Fire Extinguisher Signage

Hoping to shed some light on this from all the gurus here. The OSHA regs are a bit vague as to the requirement for fire extinguisher signage in the workplace other than they should be easily recognized (I think that was what it said. It's been a few days since I read it). I've always required some type of sign above fire extinguishers to help make it easier to see them. Is this just best practice or is this something you recommend? We have a brand new building and they signed some but not other extinguishers for some reason.

Major OSHA Changes in Kentucky

Effective 6/27/2025, the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (Kentucky OSH) Standards Board has dropped ALL state-specific OSH regulations for private employers, reverting back to following the same (less stringent) regulations created and enforced by federal OSHA. Due to passing House Bill 398, Kentucky is no longer allowed to adopt, promulgate, or enforce any OSH administrative regulation that federal OSHA or the U.S. Dept. of Labor has not promulgated, or that is more stringent than the corresponding federal provision enforced by the US DOL under the OSH Act of 1970. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭? This update affects all private employers in Kentucky. Kentucky does, however, retain the authority to adopt and enforce, as necessary, administrative regulations pertaining to public employees that are more stringent or otherwise not covered by federal OSHA. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧? Kentucky can no longer enforce the dozens of state-specific OSH administrative regulations. Some notable changes include, but are not limited to: • Employers must report any in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours of discovery. Previously, employers had 72 hours upon discovery to report these incidents. • Employers are now only required to train a person(s) in first aid if they are not in near proximity to a hospital, clinic, or infirmary. Previously, employers with 8+ employees at an establishment had to train at least 1 person in first aid - regardless of distance or proximity to a hospital, clinic, or infirmary. • Various fall protection requirements pertaining to residential construction are no longer in effect. All residential construction work must now follow the federal OSHA standards found in 1926 Subpart M. • Kentucky can now issue de minimis notices. Previously, KY OSH has rejected the "de minimis" violation classification and, instead, only issued "other than serious" violations. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Overall, I think this is a step in the WRONG direction. While this may make "compliance" easier for employers, in general, I don't believe it has the best interest of the workers in mind. For more than 50 years, Kentucky has been one of many states that operate their own OSHA-approved State Plan, meaning they can adopt or create state-specific regulations that are at least as effective as the regulations being enforced by federal OSHA. With that being said, anyone who has a decent knowledge of federal OSHA knows that they are the floor - not the ceiling. They are the absolute bare minimum that an employer must do to "comply". However, "compliance" doesn't always mean "safe". What are your thoughts? Have you ever seen a state go back to LESS stringent standards and make a major change like this after 50 years?

2026 Industrial Stormwater Permit

What impacts could the 2026 Industrial Stormwater Permit have on your facility? With EHS taking over stormwater compliance in many places where are yall getting your training? Or are you outsourcing?

Warehouse columns (Poles)

I'm needing a better solution for my warehouse columns in the staging area of my warehouse. I already have poles painted yellow and column protectors, but I keep having operators hit the poles. They state they poles are in their blind spot when turning. New and Season operators. They are driving Order Pickers. I have floor tape as well.

Roadway Worker Safety

Hey Safety Knights: Who here has employees working on or near the roadway? If so, you know how tough this exposure is to manage. From distracted drivers to limited space and unpredictable environments, roadway work remains one of the hardest safety challenges out there. If you're looking for new strategies or tools to support your crews, check out my latest article in Professional Safety Journal titled Improving Roadway Safety. https://www.assp.org/publications/professional-safety If you'd like help adopting R.O.A.D. Ready just hit me up and let's get started.

Incident recordability...To Be or not to Be, what would you do?

The other day, we had an employee who was bending down to look at an electrical box that was mounted on the ground. The employee had knelt down to survey the job. Then, when he went to stand up, he heard/felt a "POP" in his knee. He was not lifting anything; he was performing work in the box, and he just stood up. So, my question is... Is this work-related just because he was "on the clock?" It wasn't like he was trying to lift something from the floor to the desk by bending at the waist while seated, twisting to his left to pick up a 22# electrical meter box (that one happened a few weeks ago, which caused a torn rotator cuff, which requires surgery...more on that one later). HE WAS JUST STANDING UP. A motion we all do 100s of times each day. So, explain to me why it is a Workers' Compensation claim? If he did this same thing at home, he more than likely would say to himself, "Wow, that stinks," and go on about his day. Even if it progressed to tightness or pain in his knee, would he really go to the walk-in clinic or make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon? Take into consideration this is an employee who is not very overweight and in his early to mid-20s. But since this happened while he was "at work," it becomes a WC claim and could lead to an OSHA recordable? Okay, next topic... What if someone injures a body part while at work that they had a previous surgery on? It, too, is an OSHA recordable, correct? These pre-existing conditions, or where an employee injures a previously injured part of the body, drive me nuts. If you have a torn rotator cuff and have it repaired, it will NEVER be 100% perfect or how God made you, and it is more susceptible to being re-injured. Next topic... What do you do for those employees who "know" they should do a task safely but "choose" to do it incorrectly? Case in point with the meter box. He knows he should get off his office chair, stand up, and properly bend his knees (and follow all the steps I teach in our body mechanics class), pick up the item, and then set it safely on the desk. Then he can return to his office chair to start wiring the meter box. Even while waiting to be seen by an orthopedic specialist, the employee says, "Man, I know I should have done better. But I have done it this way 100s of times and never had an issue." Last topic... How do you address those employees who do not take their health and wellness seriously, and since they do not take care of their bodies, they are more prone to have these MSD-related (soft tissue) injuries?

If a person's knee pops in the forest, will we hear it?

I hope I can post what happened today when I get back to work tomorrow. Let me just set the stage for tomorrow's FIREY POST... If a knee pops in the middle of a forest, is it really a work-related incident? Yeah, marinate on THAT ONE. Peace out brothers and sisters!!! #stupidity #safetyfails #recordability #personalhealthconditions #previouslyinjuredareas

New Quiz - Forklift Operations

It's National Forklift Safety Day, so let's test your forklift knowledge! Head on over to the link below to take the quiz! https://safetyknights.com/quiz/68489d1e6f5428e1874136f7/minimum_age_to_operate_a_forklift_on_a_farm

Saying the Quiet Thing Outloud

Ok, I need to get this off of my chest on here... but the posts on Linked in need to stop! One of these days I am going to end up commenting and it's going to get me in trouble! Like the "out of PTO" post... it's so right but yet employers don't stand a chance in so many instances. Please keep up the great work! It's therapy for EHS professionals! Update... I posted a picture of the gif below... showing someone "faking" getting hit by a vehicle.

Safety Meeting vs Training

There’s a lot of discussion lately and even more research on how people actually retain safety information. Traditional training programs often rely on long sessions, slides, and structured formats. But is that really how we learn best? Personally, I’m a big believer that hands-on, kinesthetic training is one of the most powerful tools we have. When people do the work (touch it, move through it, rehearse it) it just hits different. So I’m curious—what’s your take? Do you lean more toward structured training, short-form safety talks, or something in between? What’s actually helped your people remember and apply safety principles on the job? Let’s hear it, Safety Knights.

Secondary Labels - Holding Up In Harsh Environments?

Thought I found an answer to get secondary labeling to stand up in harsh environments. We bought Avery "Ultra" Labels that are advertised to hold up in a 90-Day Salt Spray Booth test. They did not hold up 24-Hours in a printing company environment. We just used a standard laser printer. Anyone have any tips and or tricks to offer. We are going to try plastic shipping take over the labels. What do you do that works? Thanks! Fitz

WEBINAR: Is Your Workforce Prepared for a Medical Emergency?

We all know how the old saying goes - "Let's go home the same way we came in - with all of our fingers and toes!". While we certainly never want anyone to get hurt, we have to plan for the unthinkable - what if there's a major incident and one of your co-workers gets severely injured? Are your employees properly prepared to respond to a worker who is in cardiac arrest? Can they stop severe bleeding to prevent a person from dying before Fire/EMS arrive on scene? Would they know how to treat a worker who fell from 10+ feet off the ground with a potential spinal injury? During this free 1-hour webinar on June 30th at 10:00 AM CST, we will help you understand some of the essentials when it comes to planning for a medical emergency in the workplace. Topics covered will include, but not be limited to: • Various Types of Workplace Injuries/Illnesses • OSHA and ANSI Requirements • State-Specific Requirements • CPR Training vs. First Aid Training • First Aid Kit Contents • AED Considerations • General Treatment Guidelines • Industry Best Practices • AND MUCH MORE! Register at the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6517490726285/WN_ZStShkfTR6esh5BmtA6gYw

ASSP & NSC national safety conferences...Are you in or out?

I haven't posted on here for a while,e but I was curious about how many of our members are going to be attending: ▶️ ASSP Safety 2025 (July in Orlando) ▶️ NSC Safety 2025 (September in Denver) I will be attending both and am very thankful for the opportunity to speak at the ASSP Leadership Conference the day before the main show, and getting to speak at the main NSC conference. Let me know if you will be there or not...

NSC Safety Maturity Assessment

Hey everyone, it's been awhile since I've posted in here but I work at National Safety Council now! I'm happy to answer any questions on membership whether you're already a member or are interested. We have a Safety and Health Maturity Assessment in beta mode. It is a free tool that helps organizations identify where they’re at on their safety journey and offers next steps to help improve safety. NSC aims to continuously improve this tool with your help. If you could take 15 minutes to complete this assessment and then share your feedback via a short survey, that would be amazing! The survey is open to anyone regardless of NSC membership status. https://www.nsc.org/safety-and-health-maturity-assessment/maturity-assessment-feedback

Confined Space?

Looking for some help. Temperature chambers - confined spaces or not? Does anyone have a definitive means of identifying confined spaces so as to take the subjectivity out of classification? Thank you!

New Quiz

This week is CPR & AED Awareness Week, so I will be posting various quizzes this week to check your CPR and/or AED knowledge. Go over and check it out! https://safetyknights.com/quiz/683df7546f5428e18729c9c7/oxygen_given_during_cpr

Ladder Compliance

Is this ladder set up conpliant? It is a fixed ladder, bolted to floor and top landing. Are stairs needed? Should there be handrails the whole way, or at least to support getting to the top landing ?

California's New Boating Card Requirement

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that California's new boating card requirement is more about money than safety? As an owner of a pontoon boat, I must take a 3-hour online class and pass a test to operate a boat on the lake. But if I had no boating experience and rented a boat, I would not be required to have the class or the card. That is just plain ridiculous.

Hello new here

Hello I'm soon to be 33 and going to get a degree in Finance. I'm thinking about jumpship and going into safety. I hear osha 511 is where I should start. Should I get certs instead of getting a masters? Thanks.

PIT Collision Prevention System

We're in the process of getting Crown's Info Link setup as a PIT Monitoring system (yay!) We are being asked by operations to see if there is a way that we can safely have two orderpicker trucks in our very narrow aisle storage aisles at the same time. The aisles are anywhere from 8-12 bays long. Crown JUST announced a proximity sensing system, but it is so new that our local rep didn't have any information on it yet. We would prefer a more active system that if two trucks are on the same aisle, they cannot get within say 2 bays of each other. Crown's system: https://www.crown.com/en-us/newsroom/articles/product-news/crown-equipments-lidar-based-proximityassist-system-reinforces-operator-training-and-best-practices.html

What signage needs to be included on a outside propane cage

We are just about ready to move into a new facility at one of our locations and want to secure our forklift propane tanks outside in a cage. What, if any, signage or placards are required? Do we need to placard for NFPA 704? I'm assuming a no smoking sign if not required is a best practice?

Cooling Towels

Has anyone been able to find a cooling towel product that works? We tried the PIP brand, and they did not stay cool longer than 30 - 45 minutes. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Email Newsletters

What email newsletters is everyone subscribed to these days? I'm interested in giving my inbox a refresh and I want to see what's out there!

Laboratory Safety

I am working on a safety manual for my company and part of what we do involves laboratory work. I am hoping that somebody out there may be able to help me with some policies pertaining to lab work, because that is not my area of expertise lol

Emergency equipment access

Is there a requirement for access to emergency equipment (AEDs, first aid kits, etc.)? I am aware of the 36-inch clearance for fire extinguishers and 54-inch clearance for AEDs, but is there a requirement similar to egress path standards regarding the minimum lane width needed to access this equipment?

Safetyhub-Online Safety LMS

Hello everyone, Has anyone had any experience with the online LMS platform, Safetyhub? My company is considering standardizing the platform across all of our North American sites, including mine. I don’t have any prior experience with Safetyhub, so I’m curious to hear about your experiences. Thanks!

Summer EHS Co-Op available in Rochester, NY.

Join our team for the summer (or fall... or both!) We are hiring an EHS Co-Op to assist at our Distribution and Packaging Center in West Henrietta, NY. This is a fulltime, paid position. Pay rate and other details are in the link below. Please reach out with any questions! https://hcjy.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/7841/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share

Job Safety Analysis (JSA): A Foundation for Safer Workplaces

In high-risk industries, safety isn’t just a compliance measure—it’s a culture. One of the most effective tools we have to promote that culture is Job Safety Analysis (JSA). JSA breaks down each job task, identifies potential hazards, and outlines the safest way to complete the work. It's not just paperwork—it's proactive risk management. ✅ Improved communication ✅ Stronger safety culture ✅ Fewer incidents ✅ Empowered teams who understand the “why” behind procedures Incorporating JSA into daily operations doesn’t just protect workers—it also enhances productivity and builds trust. Safety is everyone's responsibility, and JSA helps make that responsibility clear, actionable, and shared. Let’s keep pushing for safer, smarter job sites—one task at a time. #SafetyFirst #JSA #WorkplaceSafety #RiskManagement #ConstructionSafety #EHS #Leadership

Flame Cabinet Question

My facility uses a lot of 99% isopropyl alcohol. We currently have three flame cabinets, each holding a 55-gallon drum. The issue we have encountered in the past is that team members do not empty the drum. It is also hard to take inventory, and we either have too much or are about to run out. My Solution was to get a 275-gallon IBC and store it in a flame cabinet. Then order 55-gallon drums and pump those into the IBC when we receive them. The search for a flame cabinet or spill containment to hold a 275-gallon IBC has been unsuccessful. I only found one that cost around $20,000. Does anyone know of a company that sells those types of cabinets? I was given a budget of $ 5,000 to find one. I can go for maybe $ 1,000 more, but $ 20,000 is a hard sell. Thank you in advance for any help, and keep safe.

Would these flammable containers be compliant in the workplace and still work for diesel fuel?

I keep finding Arnold Palmer Ice Tea jugs being brought into the workplace to use for diesel fuel cans while techs prime fuel filters in refrigeration units. Would these cans work as replacements? Justrite's site says they are OSHA compliant but I cannot find yellow ones. They seem to only come in white or red. https://www.justrite.com/oval-safety-can-for-flammables-s-s-hardware-flame-arrester-1-gallon-self-close-cap-poly-white-12162

Warehouse lift driving hazards

What if any technology have you used to keep OPs or forklifts from hitting poles, racks etc.

Injuries UnReported

What Percentage of Incidents Do You Believe Go Unreported At Your Site?

Willing to Learn

So I have taken lots of OSHA classes but I want something that dives a little deeper. What would you all recommend? My background is HR but I have dual roles so I'm trying to get some training. I thought about getting a certificate but not sure where to start. My company may pay for some things but not all.

EHS Compliance Gap Analysis Template, Resources

Hello Safety Knights! Received a request to perform a EHS compliance gap analysis for one of our manufacturing sites. Basically a self-assessment. They want to avoid outsourcing this work/paying any consulting fees and prefer to have it done in-house. However, I currently do not have any comprehensive templates to work off of. Anyone have any templates or resources they could share? Thank you!!

My WEBSITE - Safety Fitz LLC

Safety Friends, Seven years ago I started my consulting business as a part-time gig! My family is quick to remind me that I am supposed to be taking it easy in my maturity, some call retirement. I use most of the money I make for my toys and travel, that I could never afford paying off my college loans, putting three daughters through school and college, marrying two off (one more to go on that one), a mortgage on a home, insurances, and all the other related bills. I enjoy getting out there and meeting people and mentoring them!! That all being said here is my question. I have had a website for my business since I started. I put it up myself. It is at www.safetyfitz.com The first couple years I tried to use it to generate leads for the business. I wrote several articles which I posted there. Cost me about $1500 to put it up and about a $1000 a year since. The first 2-3 years I checked it often. So far 7 years in I do not think I have gotten one customer through the website. The last couple years I hardly ever look at it. I do not seem to have the time to write articles as I have all the business I want right now. I just got my bill from Bluehost for another $1000. I have been thinking about just closing it down. I wanted to get your input before I do so. What do you think? Thank you! www.safetyfitz.com

Big Win for PPE

Hey Everyone! I wanted to share a great way I found to get your workers to wear their PPE. We call the program the Safety Bucks Program. I hand out punch cards that look like dollar bills to everyone. Anytime I go out to the site and see that they are wearing all their PPE they will get a punch on their Safety Buck. In turn they can take those punches and exchange them for new safety items that I carry on my truck. I keep extra vests (5 punches), nicer safety glasses (5 punches), hard hats (10 punches), etc. This has absolutely changed my site walks. We have about 120 workers and I went from catching 5+ workers a day missing one or more pieces of PPE to maybe 5 a week. If you have any questions or ideas for this please let me know!

Safety Interlocks

Need some guidance here. Recently had an OSHA inspection due to a reportable injury. The injury was part of a NEP so the inspection was pretty thorough. We have an older cold saw that they looked at and it is equipped with interlocks but the Inspector thinks the interlocks are not safety rated. What would make it safety rated? Would adding another interlock help? I am a bit confused on this one.

How Safety Managers Can Conduct Instant Emergency Roll Calls in Microsoft Teams

Manually tracking employees during emergencies (fires, natural disasters, security threats) creates dangerous delays. Many organizations still rely on: - Spreadsheets (prone to errors) - Group chats (messages get buried) - Verbal roll calls (chaotic & slow) ____________________________________________________________________ The risks? - Delayed evacuations - Missing employees in crises - Compliance gaps with OSHA/safety regulations ___________________________________________________________________ A Faster Alternative: Digital Roll Calls in Microsoft Teams Some teams now use dedicated apps within Teams to: - Launch emergency status checks in seconds - See real-time updates (Safe/Help Needed/No Response) - Auto-escalate unresponsive cases - Maintain audit logs for compliance _________________________________________________________________________ Why Manual Methods Fail—Especially for Remote/Hybrid Teams - Hard to track dispersed employees in real-time - Missed responses during chaos - No documentation for audits Example: During a fire drill, one manager spent 20+ minutes chasing email replies—digital roll calls cut this to under 60 seconds. __________________________________________________________________________ Real-World Use Cases: ✔ Fire/evacuation drills ✔ Severe weather (hurricanes, floods) ✔ Workplace security threats ✔ Industrial accidents (spills, equipment failures) Has your team tried digital emergency roll calls? What methods work best for you?

Experiences with ergonomic mat companies wanted

Hello Knights! We are on the hunt for a custom ergonomic mat solution for our warehouse. We replaced mats about 3 years ago but in that time we've had 5 recordables due to ankle sprains because the mats that were purchased don't stay in place, and weren't big enough for the application. Any recommendations for companies that do a great job, and warnings about products that don't work too well are welcome.

Chemical Substitution Examples

When I managed a Plating Shop back in the day - historically they had a UST filled with Trichlor. Big spill - turned into a brownfield facility. They made the switch to Bromopropane - but never did proper due diligence to ensure safe usage. When I arrived years later, I ended up making a recommendation at the time to get a better degreasing tank to minimize exposure, but was costly so they ended up opting to requiring PAPR's for the users. Hopefully today, they have found an even better substitution - since Bromopropane is on the Sunset list in Europe (not good stuff) Can anyone else talk about some good examples of chemical substitution they've made over the years?