Safety Experts Talk

Hear how continuous improvement in manufacturing can improve a process, increase safety and save money. But, Tony Ferraro says to make sure your customers are happy with the end product. Tony is a continuous improvement blogger for Creative Safety Supply. He’s experienced in 5S, Six Sigma, kaizen and lean. Tony shares some great tips on starting a program of continuous improvement.     http://www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast/

Electrical safety compliance saves lives! Every three years, the NFPA publishes the NFPA 70E, The Standard For Electrical Safety In The Workplace, and the 2015 edition is out. Every building owner and safety manager should have a copy, says Bill Burke, Division Manager of Electrical Engineering at the NFPA. In this podcast, Bill tells about the new edition’s major changes, and the philosophical shift since the last edition published in 2012. Mr. Burke talks with Dan Clark about new PPE tables, the Prohibited Approach Boundary, and the elimination of HRC (0). Bill also encourages company owners and safety personnel to consider buying the NFPA 70E Handbook, which includes the new code and easy-to-understand commentary.

How can a safety manager, who is not an electrician, look for electrical dangers? Jon Koppari, Specialist Instructor for OSHA, answers that question and many more in this podcast. Jon is an OSHA certified trainer in construction safety, CPR/AED, NFPA 70E electrical issues and many more topics. In the private sector, Jon was a safety manager in industry. He knows his stuff, and can answer the age-old question “Why Don't Birds On Power Lines Get Shocked?” So, sit back and listen! Dan Clark interviews Jon from his office at the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Ladder safety increases with tips from expert Dave Francis. 3 points of contact/control, fiberglass vs. wood, correct footwear and more are discussed. Dave Francis works for Little Giant Ladder Systems as their National Safety Director. Dan Clark asks Dave 10 ladder questions. Topics include fall protection/prevention, sun damaged fiberglass, leveling a ladder on an uneven surface, and more. Dave also refers to “grandpa's ladder.” Everyone can picture this old, rickety ladder. He urges workers to avoid using it. Mr. Francis explains that nearly all ladder accidents can be avoided if employees follow training. Don’t be lazy and try reaching difficult places with the wrong ladder, or a ladder substitute.

Safety recognition programs that cost the least work the best. Hear a former OSHA trainer explain how to have a better recognition program inexpensively. Steve Geigle worked for 16 years with OSHA, Oregon. He’s seen safety recognition programs fail miserably. Hear Steve detail the reasons for the failures, such as too much emphasis on rewards. Steve says tracking leading indicators (near misses) is better way to eliminate injury. Many companies track lagging indicators (injuries, accidents), which are inferior indicators.

Respect For People is a crucial part of lean and A3. Lean guru Bill Greider tells how A3 teams can implement continuous improvement in an organization. Bill heads P4 Lean Strategy Consulting, coaching companies on using A3 teams to eliminate accidents, increase production and rectify customer issues. The A3 exercise employs Respect For People, which originated with TPS (The Toyota Production System). A3 is a way to problem solve, named after a European paper standard size. A3 is about the same size as 11 x 17 sheets in the U.S. Our podcast guest says to lay out your problem on an A3 sized sheet of paper. Then process the problem with DMAIC—Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.

Millennials entering the workforce are unskilled and unsafe. Hear safety expert Elaine Cullen explain why it’s not their fault. Many are quick to judge these new employees as stupid, but she is quick to defend them. Elaine says their lack of training is due to many reasons, including changes in school curricula, budget cutbacks in schools, and, yes, video games. Elaine co-authored the National Academies of Science study. It basically says they are safety hazards looking for a place to happen.

Lean IT expert Steve Bell helps solve the long-standing battle between a company’s goal of Continuous Improvement and IT's perceived lack of agility. It’s a constant friction between management wanting computer/network changes now, and IT wanting to slow the pace and do it right. Hear about Kaizen, and how IT departments are now considered strategic partners in business planning, due to so much online interaction with the public. Steve is author of three books on Lean IT, and is winner of the Shingo Research Prize. He is also a faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute.

Dust explosions can happen without notice in a confined workspace. Dr. Ashok Dastidar is a dust and flammability expert with Fauske & Associates, and in this podcast explains the Go/No-Go test, and how to collect a dust sample.  

See a links about combustible dust tests in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast

A new study says high noise levels put you at a higher risk for on-the-job injuries. And if you already have noise-induced hearing loss, injury risk is substantially greater. Dan Clark interviews Prof. Tony Leroux of the University Of Montreal. See a link to Prof. LeRoux's study in the transcript to this podcast at www.creativesafetysupply.com/podcast