For those responsible for safety in the workplace, consider the following when making the selection that is just right for you: 1. Compliance and regulatory requirements 2. Convenience and protection factors 3. Chemical characteristics and capacity issues 1/ Compliance and Regulatory Requirements FM Global: https://www.fmglobal.com/research-and-resources/standards-and-certification/fm-approvals ULC (Underwriters laboratories of Canada): https://canada.ul.com/ulcstandards/technicalcommittees/listofcommittees/ OSHA NFPA: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.106 Federal, state and local regulations…

Kata is a methodology that empowers team members to solve problems themselves. In EHS, the state and federal regulations must be met. The question is what tools/methodology are you using to create a culture that is effective and efficient? A safety culture can provide great value—injury prevention, minimized risk and fatalities, a culture of care and team engagement, not to mention a reduction in costs and fines. The key is to focus on the process or system which may…

Visuality Encompasses All Lean ConceptsVisual workplace techniques represent a critical component of lean concepts, including 5-S, standard work, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), just-in-time (JIT) inventory management and kanban-based pull production. Here are some ideas on how visual devices can be put to profitable use in your lean initiatives. 5-S workplace organization: This technique focuses on sorting,…

With so many hardware options available for your lockout tagout program, it can be hard to know which padlock is right for your specific situation. Add on the complexities of managing lockout tagout programs for multiple departments or facilities and the options can be downright overwhelming. To help you sort through the confusion, we’ve developed…

Whether you realize it or not, color affects your behavior every day. Simply stopping your vehicle when you see a red light is an example of how your brain responds to color cues. That’s because color, when used as part of a repetitive, standardized system, becomes a part of your automatic, intuitive response. It’s scientifically…

Preventing chemical spills is easier and safer than cleaning and disposing of them. Chemical storage at factories and workplaces is suggested belows: Build chemical storage and mixing rooms that are fireproof, well ventilated, temperature controlled, and easy to clean. Transport chemicals in sealed, non-fragile containers. If transporting containers of liquid or powdered chemicals by trolley, a…

Help prevent hazards and control electrical energy at construction sites with this four-step safety plan to an effective LOTO program. Construction sites by their very nature are areas of increased risk. Since the construction of a building is literally a work in progress, there are many components on a construction site that are potentially hazardous…

While it is essential to have a safety program, it’s critical to transform culture from contentment to involvement. Several factors influence the need for manufacturing organizations to incorporate a safety program within their facilities. Regulations are viewed as primary by many individuals with a mindset of contentment. Individuals that exhibit an involvement mindset understand the impact safety has…

Focus on educating and training teams to ensure consistent inspection or audit findings, gain buy-in and maintain compliance When I was working as a fire inspector, and later as an assistant safety officer, I was often met with resistance when conducting safety audits and fire and life safety inspections. It didn’t matter what I cited:…

We all talk about sending our workers home the same way they arrived. But teaching your workers the ins-and-outs of heat illness prevention won’t just send them home safe, it has the potential to send them home even better than they arrived! As soon as your workers step into a hot environment, their bodies start…