OSHA Weekly Safety Topics

Short safety meetings should refresh workers on issues they face often. In addition, safety risks and issues should be addressed when changes occur that involve a work environment, a new work site, or the equipment used on a job. Manufacturing employees, construction workers and industrial contractors have many safety issues in common. Safety meetings for these workers will cover some topics that would not be needed in other lines of work.

Machinery

• Safely talks regarding machinery pertain to manufacturing facility workers who perform their jobs with or near machinery. Safety issues also affect construction or contract workers who install, clean, or maintain the machinery.

Lockout Tagout

• Lockout/tagout is a procedure to shut down and lock any moving equipment so that anyone performing work on the equipment will not be injured. Electrical, chemical and hydraulic equipment are some of the common power sources for machines and equipment that should be shut down by means of lockout/tagout procedures. Electrical contractors, machine maintenance crews and inspectors, and workers who are involved in installing, moving or tearing down these types of equipment should be presented with safety talks about lockout/tagout.

Heavy Equipment

• Heavy equipment includes a multitude of machines such as cranes, earth movers, drillers and many other types of construction equipment. Manufacturers and contractors also use heavy equipment on certain jobs. Weekly safety talks should frequently focus on the type of heavy equipment work crews will be operating.

Power Vehicles

• Common types of power vehicles that are not included in the category of heavy equipment are forklift trucks and skid loaders. These smaller powered vehicles are used to lift loads of contained materials or move dirt and other loose materials. Forklifts are named for the two tapered fork-type lifters in the front of the machine. The forks can impale or crush workers outside the vehicle, as well as tipping over to crush or injure the operator. Loaders can crush or pin a person inside or outside the piece of equipment. Safety talks should include those who operate or work around these power vehicles.

Ladders and Scaffolds

• Ladders and scaffolds cause many injuries due to workers falling from great heights. Shock dangers from coming into contact with power lines is another common hazard of climbing equipment. Workers in construction are often involved in working with scaffolds as well as movable and fixed ladders. Contractors often must use these types of equipment as well. Manufacturing workers may work around ladders more than scaffolding but need to be reminded of the dangers and safety measures involved in both.

Confined Space

• A large storage tank is an example of a confined space in which construction workers, contractors and manufacturing workers may need to work inside. A trench is another example. Certain measures should be taken before, during and after workers enter these types of areas. Safety talks refresh confined space entry training as well as introducing a situation or hazard that workers have not confronted before.