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Ladder safety often seems like a no-brainer but it's easily overlooked. Going over ladder basics could mean the difference between safety and injury.

The post Ladder Guard Basics appeared first on Dakota Safety.

OSHA plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of workers across the nation. Are you up-to-speed on their latest fall protection changes? Here's the facts.

The post Staying Informed on OSHA’s Fall Protection Changes appeared first on Dakota Safety.

Bollards and column protectors are everywhere, yet we never think about how useful they are in their various settings. Learn more about their uses.

The post Understanding Bollards and Column & Shelf Protectors appeared first on Dakota Safety.

If you're a brick and mortar business, chances are there's a fixed access ladder attached to your building. Check out this primer for access ladder basics.

The post Fixed Access Ladders 101 appeared first on Dakota Safety.

the importance of keeping your HVAC in good working order is a no brainer. Are you doing everything you can to ensure your system is in peak condition?

The post Is Your HVAC in Ship-Shape? appeared first on Dakota Safety.

The leading cause of occupational injuries and fatalities is falls. In fact, within the past decade, it is the #1 OSHA-violated standard, resulting in workplace tragedies, costing businesses a substantial amount of money and damaging their reputations.

Perhaps it is fair to say that one of the most dangerous work environments is industrial spaces, including factories, warehouses, and manufacturing plants. Such settings create numerous opportunities for tripping, slipping, and falling from greasy floors and damaged steps to clutter and uneven walking surfaces. 

There are many occasions on a worksite when there may be a requirement to work at height. For such a job, you’ll be unsurprised to hear that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) frowns upon clambering up the nearest tall object; you’re going to need a ladder.

But once you’ve made the decision that the task requires a ladder, how do know which type to go for? There are a wide array of options and picking the wrong one could be hazardous.

Here are a few things you need to consider when choosing the right ladder for your worksite.

Safety equipment is a necessity for your employees and for your company. As a business owner or facility manager, you’re responsible for purchasing equipment to protect your employees from falls and other dangerous working situations. Additionally, you are responsible for providing services that keep your building free from hazards.

Building and maintaining a safe workplace should be an ongoing process for all employers, not simply a list of things that can be checked off once and forgotten. Because safety is a serious matter of life or death, fostering a successful, proactive safety culture requires the utmost commitment and dedication from every member within an organization.

Since OSHA regulations change constantly, it is important to evaluate your company’s safety protocols. As we welcome the new year, now is the time to determine how you can effectively assess your safety plan to ensure a happy, injury-free workplace for your workers.      

Workers compensation is a form of insurance designed to help employees recover from injuries sustained in the workplace. While each state has different laws pertaining to workers compensation, benefits typically include paying for medical expenses, death benefits, lost wages, and rehabilitation services.

Despite the amount of preventative actions a company may take, accidents do and will always happen. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “More than 1.1 million injuries happened in the workplace in 2011, with an average recuperation time of 8 days.”

Keeping workers safe on the job is one of the biggest expenses for employers; a large portion of the company budget goes to informing and training employees on safe work practices as well as reviewing facilities and making any necessary changes.

In all industries, there comes a time when a business must evaluate a piece of equipment that is nearing the end of its lifespan and ask an important question: can it be repaired or does it need to be replaced?

For many industries, there’s a bit of wiggle room when it comes to squeezing a few more uses out of a piece of equipment. After all, what’s the worst that can happen if you continue using a laptop that’s on its last leg or an appliance that’s out of date?

On the other hand, safety and fall protection equipment is an area where you can’t afford to take chances.

Though working in warehouses and distribution centers might look like an easy, straightforward task to visitors, it involves many factors that require careful planning and efficient operations. While most companies tend to focus their safety efforts on construction sites and transport vehicles, warehouse safety is often neglected.

Yet the key to optimizing productivity, cost savings, and ensuring a smooth supply chain flow requires serious dedication to warehouse safety. There is always danger when working with shelves, pallets, and boxes. Read on to learn more about best practices for enabling a happy, injury-free working environment for your warehouse employees.