For some contractors, confusion exists around OSHA’s trench box requirements. Understanding when it’s appropriate to use a trench box and how to use one according to regulation is critical to keeping workers safe. When trenches reach a depth of 5 feet or more, OSHA requires contractors to use a...

Working in a confined space poses inherent dangers, and OSHA regulations are designed to ensure that employers take effective steps to mitigate or eliminate them. OSHA introduced its confined space regulations for general industry (Standard 1910.146) back in 1993. It didn’t really work well for...

Having an energy control program is the first step in preventing hazardous energy incidents. Expecting the unexpected is never more important than when dealing with equipment that can release hazardous energy. Accidents involving hazardous energy can be life-changing, or even life-ending. Pero el...

These free visits help companies learn how to work safer and comply with regulations. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) conducts some 72,000 federal and state inspections every year, and with a request for $557 million for OSHA in the 2020 federal budget, that number is expected...

Measuring how well you did can show you what you need to do next. Do you know how effective your company’s safety program is, or what metrics to look at to find out? These three trailing indicators can provide some good insights: TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) DART (Days Away, Restricted or...

There are five key differences between the general industry and construction standards. With the introduction of Confined Spaces in Construction standard ( 1926 Subpart AA) in 2015, OSHA increased protection for workers by placing more stringent requirements on a project’s owner and general...

No one likes dentist appointments, but at least you know when they’re coming. The same can’t be said about OSHA inspections. You never know when one will happen, and instead of walking away with a new toothbrush and that dentist-fresh feeling in your mouth, you could away with a list of violations...

A fire on a construction site is no small threat. These fires can be even more hazardous than building fires because permanent fire protection systems aren’t usually in place yet. A fire can not only threaten the lives of your workers but destroy equipment and materials and put a major kink in a...

With so much smart PPE and comfort-driven PPE coming onto the market (think work boots with Wi-Fi and vests that cool), it’s amazing that one piece of safety equipment — arguably the most essential piece — has stayed more or less the same for decades. It’s the hard hat, and it’s overdue for...

When nature calls, workers need ready access to a loo. Employers could pay a price if they don’t provide enough toilets or keep them clean. Access to clean bathrooms — with toilet paper! — is something all workers expect and deserve. If contractors fail to provide it, their employees may not be the...