Section: Safety News
Researchers call for more worker awareness in ‘moderately hazardous’ environments
Welders tell researchers why they don’t always wear PPE
Understanding ‘Point of Work’ in NFPA 70E
Preventing Electrical Accidents on Job Sites
Pressure to work fast, clumsy PPE hamper electrical safety
Redefining the Safety Hierarchy in a Confined Space
Safety Implications of Emerging Technology
Hydrating in the Heat Part 3: Can Other Drinks Besides Water Affect Hydration?
Safety Starts at the Top—and with Better Head Protection
Operational Readiness: Stop Fires Before There’s Even a Spark
The Power of Choice in AR/FR Clothing Programs
OSHA Launches Effort to Prevent Workplace Falls
Recovery-friendly workplaces can help combat the nation’s opioid crisis: report
Ladder Safety Best Practices
ESFI Releases Updated Workplace Safety Statistics
CPWR: 65% of construction deaths linked to ‘Focus Four’ hazards
Is Your Fall Protection Program Falling Short?
National Ladder Safety Month 2023: Safety Tips for Before and During Your Climb
7 safety essentials for an electric fleet
Is Time Running Out on Workplace Safety?
Electrocutions spur MSHA safety alert about overhead power lines
7 tips for safe use of ladders
ESFI Releases Updated Workplace Safety Statistics
Each year, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) collects information on fatal occupational electrical injuries using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Three Contractors Cited Following Worker Death After 12-Foot Fall
Three contractors are facing citations after an incident that led to the death of a 31-year-old employee.
Improving Electrical Safety in the Workplace
Safety is not to be brushed aside, though workers often overlook proper protocols
The aging workforce’s effect on electrical safety
Sun Tzu wrote in “The Art of War” that “in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
Comprehensive NFPA 70E Training for Qualified Workers
National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction set for May 1-5
Legislative Update- January 16, 2023
Fire Safety and Burn Prevention for Construction and Labor Trades
CPWR: Construction industry accounts for about half of job-related electrical deaths
Keeping Employees Safe from Hazards After a Snowstorm
With temperatures already dropping in regions of the country, many workers will soon find themselves working in the cold.
Use scaffolding safely
Electrical Safety Equipment All Factories Need
Working in a factory exposes employees to all kinds of electrical hazards. Heavy machinery that relies on electricity may shock and spark, causing burns, electrocutions, and fires
As slip and fall fatalities continue to occur, MSHA focuses on fall protection
Fatalities resulting from a slip and fall account for 12% of total miner deaths this year to date – more than twice the percentage reported in 2021
NJ Developer, Subcontractors Cited After OSHA Finds Employees Working Close to Energized Power Lines
One developer and two subcontractors in New Jersey were recently cited after metal scaffolding, which employees were on, was found only five feet from energized power lines.
Flame-Resistant Clothing Options You Should Own
As an electrician, you already know how important it is to stay safe. You’re in charge of protecting people and property. While everyone’s safety depends on your abilities, it also depends on proper equipment and safety gear.
From Top to Bottom: Proper Selection of PPE for Electrical Work
Electricity is one of the most dangerous and unpredictable things you can work with. According to data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 126 workers died due to exposure to electricity in 2020.
OSHA concerned about construction suicides, drug overdoses
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is increasingly concerned about suicides and opioid-related deaths in the construction sector, according to agency officials.
2022 VIECA Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament and Annual Meeting
The 2022 VIECA Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament which was held at Country Club of Barre was a complete success.
Why Considering Yourself a “Qualified Person” Might Not Keep You Safe
According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, contact with live electrical parts kills 143 construction workers annually making it the number two killer on construction sites behind falls.
High-Tech Tools Open Doors: Connecting workplaces for efficiency and productivity
Many essential tools of the electrical trade—pliers, hand drills, cutters, etc.—haven’t changed in decades.
The myth of ‘de-energized work’
The myth of “de-energized work” is an issue primarily for commercial, industrial and residential electrical work in the United States, not utility transmission and distribution.
2022 OSHA Inspection Prep Part Two: Indoor Fall Protection
In our first installment of this series, we discussed how to prepare your rooftop for an unexpected OSHA inspection. With this edition, we’re turning our lens to your facility's interior
Only about 1/3 of workers feel companies have a strong culture of safety
While workers assume they are the most responsible for safety in the workplace, there is a feeling that organizations can be doing a better job in creating a safe work environment.
Selecting the Proper PPE
Personal protective equipment or PPE is essential in all manufacturing jobs. This kind of safety gear provides protection from injury from minor cuts, bruises to major accidents.
Fast, Reliable Smoke Detection for the Dustiest Settings
Early smoke detection is often critical to quickly suppress fires.
How Workers Can Protect Themselves from Heat
As weathers become more extreme this summer, protecting yourself from extreme heat is important.
Emergency Lighting in Commercial Buildings Switches On
According to a report from market research firm Guidehouse Insights, smart technology is beginning to make inroads into emergency lighting systems for commercial buildings
Heavier Demand on the Grid Could Lead to Rolling Blackouts, Summer Power Outages
An early summer heatwave has much of the nation scrambling to keep cool. That means more demand on the electric grid as people turn on more fans and dial down their air conditioner settings.
Layering Arc Rated Apparel Any Better or Worse Than Arc Flash Suit Protection?
The topic of layering arc-rated apparel and its protection in comparison to other protective apparel is often a hot topic of discussion.
New Survey Shows Worker Opinion on Electrical Safety
The survey by Fluke Corporation compares data from 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was collected from February 1 to 28, 2022. The respondents were from 49 different states and included 922 workers.
Cal/OSHA Proposes $1.75M in Total Penalties for Four Companies
Four companies are being cited for multiple violations and proposed penalties totaling $1.75 million by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (known as Cal/OSHA).
Engineers aim for early detection of concerning chemical changes at worksites
Engineers from Purdue University say they have developed new technologies that enhance methods of detecting, identifying and quantifying chemicals in various work environments that might traditionally require lab analysis, and could protect workers from potential incidents.
Be careful when using pressure washers
Pressure washers are a great tool for powering away dirt, grime and other stuff from aluminum siding, patios and sidewalks
How to Protect Workers from Falls from Height
Birds are chirping, bees are buzzing and lawn mowers are revving. These are sure signs of warmer weather, but there’s another harbinger of summer: construction work.
Four Quick Wins to Improve Safety & Decrease Employee Turnover
Companies around the world are doubling their cultural efforts in a unique and challenging labor market. This is especially the case when it comes to placing a heightened emphasis on safer working conditions and practices.
NETA publishes 2022 standard for certification of electrical testing technicians
The InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) has published ANSI/NETA ETT-2022 “Standard for certification of electrical testing technicians”.
Over Half of Workplace Electrical Fatalities are Attributed to Non-Electrical Occupations
While investigating the recovery of electrical burn victims, researchers discovered a distressing truth about their data: the use of safety equipment, such as PPE and insulated tools, was alarmingly low.
Toolbox Talk w/Richard Wobby
Electric Company Cited Following Deaths of Two Teenage Apprentices
A tragic incident in North Carolina has led to the deaths of two 19-year-old apprentices at an electrical construction company.
Cut confusion over confined space
I wrote a similar article on this subject in 2005 for this magazine. To quote the third sentence of that article, “Confined Space Entry is a leading cause of occupational fatalities within the United States!”
On-the-job electrical fatalities fall, but injuries up, analysis finds
In 2020, 126 U.S. workers suffered fatal electrical injuries, a 24% decrease from the previous year, but nonfatal electrical injuries involving days away from work increased 17% over that same span
How to Provide Enough Lighting to Construction Sites
As the supply chain bounces back from pandemic-related deficiencies, construction professionals return to work, catching up on delayed projects.
Smart Confined Space Monitoring - Systems Innovate
Severe temperatures, poor ventilation, toxic gasses and extreme darkness – these are all common working conditions when operating in confined spaces.
Matts Minute: Hand Tool Safety
Hammers, wrenches, chisels, pliers, screwdrivers, and other hand tools are often underrated as sources of potential danger. Hand tools may look harmless, but they are the cause of many injuries.
Why Electrical Safety Should Be a Priority in Post-COVID Planning
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many of us think about safety—at the workplace and in our everyday lives. As we look ahead to the best ways to be safe in the post-COVID world, keeping ourselves and teams safe from the threat of future outbreaks does not mean other safety practices and standards become less important.
Rethinking Electrical Safety Because Lives Depend On It
Electrical safety is without question a critical component to a successful electrical installation. Yet many seem to have differing viewpoints on what is safe and what risks should be taken.
Protecting Respiratory Health in Workers During the Winter Months
The drop in temperature, weakening of the immune system and shortage of sunlight can produce seasonal respiratory diseases. Children and older adults are prone to the flu, asthma and lung problems during the winter months.
Temporary power safety
Contact with electricity is one of the leading causes of fatalities in construction, according to OSHA.
Look up: Ladders and overhead power lines
From 1992 to 2005, at least 154 workers were killed after a metal ladder they were using came in contact with an overhead power line, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in a recent NIOSH review.
The Rise of Electrification—The Electrical Safety PPE You Should Know  
Over the past several months, the term “electrification” has made its way into national conversation. Simply put, electrification means converting the way a?machine or system?operates?to the use of electrical power.?