Most people hate the task of removing leaves and needles from rain gutters, so they try to get the job done as quickly as possible. This photograph shows a worker breaking two cardinal ladder safety rules while clearing a gutter of leaves.
Here's an example of how not to inspect a roof. This unsafe practice provides no fall prevention nor protection against what would likely be a fatal fall.
OSHA conducted an inspection and found a range of hazards [...]
When working in a stairwell you need to have the right equipment and a plan for performing the job safely. The worker shown in this photograph has come up short on both counts, having cobbled together a questionable assortment of ladders, blocks and boards into a highly unstable and unsafe platform.
Here's an eye-popping photograph showing workers perched on makeshift scaffolding that could shift or snap without warning.
A Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health investigation found that Manitoba [...]
There are messy workplace and then there are th MESSY workplaces. Shown here is a housekeeping house of horrors that puts construction workers at serious risk for slip, trip and fall injuries.
Want to show your employees an example of unsafe work practices? This construction worker is a frightening example of being a step away from a fatal fall.
These workers are taking a potentially deadly risk by tying off to one another
Picture This! Vertical Vertigo Holding an extended extension ladder upright [...]
This worker could be caught between shards of glass and a hard place as a result of leaning against a window.
Look closely and you can see the top of the ladder at the bottom left of this picture.
Taking shortcuts with scaffolding is risky business. Here is a photograph showing a makeshift scaffold that was cobbled together by a person who should have known better, namely a safety supervisor.
Try bending sharply at the waist for a minute and then stand up. Feel dizzy? Now imagine doing it while standing on two narrow boards high above the ground, with nothing but hard ground to break your fall should you lose your balance.
Some things you have to see to believe
Picture This nearly always focuses on unsafe work practices, but this week we have a photograph showing workers doing the right thing. In this case, a worker is shown using a bucket and rope to hoist tools to an elevated work area. This arrangement allows workers to maintain three points of contact when ascending or descending ladders. (eLCOSH)
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, this guy could start by paying a little attention to the three little words staring him in the face. One slip and he could be staring at a more dazzling kind of stars than the ones on this banner.
In a busy restaurant, workers probably have their minds on issues other than where they are walking. But situational awareness is necessary to avoid collisions with other workers or customers.
It's unfortunate that in spite of having ready access to a ladder, many retail workers will choose to climb racking to access stock on shelves, as this photograph illustrates. Australia's WorkSafe Victoria notes that one in five injuries in the retail sector involve slips, trips or falls.
A fall from even a short height can be fatal. We're willing to bet that this worker would be looking at a hospital stay at minimum if he lost his footing on this roof.
Here we have a photograph of two workers working at a significant height without any form of fall protection. They did take the time to place safety cones on the ground, which lends a sad irony to this scenario.
What good is a sparklingly clean window if the person who attended to it is lying severely injured or dead on the ground below?
A well-placed safety sign is a good reminder for your workers and visitors, but this photograph shows a dizzying array of "watch your step" warning signs that could actually distract workers and lead to a fall on this stairway.
Clutter and an excavation could create considerable risk for anyone needing to access a first-aid kit or fire extinguisher.
This skinny plank, which barely spans its supports at both ends, provides workers with a potentially exciting, yet unsafe, means of getting to and from their worksite. It could easily snap or shift, or a worker could simply lose his balance and fall from it.
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800-ICW-SAFETY (800.429.7233)
SAFETYOnDemand@icwgroup.com