The SafetyPro Podcast

SummaryThis episode with Blaine Hoffmann and Alex Paradies, from TapRoot gets into the value of metrics, the purpose of measuring, and the importance of understanding what to measure and what control we have over the results. They also talk about the challenges and limitations of leading and lagging indicators, the impact of gamifying measures, and the design fallacy in workplace metrics.Chapters* 00:00 The Value of Metrics* 07:37 Challenges of Leading and Lagging Indicators* 32:50 Proactive Measures vs. Leading Indicators* 46:26 Leadership and Accountability in Metric Adoption* 53:51 Cultural Shift for Successful Metric Implementation

Get the Book "Rethinking SAFETY Culture" Today! Join the Community of Safety Pros today! In this conversation, Blaine J. Hoffmann and Mark Alicea discuss the complexities of imposter syndrome, particularly within the safety profession. Specifically, how this phenomenon affects safety pros at all stages of their careers, the importance of building confidence through competence and the detrimental effects of comparison. Mark shares his personal journey in the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) field, discussing the challenges he faced and the strategies he employed to overcome feelings of inadequacy. The discussion also highlights the significance of setting personal goals, celebrating accomplishments, and fostering a culture of kindness and support in the workplace. Takeaways Imposter syndrome is a common issue that affects professionals at all levels. Building confidence is essential for career growth and development. Admitting you don't know something is a strength, not a weakness. Comparison with peers can hinder personal and professional growth. Setting personal goals can help navigate career paths more effectively. Celebrating small and large accomplishments is crucial for self-esteem. Kindness towards oneself and others fosters a positive work environment. Education and experience are both vital for professional development. It's important to seek help and mentorship from others in your field. Career trajectories are not always linear; growth can take many forms. Please listen to this episode and share it with others. If you want to discuss this and other topics in depth, become a SafetyPro Community member (it's FREE to join). Premium Community members can access exclusive content like episode videos, video courses, templates/downloads, participate in live streams, and direct message/live chat with the Safety Pro. Join the Community of Safety Pros today! Visit Mighty Line Tape for all of your facility marking needs. Order your free sample of floor tape TODAY! Visit Arrow Safety for all of your safety service needs. Remember to mention we sent you to get 25% off your estimate!

Join the Community of Safety Pros today! Join the Community of Safety Pros today! In this episode, we talk with Alexander Paradies from TapRooT® about things that can cloud our ability to see real problems in our processes and even comprehend "risky" situations and project what might happen. Please listen and share this episode with others. If you want to go more in-depth on this and other topics - become a SafetyPro Community member (FREE to join). Premium Community members can access exclusive content like episode videos, video courses, templates/downloads, participate in live streams, and direct message/live chat with the Safety Pro. Join the Community of Safety Pros today! Visit Mighty Line Tape for all of your facility marking needs. Order your free sample of floor tape TODAY! Visit Arrow Safety for all of your safety service needs. Remember to mention we sent you to get 25% off your estimate!

From Gallup: To say the "world's largest work-from-home experiment" has presented challenges would be an understatement. These challenges range from strategy and brand loyalty to customer centricity and employee wellbeing. While it might have been easy to dismiss well-being as simply a personal matter in the past, top leaders and managers who emphasize it will see significant returns. Employees with high well-being are more resilient during widespread or personal tough times, are less likely to have unplanned days out of the office, and have better performance than those with low well-being. The data tell us that remote workers have experienced well-being challenges, including ergonomics and lower back pain, poor mental and emotional wellbeing, less exercise, low self-care, and fewer social connections. Here's how leaders can address each of these relevant topics with their teams and organization. Stress and Mental Wellbeing On average, only 5% of employees reach out to their employee assistance program (EAP) each year. Yet many people are experiencing mental stressors: Gallup data from May showed that about half (47%) of employees felt worried, and 24% felt lonely "during a lot of the day yesterday." Leaders can encourage EAP utilization by bringing in experts to discuss it, identifying champions of mental health within the organization or its partners, and consistently communicating about program benefits. Leaders don't need to be mental health experts; they need to become a conduit to the right resources. Social Wellbeing Zoom gatherings have helped boost team relationships because employees have an opportunity to be more vulnerable (i.e., introducing their homes, pets, and children) and see their leaders in a more authentic home setting. But still, employees crave an even deeper solution. To promote social wellbeing, leaders should create a work environment that is conducive to friendship. Gallup finds that women who strongly agree they have a best friend at work are twice as likely to be engaged as those who say otherwise. Strong social connections outside of work are essential as well. Leaders and managers should ask employees about their friends and loved ones and ask employees to share stories about time spent away from work to demonstrate their authentic care. Physical Activity One of the best ways to sustain team physical wellbeing is by providing a robust organizational wellness program. Leaders should actively participate in well-being initiatives to stay current, strengthen relationships, and encourage employees to participate. When leaders are involved, it "green lights" individuals to activate and experiment with new ways to move and live healthy lives. Ergonomics As we moved to home offices, many of us settled into chairs and workspaces that don't meet our body's musculoskeletal (MSK) system needs. Even if leaders can't immediately offer home ergonomic solutions, they can aid workers by sharing free resources like professional videos and advice about reducing the risk and severity of ergonomic ailments. Self-Care Prioritizing individual well-being over a long list of responsibilities is easier said than done for many. Leaders should communicate that self-care is more than a trip to the spa; it includes a range of items from getting clinically recommended screenings to relaxing to intentionally using your strengths. Gallup research found that those who spent more time using their strengths experienced less worry, stress, anger, sadness, and pain. Employee wellbeing isn't something leaders can afford to overlook - on the contrary, it's more important than ever. Leaders who start prioritizing employee wellbeing will start seeing how it correlates with employee engagement - and, in turn, a host of personal and business outcomes. Reprinted with permission from Gallup. Join the discussion on LinkedIn. Just be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Powered by iReportSource OSHA requires that employees who are or may be exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents be given access to their medical and exposure records. Further, OSHA requires that such records be maintained for a long period of time because often the symptoms of the illnesses that come from the exposure don't appear until many years later. OSHA's requirement to maintain medical and exposure records applies to all employers who have employees exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents, such as heat, cold, radiation, repetitive motion, biological, chemical, etc. 29 CFR 1910.1020 — Access to employee exposure and medical records Terms you need to know Access: means the right and opportunity to examine and copy. Designated representative: means any individual or organization to whom an employee gives written authorization to exercise a right of access. For the purposes of access to employee exposure records and analyses using exposure or medical records, a recognized or certified collective bargaining agent shall be treated automatically as a designated representative without regard to written employee authorization. Employee: means a current employee, a former employee, or an employee being assigned or transferred to work where there will be exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents. In the case of a deceased or legally incapacitated employee, the employee's legal representative may directly exercise all the employee's rights pertaining to this OSHA requirement. Employee exposure record: means a record containing any of the following kinds of information: Environmental (workplace) monitoring or measuring of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent, including personal, area, grab, wipe, or other forms of sampling, as well as related collection and analytical methodologies, calculations, and other background data relevant to the interpretation of the results obtained; Biological monitoring results which directly assess the absorption of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent by body systems (e.g., the level of a chemical in the blood, urine, breath, hair, fingernails, etc.) but not including results which assess the biological effect of a substance or agent or which assess an employee's use of alcohol or drugs; Safety data sheets indicating that the material may pose a hazard to human health; or In the absence of the above, a chemical inventory or any other record which reveals where and when used and the identity (e.g., chemical, common, or trade name) of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent. Employee medical record: means a record concerning the health status of an employee which is made or maintained by a physician, nurse, or other health care personnel, or technician, including: Medical and employment questionnaires or histories (including job description and occupational exposures), The results of medical examinations (pre-employment, pre-assignment, periodic, or episodic) and laboratory tests (including chest and other X-ray examinations taken for the purpose of establishing a base-line or detecting occupational illnesses and all biological monitoring not defined as an "employee exposure record"), Medical opinions, diagnoses, progress notes, and recommendations, First-aid records, Descriptions of treatments and prescriptions, and Employee medical complaints. Note: "Employee medical record" does not include medical information in the form of: (1) Physical specimens (e.g., blood or urine samples) which are routinely discarded as a part of normal medical practice; (2) Records concerning health insurance claims if maintained separately from the employer's medical program and its records, and not accessible to the employer by employee name or other direct personal identifiers (e.g., social security number, payroll number, etc.); (3) Records created solely in preparation for litigation which is privileged from discovery under the applicable rules of procedure or evidence; or (4) Records concerning voluntary employee assistance programs (alcohol, drug abuse, or personal counseling programs) if maintained separately from the employer's medical program and its records. Exposure or exposed: means that an employee is subjected to a toxic substance or harmful physical agent in the course of employment through any route of entry (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption, etc.), and includes past exposure and potential (e.g., accidental or possible) exposure, but does not include situations where the employer can demonstrate that the toxic substance or harmful physical agent is not used, handled, stored, generated, or present in the workplace in any manner different from typical non-occupational situations. Record: means any item, collection, or grouping of information regardless of the form or process by which it is maintained (e.g., paper document, microfiche, microfilm, X-ray film, or automated data processing). Toxic substance or harmful physical agent: means any chemical substance, biological agent (bacteria, virus, fungus, etc.), or physical stress (noise, heat, cold, vibration, repetitive motion, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hypo- or hyperbaric pressure, etc.) which: Is listed in the latest printed edition of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS); or Has yielded positive evidence of an acute or chronic health hazard in testing conducted by, or known to, the employer; or Is the subject of a safety data sheet kept by or known to the employer indicating that the material may pose a hazard to human health. Overview of what is required Assess the workplace for any toxic substance or harmful physical agent exposures that may generate medical or exposure records. Keep employee medical records for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years. Keep employee exposure records for at least 30 years. Provide access to employees of their medical and exposure records. Inform employees annually of the existence and location of medical and exposure records and the process and rights for accessing them. FAQ When removing obsolete chemicals from the facility, does the removal date need to be documented? If yes, what is the proper procedure to do that? For the purposes of 29 CFR 1910.1200(e) whenever a hazardous chemical in the workplace are obsoleted, the employer must: Update the hazardous chemical inventory list, which is part of the written Hazard Communication Program; and Update the Hazard Communication Program as necessary. The employer should also remove the safety data sheet (SDS) for the obsoleted chemical from its employee SDS stations. For the purposes of a different regulation, 29 CFR 1910.1020(d), an employer must preserve and maintain employee exposure records for 30 years. SDSs indicating that the material may pose a hazard to human health are considered employee exposure records. In the absence of SDSs, a chemical inventory or any other record which reveals where and when a toxic substance or harmful physical agent was used and its identity is also an employee exposure record. SDSs must be kept for those chemicals currently in use that is affected by §1910.1200(g). However, once a hazardous chemical in the workplace is obsoleted, the employer has the choice of preserving and maintaining for 30 more years: The obsolete SDS, or A record concerning the identity of the hazardous chemical, where it was used, and when it was used. While OSHA does not "specifically" require the employer to document the removal date, it may be helpful to record that date so that an employer knows when the obsolete SDS may be disposed of after 30 years, if that option is taken. If the employer chooses to record the chemical identity and where and when the chemical was used, the employer will indirectly document the removal date because it will be included in the timeframe the chemical was used. Note that if an employer just keeps the SDS without the other information, the SDSs don't really meet the original "intent" of §1910.1020. That's why OSHA "recommends" that if you opt to keep SDSs you also include them when and where information, even though it is not mandated when the SDS option is taken. What is the liability for transferring/maintaining medical records when there is no successor employer? The Code for Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.1020, Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records outlines the correct process of managing employee records. According to that regulation, whenever an employer either is ceasing to do business and there is no successor employer to receive and maintain the records or intends to dispose of any records required to be preserved for at least thirty (30) years, the employer shall do one of two things. An employer must transfer the records to the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or they must notify the Director of NIOSH in writing of the impending disposal of records at least three (3) months prior to the disposal of the records. Depending on the content of the OSHA records, you may wish to share the information in them with the specific employee to whom they belong before transfer or disposal.

Powered by iReportSource Each year, you want to do all you can to protect the health and safety of your workers. You know that those investments pay off. After all, the average return on safety investment is as much as $4.41 for every dollar that's been spent. But how do you prioritize your safety and health investments? Depending on the resources you have available this year and beyond, here are four areas to invest in: 1. Safety performance indicators It's so essential for any business to be able to show and measure its safety performance. Learn Faster, spot critical areas that need attention, and take consistent action to support health and safety. Prioritizing the recording and tracking of leading indicators will also result in: More timely preventive and corrective actions The ability to better respond and recognize hazards More effective prevention through design and training. If you haven't already, invest in a comprehensive tool that can simplify or make this kind of real-time reporting possible. 2. Streamlining your workflows Many organizations are taking steps to have all-in-one safety workflows. Which means leaders across departments can collaborate on safety together. More specifically, they can collect and then manage incident reports, tasks, progress reports, and all other safety activities. Empower your company to make safety a shared responsibility by design. Companies are also making investments in areas that can free up employees' time in other ways. For example, iReport allows companies to quickly and easily automate OSHA logs. When you (or other employees) can generate and submit these reports automatically, you can spend your time on other areas that will add more value to the business. 3. Leadership training and development Time and time again, research has shown how leadership is tied to employee engagement and safety. Three examples of this include: One study saw that there was a lower lost-time injury rate when leaders displayed concern and care for the workforce; Another study showed that empowering workers, good relationships between management and workers, and an active role by top management in safety and health positively impacted injury rates; A third study showed that the amount of energy and creativity showed by senior managers and safety coordinators was a top factor in reducing injuries. Even though growing your leaders' capacity can at times seem allusive, leadership growth is one of the most vital pillars of safety excellence. Ultimately, leaders have a significant role in shaping their culture. And it's these same leaders that can help to unleash discretionary thinking/behaving in employees that can benefit your company's performance and day-to-day safety. 4. The employee experience Creating a positive, differentiated employee experience is of paramount importance. That starts with researching to see what experiences employees are having currently and seeing where those touchpoints could improve. It may take a bit of work to define your employee experience and to see where any gaps are, but here are a few common areas where you might look to focus where you spend your time: Recruiting and hiring Company values and how that meets up with norms and expectations Onboarding Reward and recognition practices Community-related efforts Workspace design and environment Compensation and/or benefits Well-being and wellness Safety and health Communication of workplace risks and issues related to safety Continuous learning opportunities Events and activities Coaching (informal and formal) Employee feedback Exit interviews Engaged employees are advocates for your company. They are less likely to become complacent on the job. They also create a competitive advantage that can't be easily replicated. Companies that have been intentional about fostering a great employee experience also tend to be safer and healthier organizations—and the opposite is true as well. This is undoubtedly one area that will continue to be worth the time and investment you put in. Achieve Safety Success in 2019 iReportSource gives you incident transparency, actionable insights, and easy record-keeping so you can foster your world-class safety program. Learn more about improving performance, lowering your risk, and becoming more proactive with iReportSource today. You can find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Powered by iReportSource Findings from a survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show that precautionary measures to minimize worker exposure to high-level disinfectants (HLDs) are not always used. The study results were recently published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The recent release is one of a series of reports detailing results from the 2011 Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers, the largest federally-sponsored survey of healthcare workers in the U.S. Respondents included those who chemically disinfect medical or dental devices using one or more of the following HLDs during the past week: glutaraldehyde orthophthaldehyde (OPA) peracetic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide Information on various exposure controls and impediments to using personal protective equipment (PPE) was assessed. Findings suggest that recommended practices are not always used by healthcare workers. The following describes examples of practices that may increase exposure risk: 17% never received training on the safe handling of HLDs. 19% reported that safe handling procedures were unavailable. 44% did not always wear a water-resistant gown or outer garment. 9% did not always wear protective gloves. 'Exposure was minimal' was the most frequently reported reason for not wearing PPE. 12% reported skin contact with HLDs during the past week. Workers reporting skin contact were 4 times more likely to report not always wearing protective gloves. When precautionary practices are not followed, workers handling HLDs are at risk of exposure. Ensuring proper precautionary measures are utilized requires diligence on the part of both employers and healthcare workers. Employers who provide a safety culture that demonstrates a strong commitment to health and safety of their workers ensure that adequate resources and safety equipment are available. Yes, workers should seek out training, understand and follow safety procedures, and feel free to report any safety concerns. In order to do this, leadership must set that expectation and provide the support needed to develop this culture of safety excellence. What are your thoughts? Send emails bout how you use technology to keep workers safe to info@thesafetypropodcast.com You can also find the podcast on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Powered by iReportSource Throughout OSHA regulations, you will find references to industry consensus standards such as those in Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment. These PPE regulations refer to ANSI standards as the safety criteria manufacturers must meet when producing eye, face, head, and foot protective equipment. OSHA requires employers to purchase personal protective equipment that bears the ANSI mark to ensure that the equipment provides the maximum protection for the wearers. OSHA does not include industry consensus standards in the regulations; rather, it refers employers to various consensus standards as the safety procedures and specifications that must be met in the workplace. This referral procedure is called "incorporation by reference." Incorporation by reference was established by statute and allows Federal agencies to meet the requirement to publish regulations in the Federal Register by referring to materials already published elsewhere. The legal effect is that the material is treated as if it were published in full in the Federal Register and, like any other properly issued regulation, has the force of law. In some cases, OSHA may not incorporate by reference a particular industry standard, but it may hold employers to that industry-standard under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, recognizing that the industry-standard contains best practices the employer should use. For instance, ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits an Supplies, has not been adopted by OSHA. However, ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 provides detailed information regarding the contents and types of various first aid kits; OSHA has often referred employers to ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 as a source of guidance for the minimum requirements for first aid kits. Where an OSHA standard incorporates an old consensus standard, what is the significance of an updated industry consensus standard? Under OSHA's de minimis policy, where OSHA has adopted an earlier consensus standard, employers who are in compliance with the updated version will not be cited for a violation of the old version as long as the new one is at least equally protective. Remember, though, that where an OSHA standard incorporates an earlier consensus standard, the only way the OSHA standard can be changed to adopt the new version is through rulemaking. For example, OSHA's aerial lift standard references ANSI A92.2-1969. Even though ANSI A92.2 has been revised, the OSHA aerial lift standard continues to require only compliance with the 1969 standard. There is no automatic adoption of the more current industry consensus standard. Industry consensus standards are just that, a voluntary standardization system for private industry. They set conformity and uniformity criteria for the development and manufacture of a great volume of products. These criteria are developed by committees of qualified representatives from industry, labor, and government agencies. In many instances, U.S. consensus standards are adopted in whole or in part as international standards. Some organizations that publish consensus standards include: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; American Society of Agricultural Engineers; American National Standards Institute; American Petroleum Institute; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Welding Society; Compressed Gas Association; National Fire Protection Association; and Society of Automotive Engineers. Copies of the consensus standards may be purchased from the organization that issues them. OSHA's Docket Office and each regional office also maintain copies of the standards referenced in the regulations. These standards are available for public review at those offices. What is NIOSH? NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is an agency separate from OSHA. NIOSH is part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH, also established by the OSH Act, is the research agency for occupational safety and health. What is ANSI? According to their website; As the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment. The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accreditation - assessing the competence of organizations determining conformance to standards. And there you have it; a quick run-down on national consensus standards. Let me know what you think; send emails to info@thesafetypropodcast.com You can find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update, letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Powered by iReportSource OSHA Sloping/Benching Diagrams I am sure you may have heard about trenching incidents near you or reading about them on a national level. Managing safety for these operations is quite simple once you know the requirements and understand some of the nuances that go along with the different soils and protective systems we have. Hazards Cave-ins pose the greatest risk with these activities and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. One cubic foot of soil can weigh 100 pounds. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car, and the kinetic energy of soil falling 3, 4, 10 feet, and you can see the danger here. It has been said that an unprotected trench is an early grave. So let me start by stating the obvious: do not enter an unprotected trench. Protective Systems So at what point do we need to protect a trench? According to OSHA, trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. Oh, and forget about stable rock, I will explain that later. If less than 5 feet deep, a competent person may determine that a protective system is not required. Competent Person OSHA standards require that employers inspect trenches daily and as conditions change by a competent person before worker entry to ensure the elimination of excavation hazards. A competent person is an individual who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards or working conditions that are hazardous, unsanitary, or dangerous to workers, soil types and protective systems required, and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate these hazards and conditions. Access/Egress OSHA standards require safe access and egress to all excavations, including ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit for employees working in trench excavations 4 feet (1.22 meters) or deeper. These devices must be located within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of all workers. Here are some other requirements to follow: Ground Safety Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges. In the fire department, we tried to keep all heavy rigs at least 25 feet away. But this was to prevent vibrations to already unstable trenches during rescue operations. But heavy equipment that could pose a hazard of falling into the trench or even knocking materials into the trench has to be located back at a safe distance. The standard requires that you keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials (like sand and gravel used for backfill or pipes being installed) at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges. Ongoing inspections are needed to ensure this requirement is being met. Underground Safety Know where underground utilities are located before digging. This is a requirement in the OSHA standards, but it requires you to follow State laws that actually govern locating and marking PUBLIC utilities. Private utilities still need to be located and marked as well. So, familiarize yourself with the 811 "call before you dig" system. Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases when > 4 feet deep. This is when you suspect there could be a hazardous atmosphere or one could reasonably be expected to exist, such as in excavations in landfill areas or excavations in areas where hazardous substances are stored nearby. Falls and Falling Objects Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials. This means workers down in the trench and the track hoe bucket swinging over their head to drop gravel, sand or pulling the material out. Also, Walkways have to be provided where workers or equipment are required or permitted to cross over excavations. Guardrails that comply with §1926.502(b) shall be provided where walkways are 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels. Again, only when workers are to CROSS OVER the open trench of 6 feet deep or more. Workzones Ensure that all personnel has high visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic. This is a requirement and you have to reference the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for minimum requirements for highways as well as flaggers being used. This tells you the ANSI rating needed for certain reflective apparel needed for day and night work. Emergency Preparedness Also, prepare for an emergency, especially if in an unfamiliar area, a rural area and/or working with a hazardous atmosphere by contacting the local emergency response service and determining whether or not they are equipped and prepared for a potential rescue. This may also drive the need to have someone trained in 1st aid/CPR at the site as well. Also, know where the nearest emergency medical center is located. For job sites, this should ALWAYS be a part of a site-specific safety plan anyway. Soil Classification Now, let's get into soil classification. You need to understand what OSHA deems to be stable or unstable soil and how the class of soil drives the protective system you choose. So let's get into some definitions you need to know and the different types of soil classifications as well as HOW to test soils. Remember, these terms are important to understand as we move forward: "Cemented soil" means a soil in which the particles are held together by a chemical agent, such as calcium carbonate, such that a hand-size sample cannot be crushed into powder or individual soil particles by finger pressure. "Cohesive soil" means clay (fine-grained soil), or soil with a high clay content, which has cohesive strength. Cohesive soil does not crumble, can be excavated with vertical side-slopes, and is plastic when moist. Cohesive soil is hard to break up when dry and exhibits significant cohesion when submerged. Cohesive soils include clayey silt, sandy clay, silty clay, clay, and organic clay. "Dry soil" means soil that does not exhibit visible signs of moisture content. "Fissured" means a soil material that has a tendency to break along definite planes of fracture with little resistance, or a material that exhibits open cracks, such as tension cracks, in an exposed surface. So anywhere in the Standard where you see reference to whether or not the slope or bench of a trench is "fissured", that is what it means. "Granular soil" means gravel, sand, or silt (coarse-grained soil) with little or no clay content. Granular soil has no cohesive strength. Some moist granular soils exhibit apparent cohesion. Granular soil cannot be molded when moist and crumbles easily when dry. "Layered system" means two or more distinctly different soil or rock types arranged in layers. Micaceous seams or weakened planes in rock or shale are considered layered. "Moist soil" means a condition in which a soil looks and feels damp. Moist cohesive soil can easily be shaped into a ball and rolled into small diameter threads before crumbling. Moist granular soil that contains some cohesive material will exhibit signs of cohesion between particles. "Saturated soil" means a soil in which the voids are filled with water. Saturation does not require flow. Saturation, or near saturation, is necessary for the proper use of instruments such as a pocket penetrometer or sheer vane. Which I will get into shortly. "Stable rock" means natural solid mineral matter that can be excavated with vertical sides and remain intact while exposed. "Submerged soil" means soil which is underwater or is free seeping. "Unconfined compressive strength" means the load per unit area at which a soil will fail in compression. It can be determined by laboratory testing or estimated in the field using a pocket penetrometer, by thumb penetration tests, and other methods. How to Classify Soil So let's dig into classifying soil. "Soil classification system" means, for the purpose of this subpart, a method of categorizing soil and rock deposits in a hierarchy of Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C, in decreasing order of stability. The categories are determined based on an analysis of the properties and performance characteristics of the deposits and the characteristics of the deposits and the environmental conditions of exposure. "Type A" means: Cohesive soils with an unconfined, compressive strength of 1.5 ton per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. Examples of cohesive soils are clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam. Cemented soils such as caliche and hardpan are also considered Type-A. However, no soil is Type-A if: The soil is fissured; or The soil is subject to vibration from heavy traffic, pile driving, or similar effects; or The soil has been previously disturbed; or The soil is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the excavation on a slope of four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or greater; or The material is subject to other factors that would require it to be classified as a less stable material. "Type B" means: Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa); or Granular cohesion-less soils including angular gravel (similar to crushed rock), silt, silt loam, sandy loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam. Previously disturbed soils except those which would otherwise be classed as Type C soil. Soil that meets the unconfined compressive strength or cementation requirements for Type A, but is fissured or subject to vibration, or Dry rock that is not stable; or Material that is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the excavation on a slope LESS steep than four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V), but only if the material would otherwise be classified as Type B. "Type C" means: Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less; or Granular soils including gravel, sand, and loamy sand; or Submerged soil or soil from which water is freely seeping; or Submerged rock that is not stable, or The material in a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the excavation or a slope of four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or steeper. In order to properly classify the soil, OSHA requires at least on visual analysis and one manual test be performed on the soil. Visual analysis is conducted to determine qualitative information about the excavation site. In general, you need to consider the soil adjacent to the excavation, the soil forming the sides of the open excavation, and soil samples taken from excavated material. Here are the steps: Observe samples of soil that are pulled out of the ground as well as the soil in the sides of the excavation. You need to estimate the range of particle sizes and the relative amounts of the particle sizes. Soil that is primarily composed of fine-grained material (like a putty) is cohesive material. Soil composed primarily of coarse-grained sand or gravel is to be considered granular material. Watch the soil as it is excavated. If it remains in clumps when excavated and dropped out of the bucket or shovel it is considered cohesive. If it breaks up easily, falls apart and does NOT stay in clumps you would consider it to be granular. Look at the sides of the opened excavation and the surface area next to it. Crack-like openings, like tension cracks, could mean that you are dealing with fissured material. If chunks of soil spalls off a vertical face of the excavation, this is another sign the soil could be fissured. Small spalls are evidence of moving ground and are indications of potentially hazardous situations. So be sure to look for this. Watch the area next to the excavation and the excavation itself for evidence of existing utilities and other underground structures, and to identify previously disturbed soil. An obvious sing would be indicated via utility markings made prior to digging or conduit, pipe, etc. being exposed as you dig. A less obvious sign of this would be a small patch of gravel or sand that you may have cut through or running alongside the trench. This may indicate backfill material and thus previously excavated soil. Also, watch the open side of the excavation for a possible layered system. Examine layered systems to identify if the layers slope toward the excavation. Estimate the degree of slope of the layers. This will also drive the slope angle allowed or if you can even bench the sidewalls. Look for evidence of surface water, water seeping from the sides of the excavation, or the location of the level of the water table. Both in the excavation as well as at the surface. Check the area for sources of vibration that may affect the stability of the excavation face. If you are running a front end loader up and down the length of an open trench carrying loads or straddling a part of the end of the trench with the track hoe then you might be subjecting the excavation to vibrations that could lead to unstable sections. OSHA also requires at least 1 manual test to be performed in order to determine quantitative as well as qualitative properties of soil. This provides more information in order to classify soil properly so as to get us to the next step; selecting appropriate protective measures. Let's run down the options for manual testing: Plasticity test. For this test, you simply mold a moist or wet sample of soil into a ball and then try to roll it into threads as thin as 1/8-inch in diameter. If the soil is cohesive (sticks to itself) it can be rolled into threads without crumbling and falling apart. For example, if at least a two-inch (50 mm) length of 1/8-inch thread can be held on one end, so dangling it, and it does NOT tear, the soil is cohesive. Dry strength test. If the soil is dry and crumbles on its own or with moderate pressure breaks into individual grains or even a fine powder, it is granular - so, any combination of gravel, sand, or silt. If the soil is dry and falls into clumps that break up into smaller clumps, but the smaller clumps can only be broken up with difficulty, it may be clay in any combination with gravel, sand or silt. If the dry soil breaks into clumps that do not break up into small clumps and which can only be broken with difficulty, and there is no visual indication the soil is fissured, the soil may be considered un-fissured. Thumb penetration test. The thumb penetration test can be used to estimate the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils. (This test is based on the thumb penetration test described in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard designation D2488 - "Standard Recommended Practice for Description of Soils (Visual - Manual Procedure).") Type A soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tsf can be readily indented by the thumb; however, they can be penetrated by the thumb only with very great effort. Type C soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf can be easily penetrated several inches by the thumb and can be molded by light finger pressure. This test should be conducted on an undisturbed soil sample, such as a large clump of spoil, as soon as possible after excavation to keep to a minimum the effects of exposure to drying. If the excavation is later exposed to rain, flooding, etc. the classification of the soil must be changed as well. Other strength tests. Estimates of unconfined compressive strength of soils can also be obtained by the use of a pocket penetrometer or by using a hand-operated shear vane. These are instruments used to penetrate a sample with a rod containing a resistance spring and a measuring cylinder to read unconfined compressive strength. The shear vane is a tool with a numbered dial and needle and requires a soil sample with a flat surface where you impress a disc with vanes and twist it until it shears off a section of the soil sample thus giving you a reading. These instruments come with instructions and also have some environmental limitations (springs acting differently in cold vs hot weather) and could be subject to wear over prolonged use. Drying test. The basic purpose of the drying test is to differentiate between cohesive material with fissures, un-fissured cohesive material, and granular material. The procedure for the drying test involves drying a sample of soil that is approximately one inch thick (2.54 cm) and six inches (15.24 cm) in diameter until it is thoroughly dry: If the sample develops cracks as it dries, significant fissures are indicated. Samples that dry without cracking are to be broken by hand. If considerable force is necessary to break a sample, the soil has significant cohesive material content. The soil can be classified as an un-fissured cohesive material and the unconfined compressive strength should be determined. If a sample breaks easily by hand, it is either a fissured cohesive material or a granular material. To distinguish between the two, pulverize the dried clumps of the sample by hand or by stepping on them. If the clumps do not pulverize easily, the material is cohesive with fissures. If they pulverize easily into very small fragments, the material is granular. Some of these tests are more for soil engineering and designing complex protective systems. Your average worker involved in excavation activities is probably going to use the visual analysis along with the plasticity test or thumb penetration test. Just getting your hands on a sample and trying to mold it, feel it, see how it behaves is really a good way to determine what you are dealing with. ProTip: Forget solid rock; it can have any fractures/fissures, if you are scraping, blasting, hydraulic fracturing, pile-driving, drilling, then you are creating this condition. Which means pieces of varying size could potentially come loose and fall into the trench. Therefore you move to the next level: Type A soil. Well, if it is fissured or subject to vibration, etc. then it cannot be considered type A. And let's face it, most excavations will be subject to varying degrees of activities that meet this criterion. So, we are left with Type B soil and C. Cohesive or non-cohesive? (ok, there is a gray area known as non-cohesive type B, but honestly, just call it non-cohesive and get to work!). So is it Clay or Sand? It really is that simple. Once you know the soil type, you can determine what protective system to use. Here your options are sloping, benching or shoring of some kind. The maximum allowable slope is as follows: Stable rock - vertical (90) Type A - 3/4:1 (53) Type B - 1:1 (45) Type C - 1 1/2:1 (34) Notice I said MAXIMUM allowable slope! This means you may need to make it "flatter" if it is needed. Sloped means the angle at which it will lie and NO LONGER MOVE! So keep that in mind. If you have Type B soil based on the visual and manual test and slope it to a 45-degree angle and you get sloughing then you need to dress that slope back more. Benching is the same; the angle of the bench as measured from the TOE of the trench (nearest bottom side). So you can tell how many steps will be needed to achieve the 45-degree angle. You are only allowed a 4-foot maximum face for the first bench step you make, then a 5-foot maximum face thereafter. You can also use a single bench; make a 4' maximum face, cut it back then go to the slope needed for the soil type. Or an unsupported vertically sided lower portion; you can come straight up no more than 3 1/2 feet then hit your slope. But keep in mind, Type C soil according to OSHA CANNOT be benched! Only sloped or shored. And, these are ONLY allowed for trenches up to 20 feet deep. Trenches 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep or greater require that the protective system be designed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/or approved by a registered professional engineer. As for shoring; like trench boxes and speed shoring - you have to make sure you have what is called the tabulated datasheet for that system ONSITE. This tells you the depth limits based on soil type as well as width limitations, whether you can stack 2 or more trench boxes on top of one another, things like that. This gets tricky as there are all sorts of systems so I won't get into specifics here. Just keep in mind, if your box or shield is below grade at any point, you must slope or bench as allowed per the soil type for any soil above the top of the device and you need at least an 18" lip to catch any rolling materials from going into the trench. Same for the bottom; you can only raise the box or shield off the bottom of the trench up to 18" if conditions allow. So there are some little rules that go along with these systems; but again, you need to know the system requirements BEFORE beginning work and have that data onsite while work is taking place. I hope you got some good info from this episode. Please follow up and seek more formal training for yourself and your co-workers on this topic. If you are overseeing work at your facility that involves this type of activity then I hope I gave you some good tips so that you can begin to go out and look at this work and assess whether or not things are compliant. Please let me know what you think, share your thoughts by emailing me at info@thesafetypropodcast.com. You can find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Powered by iReportSource I want to get into confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces. I need to break this topic up into a couple of different episodes, beginning with a general introduction to terms, definitions, emergency response, and some training requirements before getting into specifics around the actual entry permits and entry procedures like monitoring in the next episode. Ok, so let's first define the terms for our discussion: According to 29 CFR 1910.146, a confined space is ANY space that: * Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work * Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.) * Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Let's talk about that last part for a moment; OSHA defines continuous human occupancy vaguely, but use the following as a benchmark: Can the worker safely remain inside the space during operation? Of course, we are talking about not being exposed to a recognized hazard while inside; moving/rotating parts, live electrical components, gases, fumes, or other hazardous atmosphere, things like that. I have heard all sorts of crazy excuses why a space is NOT a confined space: - It has a door - There is a light, they meant for someone to be in there - There are two ways out You need to assess and evaluate ALL aspects of the space to determine whether or not it is considered a confined space according to OSHA. So, confined spaces can include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, underground utility vaults and pipelines, etc. It really depends on you being able to assess the space in question. Now, OSHA states that the employer shall evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are PERMIT-required confined spaces. Well, a "Permit-required confined space (permit space)" means a confined space that we already defined, has one or more of the following characteristics: 1. Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere 2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant 3. Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section OR 4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard If the workplace contains any permit spaces, you have to inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the PERMIT spaces. I always recommend controlling access further by adding physical locks when possible. Especially if your policy is that no employees are permitted to enter these spaces. This adds another level of security to the postings. Ok, for me, starting with managing the spaces themselves as well as the activities in and around these spaces is the key to ensuring worker safety. And it all starts with making sure you are PREPARED to respond to ANY emergency in the workplace. Emergency services (whether you have confined spaces or not) is critical for any workplace. First and foremost, you need to determine whether or not emergency crews are able to reach your facility in what OSHA calls a "reasonable amount of time" for life-threatening situations. So, according to OSHA, in workplaces where serious accidents such as those involving falls, suffocation, electrocution, or amputation are possible, emergency medical services must be available within 3-4 minutes, if there is no employee on the site who is trained to render first aid. OSHA recognizes that a somewhat longer response time of up to 15 minutes may be reasonable in workplaces, such as offices, where the possibility of such serious work-related injuries is more remote. Also, OSHA has interpreted the standard to require a separate (either in-house or outside) rescue and emergency service when permit space entry operations are performed in an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmosphere. This means any condition that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual's ability to escape unaided from a permit space. An example would be during inerting activities. Even in permit space entry operations involving non-IDLH atmospheres, more than one rescuer may be required in permit space entry operations depending on the hazards present and the number of authorized entrants that may require rescue. The minimum number of people required to perform work that is covered by OSHA standards for permit-required confined space entry standards and respiratory protection standards will be driven by facts such as the hazards or potential hazards, the number of entrants who may require rescue and the configuration and size of the space. So planning is critical! When using outside services that are able to meet the response time, consider the following: * Have local response crews been out to see your facility? * Have they done a walkthrough of some high-hazard processes and activities (not just confined spaces)? * Are they equipped to manage the types of emergencies your site may present? (Many rural departments may lack some of the resources needed) * Have emergency services crews trained or conducted simulated rescues at your site? These are just a few examples of best practices you can follow to ensure a higher level of safety. Also, keeping track of who is entering these spaces at any given time is key. Whether they are contractors or your own employees; knowing when entries are taking place and tracking entrants is a major part of the OSHA requirements. This gets us into the permit entry system. This is your written procedure for preparing and issuing permits for entry and for returning the permit space to service following the termination of entry. This is important; for a PERMIT required confined space, NO entry is allowed unless a written entry permit is completed, you have identified the trained attendant, entrants and entry supervisor (we will go through all that in the next episode) and have documented each hazard of the space and how each hazard is mitigated. Now, since deaths in confined spaces often occur because the atmosphere is oxygen-deficient or toxic, confined spaces need to be tested prior to entry and continually monitored. More than 60% of confined space fatalities occur among would-be rescuers; therefore, a well-designed and properly executed rescue plan is a must. If spaces are properly evaluated prior to entry and continuously monitored while the work is being performed and have appropriate rescue procedures in effect, fewer incidents would occur. OSHA considers entry to have been made into space whenever ANY part of the entrant's body breaks the plane of the space opening. CAUTION: hazards may still be present right outside the opening, like when a space has undergone nitrogen purging; an oxygen deficiency could exist just feet outside the opening and someone could be bending down to look inside (without breaking the plane) and be overcome, and pass out, fall into the space, etc. And this HAS led to fatalities before. So just because OSHA says you have to break the plane to have made an entry, don't forget about the general environmental controls standard that applies just outside the space. Let's stop there with entry procedures and save that specific topic for the next episode. I wanted to give you an overview of what is involved and what to expect moving forward. Now that you have an idea of what these spaces are (according to OSHA) and some of the requirements; let's focus on preparing for confined space operations in general. In a word; TRAINING. Employees need to be trained BEFORE they are assigned any duties related to confined space work. Let me break these into some categories for you: 1. General safety 2. Entrants 3. Attendants 4. Supervisors For general safety training, all employees, regardless of their role, need to understand the common hazards present or that may be present in any of the spaces that they might work. Especially hazards they may be introducing themselves. Are they cutting or welding? Are they using chemicals? Are they using electrical equipment? Training also has to include signs and symptoms of exposure to certain hazards. All workers need to know how to identify whether or not an entrant is being affected by any of the hazards that may be present. They also need to understand how hazards are to be controlled, the monitoring equipment used in spaces, etc. General training also has to include how to respond in an emergency. If you do rely on 911 (local emergency services, assuming you already verified they are able to perform such rescues as I already discussed) they need to go over the communication system to be used prior to work beginning. According to the Standard; you have to develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue. Also, if there is any fall protection or retrieval equipment being used, they have to be properly trained on its set up and use. Especially if non-entry rescue is being utilized. This is crucial. You can see that knowing the confined spaces standard is not enough. You will need to know general safety requirements, PPE standards, Fall Protection, Respiratory Protection, Emergency Services, and First Aid, and more! Attendants need to know all of the general training requirements as well as the need to remain at the space at all times. They cannot perform ANY other duties that interfere with being an attendant. The entrant can't yell out to the attendant that they need a wrench or something and the attendant runs to the toolbox real quick and grabs it. They can't be chatting up another site worker about the game last night, nothing like that! This all has to part of the training. The same goes for the entry supervisor. Now the entry supervisor is responsible for ensuring ALL the sections of the permit have been addressed appropriately. The entry supervisor can also serve as the attendant if they are trained to do both, but I always recommend off you have the ability, use another layer of oversight by having someone else be the entry supervisor. The permit itself we will go into detail on in the next episode. How to fill it out, terminating the space entry, how long you need to keep these on file, all that stuff. I will have permit templates available, checklists for you so you can get started. But this episode, I wanted to introduce the topic, talk about some of the definitions and training requirements to get us started. So keep an ear out for the next episode as we go deeper into this topic. Let me know what your thoughts are regarding confined spaces. I would like to cover some FAQs as well and talk about some common letters of interpretation in the next episode that will help you improve your confined space entry program. You can find me on LinkedIn! Post a LinkedIn update letting me know what you think of the podcast. Be sure to @ mention Blaine J. Hoffmann or The SafetyPro Podcast LinkedIn page. You can also find the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Online safety training has come a LONG way from what it was even 5 years ago. Technology like mobile devices and apps has made digesting information easier and more interactive. So in this episode I want to focus on what works best as far as online safety training goes, and what to avoid. Years ago, a model for training emerged called Adaptive Learning. I won't bore you with the higher education definition of the term. Not because I don't think any of you would understand it; of course you would! But because when we use the term in the context of online safety training, the definition takes on a whole new meaning. Adaptive learning for this discussion simply means the learner can drive the direction of the training based on their interactions. This goes well beyond the old "CORRECT/INCORRECT" feedback responses they typically get. So let's get into what to look for in online safety training and what to avoid. So for online safety training, adaptive learning is simply the lesson presenting an activity whether it is a questions, matching, photo to select what is wrong, even a short clip of a work scenario and some question after, and then, based on the learners answer, they are presented with more information. A simple example is if the lesson presents a question like, True or False: "safety glasses are only to be worn when you are performing a task with a power tool." and the learners selects true, the lesson presents information explaining that "many times employees are around someone or will pass by someone using power tools that may present a hazard, given this information what should you do?" The learner would then select an answer, again, either answer results in more information other than a simple CORRECT/INCORRECT. You see, the lesson seems to adapt to the learner's responses. So how does this work? The answer is quite simple. Using software one can easily create different "slides" with this information. Then using buttons for answer options, link each option to a slide with the relevant info. You could even do this with PowerPoint - create branching slides based on responses. The question is, how deep do you want to go with it? Ideally you want to go as far it takes to make a point. If someone doesn't get a simple concept by the third slide or so, it would be best to present a policy statement and ask several different ways if they understand; requiring a "yes, I understand" selection. If not, their training is paused until an actual person can coach them. But back to the training concept, it is that simple. It is more engaging and informative to ask if PPE needs to be worn in a specific scenario (either described or shown in pictures or video). And if they choose the wrong answer, present a slide or video or picture with text with the rationale for the right answer, then ask it again in a different way to verify they understand the concept. Make sense? So imagine an online training lesson that adapts this way? It is far better than the old "Pump and Dump" approach that is still used today. This adaptive learning model is great as it allows you (if you are the creator) to really dive deep on concepts and ideas for the learner. Even the correct answers can introduce another level of depth into a concept. This graduated approach makes complex issues like CSE or Fall Protection easier as it allows you to introduce and validate foundational elements before getting into more complex ones. The learner tells the system when he/she is ready for the next level. Another way to approach ANY online safety training is to use a blended approach. This can be live or broken up over time. Meaning, combining online training with instructor-led training. This can really enhance learning. Imagine taking basic definition of terms on concepts of fall protection in an online adaptive learning course, then jumping into the classroom for hands-on demos and activities to reinforce what you were introduced to online? That is really powerful. I have seen this work well. This brings up a distinction worth noting; the difference between training and education. I have a simple way (maybe too simple) of looking at the two terms: Education is transferring knowledge of a particular subject. Training is the practical application or use of that knowledge. So to me, taking an online course about fall protection simply educates one on the requirements of the subject; definitions, procedures, policies, etc. Training is the hands-on demonstration where learners have to inspect harnesses with hidden flaws, practice donning/doffing, using snap hooks, practice using a beam strap on a simulated beam, etc. You need BOTH in many safety and health topics. So to me, you need to be involved in the training and education process for all employees. You cannot simply pass this off to an online option with no input whatsoever. That said, online safety training is extremely effective and user friendly, accessible, and affordable. Many topics that simply require knowledge (education) about requirements can be taken online. A lot of us safety professionals need to keep up on regs, permit requirements, etc. and much of this is at the education level I just talked about. Maybe one could add an activity to fill out a permit or shipping manifest or something like that as a training aide. But by and large, much of what we professionals need is definitely in the realm of education vs training. There are so many options out there for this. Personally, I have an affiliate relationship with Atlantic Training. Their courses are affordable, and give you what you need to get started; knowledge of the topic. I have a link in the show notes if you want to check them out. Again, they are not a sponsor or anything like that. Other options are the National Safety Council. They have industry recognized training and education courses that I have recommended for years now to clients and even listeners that have contacted me about how to brush up on their safety management skills. So look around, ask peers what they did and how they liked it - that is still the best way to get feedback before you buy. Also, many offer free lesson previews as well. So be sure to look at those to see if the look, feel and style of the online training is best for you. I have taken some where the voice was digitized, monotone and just unbearable! I would not have chosen that course if I had a preview first. So look for that. Also, look for anything that provides downloads or supporting materials like manuals, handouts, even job aides to use with others at work, like tool-box talks, safety huddles, etc. The internet is seemingly endless with options these days. So I hope I have given you some options to look for. Let me know what you think - have you taken some really bad lessons? How about your recommendations? Please share your thoughts by sending an email to info@thesafetypropodcast.com Mentioned in this episode: Mighty Line Floor Tape www.safetytalkideas.com Atlantic Training National Safety Council

Labels still create problems for many employers. Learn what is needed and listen to some examples of what to do and not do when it comes to labels in the workplace. Be sure to send email questions or topics for future episodes to info@thesafetypropodcast.com.