety during the hottest months of the year.


NFPA 80

Maintaining Fire Compliant Openings

By David Kase

While most people using institutional and commercial buildings worry most about security issues these days, fires strike far more often than those types of emergencies.


The fabric and fabric system needs in diverse climates can be very different. Workers in cold, northern climates may need insulated products for their daily work, whereas southern climates may dictate a single layer. (Westex by Milliken photo)

Beyond Compliance: Specifying Reliable Flame Resistant Workwear

By Scott Francis

Know what you are truly buying: The AR/FR fabric in workwear is the single largest factor in determining the garment's protection level, comfort, and overall value.


Workers recognize what a good fit feels like and sounds like. (Honeywell Safety Products photo)

Ear Plug Selection and Fitting Best Practices

By Brad Witt

Fit-testing of hearing protection now allows a worker to try various hearing protectors to determine which type is most suitable.


OSHA

Staying on Top of Hazmat Training Requirements

By Fred Elliott

The key standard for working with hazardous chemicals is 29 CFR 1910.1200, the revised Hazard Communication Standard, which has been aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.


Is there anything we can do to get the correct responses from the workers and save more lives?

Fire Alarm or Test?

By John R. Bennett

Let's work on designing and conducting tests and drills so that alarms are for emergencies and the employees respond in a safe and proper manner.


Departments

Four Questions to Shape Performance

By Shawn M. Galloway

Which behavior would make the biggest difference in yielding the results you need?


More Productive Leadership by Batching and Sequencing

By Robert Pater

Dividing attention through multitasking can increase slips/trips/falls, and also contribute to soft-tissue injuries, driving accidents, caught by/between, struck by problems, and many more.


Great Advice on Leading Indicators

By Jerry Laws

The company decided to pursue "participative ergonomics" and designated 100 ergonomic champions and coaches, along with mentorship programs.


Artificial Intelligence