The Safety Brief

Asbestos dangers are still here, even though the building material was banned, or mostly banned, over three decades ago. Hear this podcast for the hazards and solutions. Asbestos was used in many construction materials up to 1981. It was banned for common usage due to health issues such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Construction and demolition involving structures built prior to 1981 should always include precautions for asbestos dangers. In this podcast, Dan Clark offers ways to protect workers, including PPE, engineering controls and labeling. Finally, Dan offers a list of many of the building materials we must assume contain asbestos.

Lead hazards are still here, even though leaded paint and gasoline were phased out years ago. Listen for current lead hazards, and how to avoid them.

In this podcast, Dan Clark tells of the lead hazards in many jobs, including battery manufacturing, old building demolition, radiator work, and even at shooting ranges.

Dan describes what employers and workers can do to outwit the heavy metal and stay safe.

Cold stress sneaks up on workers and puts them at risk. Hear about the four main cold stresses in this podcast. Exposure to the cold can bring on frostbite, chilblains, trench foot and hypothermia. Dan Clark gives the symptoms and treatment for all four of these cold stresses.

Dan also gives tips on how employers, through simple planning, can make sure employees avoid the cold stresses in the first place.

Workplace holiday fires can happen in an instant. Be careful with electricity, heat sources and flammables with workplace decorations inside and outside. Electrical hazards abound, especially with those funky, ten-year-old light strings in the company storage room. In this podcast, Dan Clark tells of other tips to avoid shock and fire.

Heat sources at work are a big risk for decorations. Dan lists potential hot zones, and how to keep decor away. And, of course, the flammable tree steps into the spotlight. Hear tips on how to keep it from getting dry, and what to do if it does.

Snow shoveling heart attacks happen in young and old, fat and skinny. Hear why this sudden cardiac arrest occurs, and how to avoid it.

Snow shoveling causes a rapid increase in heart rate, beyond the safe range of healthy people, let alone the average couch potato. Coupled with constricted blood vessels due to cold weather, it’s a recipe for a heart attack.

Find out about “heart attack snow.” In this podcast, Dan Clark also describes why heart attacks happen so often, and how to avoid them on the job, or at home.

The deadline for OSHA’s new HazCom labeling standards, based on GHS, is June 1st, 2015. Are you compliant?

OSHA has new requirements for labeling chemicals. In this podcast, HazCom industry expert Chuck Paulausky details these new standards, based on the Globally Harmonized System, GHS.

Most manufacturers already comply with the new labeling standards, so buyers of chemicals—and their employees—are already seeing these new labels. Make sure everyone involved is trained to read them.

Lone worker safety monitoring is important. Without it, workers on the job—alone—face dangers without help in sight. Employees are often isolated from other people in many jobs. Security guards, maintenance people and overnight convenience store clerks can go for hours without contact.

Modern technology allows monitoring of these solo workers, and Dan Clark discusses the topic in this podcast. Dan also advises that experienced and well trained workers are the most likely to stay safe when working alone.

Who are these lone workers? Anyone who isn’t visible or within hearing distance of other workers.

Attendants at retail locationsJanitorial staffSecurity guardsMaintenance workers Salespeople Delivery drivers Farmworkers Ranch hands

The list goes on.

Workplace safety myths are hazardous hogwash. We debunk four common myths about safety. Listen to stay safe!

Folklore that 'accidents happen' has been proven wrong. But are people naturally accident prone? In this podcast, Dan Clark delves into these topics, and the half-truths about PPE keeping everyone safe.

Is it okay to punish workers involved in accidents to prevent future accidents? Dan separates myth from fact.

Airless tires are finally coming to jobsites, where tire punctures are notorious. Now, Michelin is making some available for heavy equipment.??Non-pneumatic tires (NPT) have been on the wish list of contractors and industry owners for many years. Airless tire choices have been limited to riding lawn mowers and golf carts.

In this podcast, Dan Clark tells of the Tweel, now in production from Michelin. The Tweel is a rubber tread tire with plastic spokes, designed for low speed, off-road situations. This airless tire is for skid steer loaders. But Tweels for other applications are coming soon.

Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch on Monday? Find out if they are safe to eat in this super short podcast! Dan Clark tells of the 2-2-4 formula for storing all of that leftover holiday food.

It's good advice for anyone taking leftovers for lunch at work. Also in this podcast, Dan reveals a surprising truth about pumpkin pie.