Category: Electrical Safety

Prevention of Injuries and Fatalities Involving Overturn of Drill Rigs and other Specialty Equipment for Foundation Construction

Introduction Every year, drill rigs and other heavy, specialty equipment used for deep foundation construction (Figure 1) overturn potentially causing injuries and fatalities, as well as damage to the surrounding sites. There are many safety hazards associated with working around this heavy equipment, including the “Focus Four Hazards”: falls, caught-in or -between, struck-by, and electrocution. Read More >

Posted on by Peggy Hagerty Duffy, PE, DGE; Richard Marshall, CHST; Douglas Trout, MD, MHS; and G. Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP2 Comments
Categories Construction, Electrical Safety, Falls, Struck-by injuries

Preventing Electrocution of Construction Contract Workers

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released a report based upon U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data showing that 77% of the 325 contract worker electrocutions that occurred from 2012-2016 involved workers employed in the construction industry (NFPA 2018). Nearly 60% of the electrocutions were caused by direct Read More >

Posted on by Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP; CAPT Alan Echt, DrPH, CIH; and CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH12 Comments
Categories Construction, Electrical Safety

Improving Programs to Control Hazardous Energy: New website offers tools and templates

A new website from the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Manufacturing Sector Council features ways in which businesses and companies can safeguard employees from the release of hazardous energy (any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy) during service and maintenance activities. The new website features a resource guide with step-by-step Read More >

Posted on by Richard S. Current, PE; Thais C. Morata, PhD; Frank Renshaw, PhD; Susan Afanuh, MA; and Nura Sadeghpour, MPH9 Comments
Categories Electrical Safety, Manufacturing, National Occupational Research Agenda, Safety

A Wrench in the Gear: Lockout/tagout in the food industry

The food manufacturing industry includes animal slaughtering as well as the processing and packaging of meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable, grain, seafood, beverages, and bakery products. The industry employs nearly 1.5 million workers.1 Work in food manufacturing is typically fast-paced and workers can face exposure to hazards such as slips trips and falls, musculoskeletal disorders, and Read More >

Posted on by Jim Harris, Ph.D., P.E. ; Susan Afanuh, MA; Frank Renshaw, Ph.D., CIH, CSP; David L. Parker, MD, MPH; Theodore Braun, MBA; Thomas Cunningham, PhD 166 Comments
Categories Electrical Safety, Food Service, Manufacturing, National Occupational Research Agenda