Hot Safety Topics
Safety Products
Loading ...SafetyXChange on Twitter
New blog post: The Ontario Workplace Violence Law http://www.safetyxchange.org/compliance-risk-management/ontario-workplace-violence-lawSafetyXChange Feedback
Thoughts? Let us Know
July, 2005
Interview Horror Stories, Part 1
Dear SafetyXChange Members:
I can’t tell you how many times I hear absolute horror stories from our members who have just run into the “interviewer from hell”. Often these stories come from job interviews (who among us hasn’t had one go terribly wrong?). Other times it happens during a sales presentation, corporate meeting or other high-stress [...]
Critical Error Reduction Techniques
Last week, we discussed how external factors like fatigue, frustration and pressure can break down safety training and habits and cause us to engage in risky behaviors. What’s needed, we concluded, is a triggering mechanism that causes us to recognize that we’re losing our self-control and pull back before we get hurt. This capacity is [...]
Workplace Safety and the National Economy
The argument that “safety costs too much” is made not just by companies
but countries. In the global context, some of the developing nations have claimed
that safety in the workplace thwarts economic development. That’s bunk. Leaving
aside the morals, the decision to concentrate on growth at the expense of safety
is bad economics.
ILO Study
A 2003 study by the [...]
Arc-Flash Boundary, Part 3 of 4: What Kind of PPE
In the first two parts of this series, I explained how to determine an arc-flash boundary to comply with the National Fire Protection Association standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (NFPA 70E). Today, I’ll explain how to determine PPE requirements for persons working within that boundary.
Determining PPE Requirements
NFPA 70E requires the employer to provide [...]
Hang Onto Your Right to Challenge Unfair Citations
OSHA issues about 90,000 citations per year. Believe it or not, some of these citations are unfair. If you get hit with what you consider to be an unfair citation, you must act fast. You have only 15 working days to file the necessary paperwork. If you make a mistake or miss the deadline, the [...]
How to Choose and Use an Internet Search Engine
Choosing the right search engine has a crucial impact on how effectively you use the Internet to research companies, industries or people. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.
Caveat: Don’t Pick Just One
The first thing you need to realize is that no single search engine has the whole Web cataloged. [...]
Breaking the Cycle of Risky Behavior
“I don’t know what happened. I’ve been doing this job for 20 years and I’ve never gotten hurt.”
If I had a dollar for every time an injured employee told me that, I’d be a rich man. The truth is, we almost always get hurt because of something that doesn’t happen very often. Things don’t [...]
When Management Makes Mountains Out of Molehills
It’s depressing. I urge management to concentrate the bulk of its safety dollars, time and effort on reducing the common hazards — the ones that cause the most overall damage. It’s plain common sense. But they just don’t listen
I’ve tried everything — statistics, risk ratios and history. You name it, I’ve tried it. But [...]
Arc-Flash Boundary, Part 2 of 4: Calculating a Flash Protection Boundary
The National Fire Protection Association standard for “Electrical Safety in the Workplace” (NFPA 70E) calls for an arc-flash hazard analysis. To comply you must determine both a “flash protection boundary” and the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for people working within that boundary. Last week, we explained what a boundary is and why it’s necessary. [...]
Turning “Youre Overqualified” Into “Youre Hired”
Here’s an interview showstopper: “You’re overqualified.” What that really means is, “you’re disqualified.” This is one of the biggest barriers mid-age job seekers face. How do you answer this comment, or better yet, prevent it from being uttered in the first place? Is it a compliment or a kiss off?
What Overqualified Means
“Overqualified” has [...]
