Web Series on General Office Safety - Part 2 of 4

Welcome back to part 2 of our 4 part series on general office safety! If you missed out on part one, you may check it out here!

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

PPE is designed to protect you from hazards related to your work. Examples of PPE are hard hats, foot guards, safety shoes, leggings, glasses/goggles, shields, earplugs, respirators, gloves, vests and coveralls. OSHA requires you to complete a Hazard Assessment to determine what these hazards are, provide workers with appropriate PPE and require them to use and maintain it in a sanitary and reliable condition. 

Pictured examples of safety equipment along with other some information on safety equipment can be found (rentals & sales) through the STS Equipment Page.

SDS (Safety Data Sheets; formerly known as MSDS)

Global Harmonization changed the label from MSDS to SDS, with a permanent change that came in 2015. OSHA requires that these data sheets be available to employees for potentially harmful substances handled in the workplace. Basically, these are intended to provide the workers and also emergency personnel the information necessary to safely handle/work with said substances. This information may include physical and/or chemical data and format may differ (currently there is no official way to format SDS). Below are some examples of what information you may find on SDS.

Ladder Safety

OSHA states that falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries.

Well, the first thing I am going to say about ladder safety is that it does not matter if you are a backyard amateur wrestler (people still do that, right?), putting up lights on the roof, cleaning your gutter, or simply photographing a rock climber, knowing and following some easy-to-remember tips can very easily make a difference in your life.

Ever heard of the three point-of-contact climb?

Chances are, a lot of you readers have heard of this concept. Essentially, it is used to keep the climber stable so that if one limb slips, they still will likely be able to keep on the ladder. 

10 Tips to Remember About Ladder Safety

1. ALWAYS read/follow the labels on the ladder. Until the climber is familiar with this information, they are not considered "adequately" trained!
2. Never jump down from a ladder/slide down the rungs. Hopefully that is common sense to you, but also remember not to climb up or down more then one rung at a time either.
3. Inspect the ladder prior to using it! What kind of environment is around? Any water? Any electrical apparatuses? And make sure if a ladder is damaged to remove it and tag it for service or replace it.
4. Make sure to select the correct ladder/size for the job. How do you know? Well the ladder must be long enough so that the climber does not use the top rung. The only exception should be if said rung/step was designed for that purpose.
5. All locks should be properly engaged on extension ladders. 
6. The maximum load rating is there for a reason! Adhere to it! And make sure to note that added tools and equipment need to be factored in, not just YOUR weight.
7. Ladder's don't care about the "buddy system." As in, only ONE climber on a ladder at a time (again, the exception is when the ladder is designed otherwise).
8. Wind/storms are BAD. Do not use ladders in such conditions.
9. Are you tired? Dizzy? Discombobulated? Accident prone? Do not get on a ladder. 
10. Lastly, ladders should be used on stable surfaces, preferably level. Make sure to secure ladder (both top and bottom) so as to eliminate the ladder falling over. And PLEASE do not set up ladders on boxes or barrels or OTHER ladders or any other ridiculously ingenious (but TOTALLY UNSAFE) thing I've seen.

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