Safety & Health Tips

General
1. Running propane- or other fuel-powered equipment indoors can cause deadly
amounts of carbon monoxide to build up quickly inside rooms and other enclosed
work areas. Exposure symptoms may not be detected until it’s too late.
2. Don't eat, drink, or store food and beverages around hazardous chemicals. This
helps ensure that contamination doesn’t happen.
3. Don't use compressed air to blow dust off equipment or other work surfaces. Dust
levels in the air can quickly reach dangerous levels that can pose a health hazard to
coworkers and, if combustible, may even explode when it contacts lights or other
commonplace electrical sources.
4. Stay alert for possible hazards during each task you perform, particularly during the
final stages of a job. Don't let familiarity with the job site dull your hazard radar.
5. Prevent injuries when using cutting tools to open boxes. Always cut away from
yourself and immediately sheath the blade if you stop using the tool, even for a short
period of time.
6. Do not use flexible cords that are frayed or have damaged plugs. Take them out of
service by placing a tag on them that visibly says, “Damaged, Do Not Use” and
report them for replacement (if needed).
7. Be aware that unusually warm or hot outlets may be a sign of unsafe wiring. Unplug
any cords to the outlet, mark the outlet as "Don't Use", and report the condition to
someone who can safely follow-up.
8. Don’t store boxes or other items in front of circuit breakers, fuse boxes, or other
electrical panels.
9. Never break off the 3rd prong (ground pin) on a plug or use a flexible cord that’s
missing the 3rd prong.
10. When thinking about trimming trees around power lines remember that electricity
loves metal and moisture. Even if you are using a wood ladder around power lines
and the ladder is wet or can get wet, you may still be at risk for electrocution.
Likewise, if you are pruning a wet tree limb while standing on the ground, and the
limb contacts the power line, electricity can travel through the limb, your pruning
tool, and you.
11. Maintain a 35-foot clearance from downed power lines because they may still be
energized.
12. When providing first aid, have the injured person handle their injury, if possible, to
protect you from exposure. For example, if a wound needs pressure applied, have
the injured person apply the pressure.
13. Follow safety practices for the sake of your family and co-worker’s if you don't want
to follow safety practices for your own sake.
14. Never operate a piece of machinery until you have been trained on it and fully
understand the safety procedures, including what to do in an emergency.
15. Make sure all machine safety guards are in place at all times so that moving parts
aren't a danger to you and others working nearby.
16. If machine safety guards are removed due to maintenance activities, follow
company energy control policies so that no one can get hurt due to accidental start
up of the machine. When maintenance is finished, replace all the safety guards.
17. To prevent stumbles and collisions, don't use cell phones or text while walking up

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 Safety & Health Tips
and down stairs or through hallways.
18. Wear shoes with non-slip soles when walking on icy or slushy roads. Avoid plastic
and leather soles. Strap on non-slip shoe treads or cables for more traction.
19. If the ground is icy, take short steps with slightly bent knees, shuffle your feet, and
keep your hands and arms free for better balance if you start to slide.
20. Don't let a spill ruin your, or your coworker's, day. Safely clean up spills right away or
mark the area to warn others and report the spill to your supervisor.
21. Maintain good housekeeping. Keep walkways clear of electrical cords, hoses, and
other obstacles so you and co-workers don't trip or fall.
Construction
22. If you wear hearing protection and can't hear back up alarms or other important
signals, talk to your supervisor to make sure you get the correct type of hearing
protection. More protection is not always better.

23. Stretch out your arms, legs, wrists and back when you have time. The repeated
motion some construction tasks can create problems such as muscle cramps or
even carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists and forearms. Stretching will help to
keep your muscles loose and prevent cramps and other problems.
24. Check the tool manual to make sure the air pressure setting is right for the size and
type of nail you are using. Too much pressure can cause a nail to pass through the
material to injure others nearby.
25. Always handle pneumatic nailing or stapling tools as if they are fully loaded. Don’t
transport or load the tool with your finger on the trigger. Don’t squeeze the trigger
unless the nosepiece is directed at a safe work surface.
26. Make sure subcontractors know how to find, use, and properly store safety gear at
shared job sites.
27. Do not leave equipment lying around that can cause a tripping hazard at the job site.

Driving
28. Before driving a vehicle, minimize blind spots by adjusting the left- and right-side
mirrors until you can see the tip of the rear bumper in the lower inside corner of each
mirror.
29.
No need to speed. Plan ahead so you leave yourself plenty of time for safe travel.
30. Get in the habit of turning on your headlights when you turn on your windshield
wipers for driving in the rain. This will help make your vehicle more visible to others.
31. When parking, drive into a pull-through parking spot (if available), to eliminate the
need for backing.
32. Don't race for a parking space. Follow parking lot speed limits or, if no limit is posted,
slow down anyway to allow safer reaction to unexpected occurrences.
33. Don't cut diagonally across parking lots. Drive in designated traffic lanes and
directions.
34. Turn off radios and other electronic devices to prevent distraction when driving in
parking lots. This will help you stay fully alert for pedestrians, bicycles, light posts,
and other vehicles, especially in icy or snowy parking lots.
35. Don't pump the brakes if your car has an anti-lock brake system (ABS) because

12/8/2010
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 Safety & Health Tips
pumping will disengage the anti-lock system. When the ABS is activated, it
automatically pumps the breaks for you so don't be alarmed if you feel pedal
pulsations or vibration. Always "brake and steer" when using four-wheel ABS.
36. Don't slam on the brakes if you have a blowout on the highway. Take your foot off
the gas pedal to let the car slow down gradually and steer your vehicle toward an
exit, the shoulder, or other safe location (using directional signals, if needed).
37. Stay clear of snow drifts in parking lots that can prevent drivers from seeing you
(and vice versa). Don't take short cuts over drifts or piles of plowed snow.
38. Be seen-be safe. Wear a high-visibility vest each time you exit your truck in the
company yard, at your customer's dock, and on the side of the road.
Electrical
39. When using power equipment in wet places, make sure the outlets have a GFI,
system.
Ergonomics (Musculoskeletal)
40.
Break up repetitive work with non-repetitive tasks to give your muscles a rest.
41. Keep objects close to you as you lift and carry them, even if they aren’t very heavy.
If an object is away from your body when you lift it, your back muscles will have to
work harder and you’ll have more stress on your spine.
42. Never twist your body when lifting items since this increases stressful forces on the
back. Instead, pick up your feet and step into the right direction.
43. If you have to move a heavy item manually, store it at a safe height. Waist level is
ideal, but somewhere between knee and should height may be acceptable. If you
can, slide the item onto a cart instead of lifting and carrying it. These actions can
help prevent back, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal injuries.
44. When shoveling snow, use the shovel blade to push the snow like a plow as much
as possible (so you don’t have to lift and dump snow). If you must lift and dump
snow, keep your back straight and bend knees to create the shoveling motion and
keep the load close to you as you lift and dump it. Move your feet so you won’t need
to twist your body around.
45. Push, don't pull. Pushing allows you to use your body weight and larger muscles to
move a load.
46. Don't lift boxes or other items located below knee level when sitting in your chair.
Crouch down so that you can use your leg muscles to lift the item up to a waist level.
Forklifts
47. Secure pallet loads with shrink-wrap or other strapping material to reduce the
chance of being struck by items that may shift or fall off during transport.
48. Keep forklifts from tipping over. Drive with the load in it's lowest position and use
extra caution when making sharp turns or approaching ramps and other uneven or
sloping surfaces. Use the seatbelt and don't raise or lower the forks while moving.
49. Make sure your wear your seat belt while driving a forklift. If the forklift begins to tip,
don't attempt to jump clear. Hold on tightly to the steering wheel, brace yourself
against the seat, and keep your body inside the frame of the machine and lean in
the opposite direction of overturn.
50. Terrain affects forklift balance and handling; for example, even a pothole can be a
tip-over hazard in some circumstances.

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Courtesy of www.LNI.wa.gov/Safety. Feel free to modify and share this list with others.
 Safety & Health Tips
51. Make sure all employees know that only trained operators can use forklifts

Ladders
52. Label ladders with cracked rungs or other defects and remove them from the work
site so someone else doesn't use them and get hurt.
53. Always face the ladder when climbing and grip the rungs – not the side rails. Keep
three points of contact on the ladder whether two hands and one foot, or two feet
and one hand. Never carry materials while climbing.
54. When climbing, keep your hips between the side rails and do not lean too far or
overreach. Instead, reposition the ladder closer to the work.
55. Step ladders should never be used folded up and leaning against a surface.

56. Make sure the step ladder is fully open with the spreader bars down and locked in
place (to provide the “4 to 1” safety ratio) before climbing. This will prevent the
ladder from collapsing.
57. Choose a step ladder that is tall enough so you aren’t tempted to stand on the top
cap or top step. Never use a step ladder to gain access to another working level.
58. Don’t stand on the back side of typical step ladders since this can cause the ladder
to tip over.
59. Metal extension ladders conduct electricity. Keep them away from power lines.

60. Before climbing ladders, check for stability. Make sure the ladder is level and the
base can’t slide. Check shoes and rungs for grease or mud to minimize possible
slipping.
61. Let someone know when you are going to do ladder work. Do not climb ladders
when there’s no one around to get help from in case of an accident.
Machinery safety
62. Get training on safe work practices before using powered equipment or machinery.
You should know what problems to look out for and what to do if equipment looks
unsafe.
Restaurants
63. If oil in a pan catches fire during food preparation, don't pick up the burning pan to
carry it away or use water to try to put the fire out. Safely turn off the gas or power
and cover the pan with a safety blanket or damp cloth (or use foam or powder fire
extinguisher if you have been trained to do so).
64. Avoid standing in front of swinging doors and doorways.

65. When using deep fat fryers, reduce spattering by making sure utensils and food are
dry before you slowly lower them into the hot oil. Immediately clean up any drips or
spills so you and your coworkers don't slip and fall later.
66. Cleaning deep-fat fryers can put you at risk for slips and serious burns. Don't move
or strain hot oil; wait till it cools! Use non-slip mats, no-skid floor waxes, and wear
shoes with slip resistant soles.

12/8/2010
Courtesy of www.LNI.wa.gov/Safety. Feel free to modify and share this list with others.