Facilities, Real Estate & Auxiliary Services

While working aerial lifts; inspect lifts before use, work only on level ground, wear a harness, avoid standing on rails, and never operate ground controls when lift is occupied. See FREAS SharePoint page under Safety for more information on this topic and previous Weekly Safety Messages.

Hot Work Permit Mukhtari Abdul-Karim  Fire Some contractor employees using an oxy-acetylene torch (a very hot flame produced by mixing acetylene and oxygen) to cut were seen with no hot work permit. The cutting job was far from a designated welding bay. Their presumption was that as long as it was within the work area, it was fine to do the job without a hot work permit. What do you think? Some think of the hot work …

Mark Rubino Forklifts are excellent labor-saving devices. They save time and reduce the likelihood of injury associated with manual material handling activities. However, forklifts can become very dangerous if operated by a reckless or untrained operator. All operators should receive safety training prior to being allowed to operate a forklift. Forklift accidents tend to be very serious, involving both personal injury and damage to property. These accidents can be avoided if operators use some common …

One of the key issues associated with hand tool safety is choosing and using the right tool. Unfortunately, many people use tools improperly at home, where they improvise with what they have on hand. Also, many people view hand tools as simple to use, so there is little concern for safety. A person using hand tools, no matter what they are, should always follow safety precautions. Approximately 8 percent of industrial incidents result from the …

Personal fall protection systems such as harnesses can be a lifesaver for those who continually or occasionally work at heights. However, if it isn't in good shape, you could be putting your life in a risky situation. It is important to inspect your fall protection gear prior to every use. Always follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of your gear for inspections and maintenance requirements. Here are some things to look for: Harness Inspection Begin by …

Every day in the United States five to 10 arc flash explosions occur in electrical equipment. Anyone exposed to such explosions is at significant risk for death or serious injury. Arc flash is described by the National Fire Protection Association as “a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc.” A reduction of the insulation or isolation distance between energized components is responsible for this condition. For example, a tool …

Fatigue is the condition of being physically or mentally tired or exhausted. Extreme fatigue can lead to uncontrolled and involuntary shutdown of the brain. Fortunately, there are ways to fight fatigue: Get eight hours of sleep before starting work. Sleep at the same time each day. If they rotate shifts, establish clockwise rotations (from day to evening to night). Clockwise rotating makes it easier to go to sleep when a worker goes to bed. Take …

Foot protection means guarding your toes, ankles and feet from injury. Believe it or not, your feet have 26 bones for support and 38 joints for movement — in each foot. Feet also have blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and nerves, which is why it hurts when you stub your toe or drop something on your foot. Your feet are a critical part of your body that you use every day and, in some cases, enable …