Search results for: Rick Pedley
Risks of Leading and Sharp Edge Situations in Fall Protection
By Rick Pedley, Contributor Construction workers often find themselves working on elevated surfaces without rails and siding. Fall arrest systems and self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) can be used to prevent workers from falling over the side, but sharp and leading edges present risks of their own. A sharp edge is any corner that isn’t perfectly round,…
Read MoreRisks of Leading and Sharp Edge Situations in Fall Protection
By Rick Pedley, PK Safety President and CEO, pksafety.com Sharp and leading edges can damage fall arrest systems designed to catch construction workers when they fall. The lifeline can fray or sever, and the worker may fall further than expected when the anchor is at foot level. Workers should be aware of these risks and…
Read MoreThe Importance of Glove Coatings
Discover the pivotal role of glove coatings in worker hand protection across industries, environments and job requirements. By: Rick Pedley, Contributor Gloves are essential for protecting workers from a myriad of hazards, ranging from sharp objects and toxic substances to extreme temperatures and abrasive materials. However, different work environments require different levels of protection and…
Read MoreABCDs of Fall Safety for Construction Workers
By Rick Pedley, Contributor Trips and falls are one of the most common workplace injuries and can happen on all kinds of job sites, which is why OSHA requires that fall protection is provided to construction workers who are working six feet above the ground. Even the most careful construction workers aren’t immune to accidents.…
Read MoreGuide to a Safe Lockout/Tagout
By Rick Pedley, Contributor Construction crews are required to lockout/tagout (LOTO) equipment while making repairs or conducting maintenance to prevent machines or equipment from energizing, starting up, or releasing hazardous energy. Any mechanical movement during the maintenance process can lead to severe injury, potentially catching the worker’s fingers, hands, arm, or clothing. The person making…
Read MoreWorking Safely Around Silica
By Rick Pedley, Contributor Drilling, crushing, sanding, and grinding can all leave construction workers exposed to silica dust. These tiny particles can easily spread through the air and enter a person’s mouth or nose. Breathing in silica can lead to silicosis – an incurable and often deadly disease of the lungs – as well as…
Read MorePreventing Hearing Loss in Construction and Demolition
By Rick Pedley, Contributor Hearing loss remains an urgent safety issue in the construction and demolition industry. Workers are exposed to various potentially hazardous noises, including explosions, drilling, cutting, sawing, and dumping. Loud noises are often unavoidable during this type of work. It’s crucial that employers protect their workers from permanent hearing damage by providing…
Read MoreHow to Choose the Proper Face Protection
By: Rick Pedley, Contributor Handling materials in the workplace can leave a person’s eyes and face vulnerable to a variety of hazards. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers must ensure that all affected workers wear adequate face protection when exposed to flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids,…
Read MoreUnderstanding and Avoiding the Dangers of Dropped Objects
Workers Aren’t the Only Thing that Can Fall on a Construction Site By Rick Pedley, Contributor Workers at heights wear harnesses and tethers and may even work over nets to ensure they don’t fall. If they do, then it’s not too far of a fall or they fall into something else. With fall protection technology…
Read MoreWhat to Look for When Inspecting Your Fall Safety PPE
By Rick Pedley, Contributor OSHA specifies that fall safety PPE needs to be inspected before each use and at least annually by a competent, well-trained person who knows exactly what to look for. Before you use your equipment for the day, inspect for damaged or defective gear and immediately remove it from service. Gear that…
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