In 1989, OSHA first issued CFR 29 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). It is estimated that compliance with the regulation prevents 120 deaths and 50,000 injuries each year across all industries. In...
Ideally, work on electrical lines and equipment is safely conducted with the power off. However, this is not always feasible. As a result, live line work is commonplace for those in the electrical power industry. It is...
In recent years there has been an increased emphasis on green energy and environmentally friendly technology development. As a result, the solar power industry has grown exponentially, and workers must be aware that hazards...
Sometimes summer’s sweltering heat can seem unbearable. Nevertheless, electricians and lineworkers still must work outdoors. That’s why it is imperative to understand the dangers of heat stress and how to avoid heat-related...
Electricity is not the only risk electrical contractors face. It is imperative to understand the fallout and other potential hazards that ECs encounter when working with electricity. Here is a helpful refresher on injuries...
Mobile service employees working on temporary residential and commercial job sites face unique challenges, including airborne toxins (such as mold), driving hazards, vermin, unruly pets and even poisonous animals. Fortunately...
Heat waves and intense summer temperatures can be deadly, especially for those that work in physical jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics'(BLS) most recent data, 38 workers died from exposure to temperature...
Multi-employer work sites can be a challenging environment from a safety standpoint. At any given moment, a variety of specialty and subcontractors could be working at one location. These may range from demolition contractors...
In 1994, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched its "Focus Four" initiative, targeting the top four safety hazards in construction: falls from heights, electrocution, crushing injuries (such as...
Even though wiremen, electricians and other electrical workers are familiar with the dangers of electricity and energized equipment, they far too often overlook or neglect simple, essential safety practices. This behavior...
For electrical contractors involved in solar roof installations who think that the same Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety requirements apply to their workers that apply to roofers, a recent court...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is sometimes thought of as an organization focused on the negative—always looking for what is going wrong in a workplace. But it’s with good reason the organization...
Demolition and renovation work present unique hazards that, unfortunately, often are overlooked and result in job-related injuries and fatalities. These dangers can be controlled and eliminated with the appropriate planning...
According to the latest annual report published by FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, "2019 People in Construction Report," employees in construction and construction-related jobs feel relatively satisfied in most respects...
Last week, OSHA announced the availability of $10.5 million in training grants for nonprofit organizations, including employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, state-funded colleges and...
Since the first crude ladder-like climbing device was used thousands of years ago, there have been fall hazards. Ladder manufacturers today make safety a top priority, and their products include multiple design features to...
According to the NFPA’s Trends and Patterns of U.S. Fire Loss report in 2017, “The fire death rate per million population fell 70% from 34.4 in 1977 to 10.2 in 2015.” The decline is largely attributed to the increased...
We must consider safety issues when installing a fire alarm system, interconnecting to other building systems, and testing and/or repairing fire alarm systems. We must also consider occupant safety during an alarm...
If you go to eBay to buy a voltage relay, you might choose Omron—oops, actually that’s Omrch. It’s a counterfeit part. It looks like Omron. Except, it’s fake. Omron relays are real. Omrch relays are fake. On the technology...
Facing tight budgets, an aging workforce and increasingly stringent safety standards, building managers are looking to third parties for electrical safety maintenance solutions. That means electrical contractors, who...
