Safety Simplified Blog

Hazard monitoring equipment can prevent grain dust explosions, save lives, and protect your facility from collateral damage. I have always referred to these systems as “cheap insurance.” The up-front investment pales in comparison to the impacts an explosion has on employees, facility infrastructure, and business interruption. Ignition Sources There are three primary ignition sources that […]

  The following information is part of a report released by Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program. This report is on reported agricultural confined space incident related injury and fatality cases documented during 2022. The program has documented and, entered into Purdue’s Agricultural Confined Space Incident Database, more than 2,460 fatal and non-fatal agricultural […]

I once had a conversation with a safety manager that ended with, “I’m sorry, but I have to cut our call short. One of our managers just fell off a railcar.” Imagine falling 15 feet to the ground below. The very thought brings to mind images of debilitating injuries and possibly death. Fortunately, fixed horizontal […]

Ask any well-trained employee entering confined spaces what their main concern is, and they will most likely say, “oxygen deficiency.” Notice the use of the words “well-trained.” Oxygen deficiency in confined spaces isn’t something we can see with our eyes. However, if we can educate employees on the causes, symptoms, and health effects oxygen deficiency […]

Workers in grain elevators as well as milling and processing facilities are no stranger to combustible dust. Many have experienced the power of these tiny particles first-hand or have seen pictures of the damage caused by dust explosions. If you’ve ever wondered the determining factors that make dust combustible, you’ve come to the right place. […]

Truck drivers carry a great deal of responsibility on the roads. Having the right skills and knowledge to safely operate their vehicles keeps them safe and protects other motorists. While truck drivers undergo a specific exam to get their commercial driver’s license, additional trucking safety and compliance training can upskill drivers to operate their vehicles […]

Communicating is something we all do. But when did you last consider how effective your communication is in the workplace? What would your employees say? Getting communication right is something you can achieve — it just takes consideration and intentionality. Let’s look at the steps you can take to become an excellent and effective communicator. […]

I recently assisted a company with their annual fall protection equipment inspections. It was a tedious and monotonous task but well worth it. Throughout the process we removed numerous body harnesses, connectors, self-retracting lifelines, and safety ropes. Each piece of equipment removed from service was a reminder of the importance of the pre-use and annual […]

Core Elements of an Effective Program The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated the standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout Tagout), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147 in 1982. The standard is responsible for preventing numerous injuries and fatalities since it went into effect in 1989. Lockout tagout is […]

Grain dust explosions often result in fatalities, injuries, and significant property damage. OSHA’s Grain Handling Standard 29 CFR Part 1910.272 addresses grain dust explosion prevention and includes a requirement for a written housekeeping program to address fugitive grain dust. Why Does Grain Dust Explode? Secondary explosions occur when the blast or pressure wave from the […]

Written Program Requirements The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Permit Required Confined Spaces standard 1910.146 establishes requirements for safe entry into confined spaces. According to the standard, employers requiring workers to enter confined spaces must develop and implement a written permit space program. The written program should contain guidance on space identification, entry procedures, the […]

Using a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) without evaluating fall clearance is like bungee jumping with a bungee cord that is too long. It places workers in a situation that can result in severe injury and death. Prior to using a PFAS employees must have a basic understanding of fall clearance. Calculating fall clearance takes […]

Harvest is the perfect storm, a critical state of affairs with negative and sometimes unpredictable factors including seasonal workers, combustible dust, equipment failure, worker fatigue, and vehicle traffic. While it is difficult to eliminate all of these factors, it is possible to define and implement strategies to control or reduce their impact. Strategies like incident […]

Commitment Changes Culture As a consultant I’ve learned that companies approach safety in different ways. Some balance the need for compliance with commitment to their employees while others focus merely on compliance. It’s hard to argue that maintaining compliance with OSHA regulations shouldn’t be part of an organization’s approach. I’d argue that focusing merely on […]

Throughout our lives we’ve all heard of the importance of leading by example. Whether it is the example set for children, colleagues, or subordinates, leading by example is an effective means to influence behavior. An organizations culture reflects its beliefs, values, and attitudes. Establishing an effective safety culture requires employees, regardless of title or position, […]

How do you build a safety culture in your company? You may be curious. You may be ready. You can do a google search and find more choices than a Starbucks menu board. Like your order of daily roast, it can be confusing for sure, not to mention expensive! I’d like to share several strategies […]

We Aren’t Born with It! “They need to be more aware of their surroundings.” This term is often used to describe the corrective action resulting from an employee injury. Using this term assumes that everyone is born with a certain amount of “situational awareness” that will provide a protective shield against exposure in the workplace. […]

What if someone told you that a simple investment could improve productivity, increase worker morale, attract better employees, improve the company’s image in the community, and save money. There is an investment that can guarantee all of these things. Investing in workplace safety can reduce and sometimes eliminate the direct and indirect costs associated with […]