A safety violation is any action, omission, or condition that fails to meet established safety standards, regulations, or protocols—placing individuals, equipment, or the environment at increased risk. In workplaces, schools, public spaces, or construction sites, safety violations can range from minor oversights, like failing to post a hazard sign, to major breaches, such as disabling … Read more
The DART rate—which stands for Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred—is an OSHA-mandated metric that measures how many workplace injuries or illnesses result in either days away from work, restricted duty, or a job transfer per 100 full-time equivalent workers. It is calculated using the formula: DART Rate = (Number of DART incidents × 200,000) ÷ … Read more
Heat Stress is a condition that occurs when the body’s ability to cool itself is overwhelmed by excessive heat and humidity, leading to symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening emergencies like heat stroke. Simply put, heat stress happens when your body stores more heat than it can dissipate. You’re dealing with it if you … Read more
Safety procedures are structured, step-by-step instructions or systems designed to prevent accidents, injuries, illnesses, or property damage by guiding people on how to perform tasks safely. These procedures—tailored to hazards in environments like workplaces, healthcare, construction, or laboratories—set out what must be done (and how), who is responsible, and under what conditions tasks should stop … Read more
An aspiration hazard in the workplace refers to a chemical or substance—when swallowed or vomited—that enters the trachea and lower respiratory system (lungs), potentially causing severe outcomes like chemical pneumonia, lung injury, or even death. In simple terms, aspiration hazard means a harmful substance makes its way into your lungs, usually through the mouth or … Read more
The NFPA Diamond Hazard Rating System, formally known as NFPA 704, is a color-coded “fire diamond” that immediately conveys the hazard levels of materials across four quadrants—health (blue), flammability (red), reactivity (yellow), and special hazards (white)—each rated from 0 (no hazard) to 4 (severe hazard). This system is used by emergency responders to quickly assess … Read more
To carry out a safety harness inspection, begin with a pre-use visual and tactile inspection, checking the legibility of tags, integrity of webbing, stitching, and hardware, and immediately remove any harness that shows damage, wear, or has been involved in a fall. Then, perform frequent (daily) inspections before each use and schedule formal periodic inspections … Read more
Safety First means prioritizing safety above all other considerations—before productivity, speed, cost, or convenience—in any activity or environment. It emphasizes that we deliberately plan, act, and assess with the primary goal of preventing harm. In essence, when “Safety First” is more than a slogan, it becomes a mindset: make decisions and take actions that protect … Read more
A simple-to-use risk assessment template is a structured form that helps you identify hazards, evaluate risks in terms of likelihood and severity, and straightforwardly document preventive measures. A basic example might list “Hazard → Who’s at Risk → Likelihood → Severity → Control Measures → Risk Rating.” That answers the question right away — now, … Read more
There is no single universally mandated minimum or maximum temperature that employers must maintain in workplace environments; rather, a minimum of approximately 16 °C (or 13 °C for very strenuous indoor work) is commonly regarded as acceptable in jurisdictions like the UK, and there is no statutory upper limit, though employers must ensure temperatures remain … Read more