Author: Marilyn Dempsey

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. Lessons learned is a new section of the GAWDA Safety Organizer that details lessons from fellow GAWDA members’ incidents, accidents and injuries. Information is sanitized to keep the member’s identity anonymous, unless the member company chooses to share their identity. Battery operated devices are everywhere and the welding industry is not immune, with battery operated welders becoming more popular. But these battery-operated devices come with…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. Due to the ongoing smoke pollution from the Canadian wildfires employees that work outside – especially drivers and yard employees- could be adversely affected by the smoke. Member companies in the smoke path should review the NIOSH document below (or visit GAWDA.org to download a copy), consider training the employees on the contents of the document and supply N95 respirator masks to affected employees. Wildfire…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. This OSHA, EPA and DHS Safety Organizer focuses on six Sample Safety Practices added to the GAWDA website by the GAWDA Safety Committee: Facility Securement Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout Confined Space Employee Onboarding Ladder Safety Safe Handling of Cylinders Facility Securement All member facilities contain hazardous material that can be targets for theft. The Sample Safety Practice “Facility Securement’’ provides guidelines for facility…

As summer approaches and the use of BBQ grills increases, we need to be mindful of the dangers propane can introduce when not properly filled, transported, and stored. This article is an overview of propane filling, transportation and storage and in-depth training should be conducted for all three topics. The greatest hazard of propane during the summer months is if liquid propane is vented into the atmosphere, it will vaporize into gas and expand to 270 times the volume. Propane gas is colorless, heavier than air and will pool in low places; if a source of ignition comes into contact…

Machine guarding isn’t confined to machine presses and rollers. Within our own facilities, we have equipment that must be guarded. Some examples of equipment that should be guarded include: exhaust fans, safety stops for blasting machine doors, belt drives and grinding equipment. Guards must: Protect against contact. Be secured to the machine. Ensure that no object can fall into the moving parts. Guards should not create additional hazards or interfere with machine performance. In addition to mechanical guarding, grounding electrical equipment is one of the most important safety measures. Grounding should be applied to the entire system and each individual…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section Hazards exist everywhere: Viruses, noise, chemicals, falling objects, slippery surfaces/uneven surfaces and sharp objects. Employers are required by regulation to protect employees from known and potential hazards in the workplace. The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, 29 USC 654(a)(1), requires employers to furnish to each worker “employment and a place of employment, which are free…