The Workplace Safety blog includes safety articles on a wide range of occupational health and safety topics. Search our safety articles by category or by keyword. Please contact Jon Wallace by email or phone (919.933.5548) with questions or comments.
By W. Jon Wallace, CSP, MBA; Workplace Safety and Hugh Hoagland: e-hazard.com Due to the potential of an electric arc flash, many employees who perform work on energized conductors (qualified persons) are exchanging flammable...
While conducting electrical safety training one day I had an electrician complain that he hated the electrical insulated gloves he was wearing: “I can’t work with these gloves—they don’t fit and they're uncomfortable!” Electrical rubber insulating...
Racking circuit breakers is a common task performed by electrical workers. Unfortunately, this task is responsible for numerous serious electric arc flash incidents. The main reason is the moving of parts that must be aligned properly to engage the breaker. Many times...
When assisting clients with electrical safe work practices for employees I am continually asked – does OSHA enforce NFPA 70E® (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®)? The short answer is no, because NFPA 70E® is not Incorporated by Reference in 29...
According to OSHA, since 1980, more than 130 workers have been killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions. Recent incidents have significantly heightened awareness of combustible dust hazards: 1999: Natural gas explosion resulted in coal dust...
Arc Flash Safety – Distance is your Friend When I began taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (bjj) lessons, I remember my instructor telling me the key strategy in Brazilian jiu jitsu was all about managing the distance from your opponent – either by being safely...
A very frequent experience on not only construction sites but industrial sites as well is failure to perform an engineering survey prior to performing demolition work. The attached link discusses a parking lot garage collapse due to not following a written demolition...
Do I have combustible dust in my facility? What is a combustible dust? Due to recent combustible dust explosions, as well as OSHA’s national emphasis program on combustible dust, there is a heightened awareness and confusion concerning combustible dust hazards. The...
For the third year in a row, the North Carolina Chapter has achieved Platinum status recognition by the American Society of Safety Professionals! Each year, June 30th marks the end of the chapter year. Every chapter is required to submit a chapter operations...
The recent gas explosion in downtown Durham, North Carolina resulted in one fatality and at least 17 injuries. Click here for more details. OSHA's 1926 Excavation standard (Subpart P) requires the location of underground utilities be identified: 1926.651 (b)(1): "The...