PPE — Function vs. Comfort

primary goal of PPE: protect the worker

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a universal part of almost every industrial or construction environment, but it’s rarely enjoyable to wear. Problems with PPE comfort can make it less likely that employees will wear it, eliminating the protective properties it offers. You can also find PPE that provides more comfort, potentially at the risk of…

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Designing Facilities for Worker Safety

designing facilities for workers safety

Worker safety is paramount to a facility’s success, and it all starts with design. If you can eliminate a hazard at the source, you reduce the need for protective measures and the overall risk. So what goes into cultivating workplace safety, and how do you focus on your facility’s unique needs? Let’s take a closer…

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OSHA Crackdown: Tougher Enforcement Aimed at Reducing Violations

Fall protection in the workplace has been required by Federal OSHA regulations since 1974, shortly after the Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law in 1970. Since then, the requirements for fall protection and the approach to fall safety have changed dramatically. Recently, some changes have been made to the approach to enforcement.…

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Is Fall Protection Needed At A Fire Company For Truck Maintenance?

fire engines parked in fire house

When working on top of a fire truck, do firefighters need to use fall protection? The logical answer to this would seem to be yes, because a fire truck is over 4 feet tall. The legal answer is: it depends. According to OSHA,  Federal OSHA regulations do not have jurisdiction over State, municipal, or volunteer fire departments.…

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Workplace Safety and Human Factors: Fatigue

Rigid Lifelines® Fall Protection - Construction Workers in a Building

Safety standards and workplace safety measures are important to any safety program. Many kinds of equipment and safety practices effectively reduce risks and eliminate hazards in the workplace. Safety products, such as personal fall protection systems, personal protective equipment, and many others, can help companies comply with legal workplace regulations and provide a safe working…

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What is Fall Restraint?

fall restraint mechanism mounted on concrete

As Director of Sales and Business Development for Rigid Lifelines, I am often asked the following two questions by distributors or end-users new to the fall protection industry: What Is a Fall Restraint System? Can Rigid Lifelines Provide a Fall Restraint Rigid Rail System? 1. What Is a Fall Restraint System?  Unlike fall arrest systems,…

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Workplace Safety and Rigid Track Systems

Approximately one in three American workers believe that productivity is valued over workplace safety, according to the National Safety Council. However, research has shown that everyone benefits when safety is a top priority. In fact, productivity actually goes up when an effective workplace safety program is in place. That’s where rigid track systems can come…

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Hierarchy of Fall Protection

The term fall protection covers a broad range of topics and ideas. The Hierarchy of Fall Protection is a system intended to help select the most effective form of fall protection that can be used in any application. Fall protection can generally be broken into two distinct groups: fall prevention and fall arrest. The first,…

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What to do After a Fall Event

man attached to anchor tracks on post working

Many of our blogs focus on ways to eliminate hazards, prevent workplace accidents, and avoid injuries. Many blogs also emphasize the kinds of hazards that remain after a fall is arrested, including swing falls and suspension trauma. But what about the steps to take after a fall event? What should you do after a worker…

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Swing Falls and How They Happen

Swing Falls are one of the most dangerous, and sometimes fatal, events that can happen to a worker when working at height. When implemented correctly into a workplace, fall protection improves worker safety by preventing a worker from striking the ground during a fall event. However, when fall protection is used incorrectly, the danger of…

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How to Select a Qualified Safety Trainer for Your Facility

The role of a safety trainer in an organization is an important one, and it can sometimes be a difficult role to fill. A safety trainer needs a thorough understanding of best safety practices and the ability to teach and train effectively. To meet these requirements, a person should not only be an expert in…

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