Safety Knights

Paint Booth Filters Disposal

Hello Safety Knights! I am looking for some suggestions. We have a paint booth that utilizes water based paints. The filters (determined to be non-haz waste) in this booth need to be changed out at a minimum every other day. Our standard procedure for this is that the filters are left to dry overnight before they are removed from the booth, they are rolled up, and then placed in a designated "Paint Filter Only" Dumpster, and then the dumpster is removed from the facility for pickup. This process was developed due to a dumpster fire that was investigated and seen to be caused by a) spontaneous combustion of the filters due to not being fully dried or b) other material being placed in the dumpster that caused the filters to combust. The process has been working well until recently when another dumpster fire occurred. There are questions as to how we can determine if the filters are completely dry for disposal OR if there is a better way to dispose of said filters. Any suggestions or discussion are greatly appreciated!

PPE for Cancer Survivor

I have an employee who is back at work following a successful battle with cancer. They're left with very sensitive scars on their sternum and bilaterally on their back, right around where the lats end. He needs a full body harness with a back D ring, all other features are ok to have but not required. We have MSA harnesses in our building but I'm open to any brand. The person is 6'1 and of average weight. Any ideas?

PPE assistance

Currently in my plating department employees are required to wear Tyvek jackets due to the multi hazardous chemical environment they are in. Recently employees were asking to get laboratory style jackets that are breathable and have pockets. I have explained already a previous effort to find reusable or lighter jackets. However, none have met the resistance to materials used in the room (HF, Nitric Acid, Cyanide etc.). This however was insufficient in their eyes and want a second review. Has anyone had a similar experience or know of chemical resistant jackets that would meet these high Haz materials?

OSHA reportable? recordability?

Need guidance. We had an employee that went to a contractor's site in another state to perform a test. While there he experienced chest pain. An ambulance was called and he was admitted to a hospital for further examination (MRI.) This employee has a pre-existing heart condition. The employee stayed at the hospital for 2 days to be monitored. Still trying to determine if this is work-related. Should this have been reported to OSHA due to inpatient hospitalization? Would this be considered an OSHA recordable?

Recordable Question

I always seem to forget the answer to this question so thought I better ask around again. We had an employee who was injured Tuesday night and ended up with a fractured leg. He initially was taken to the ER, stabilized and then sent home with instructions to see the orthopedic clinic within the next day or two. He went there yesterday and the doctor gave him restrictions. No time off. However, he is still in quite a bit of pain as they have him in a splint for a non-displaced tibial fracture and gave him some pretty strong pain meds but he is still in quite a bit of pain when moving. The part I cannot recall is if we still count the time he asked to still be off due to the pain or would since the doctor did not list it as off work, it would not be listed as lost time on the log?

Safety Footwear

Some of our departments are required to wear electrostatic dissipative shoes and we provide a yearly stipend to them. My question is, if we have temps, are we also required to do the same?

New Hire Safety Orientation

Does anyone have a solid new‑hire safety orientation breakdown they’re willing to share, specifically how you structure and complete the safety onboarding process? I’m also looking for any resources you use for new‑hire safety training, such as presentations, videos, checklists, or other materials. I’m building a program from the ground up and would love to see examples of what others are currently using if you don’t mind sharing. Some teams I’ve talked with run a very quick, 20‑minute orientation, have new hires sign off on the safety manual, and then move them straight into operations; which I am very well aware that is not the answer. Others take the opposite approach, running a 40‑hour (or longer) structured program where employees aren’t released to operations until every module, assessment, and hands‑on component is completed, and I am not sure that is the answer specifically for this specific business. I’m open to hearing what your current process looks like and where you fall on that spectrum, and if you have any resources you would be open to sharing. Thanks!

⚠️ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞? ⚠️

During a recent training we conducted at a facility in Indiana, we noticed something was "off" about this 6-foot energy-absorbing lanyard. The customer had just ordered the equipment brand new from Grainger. • What issue(s) can you spot with this? • What corrective action(s) would you implement?

Resources for New EHS Consultants

When you decide to take the plunge into self-employment, there are a few hurdles that always present themselves - health insurance, life insurance, professional insurance - but there are solutions, if you sniff around enough! A few low-cost resources that helped me when I went out on my own as an EHS consultant are below! Spread the love! 1️⃣ Health insurance (look outside the usual places) If the marketplace options aren’t great, check unconventional sources. In Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau has a surprisingly cost-effective option if you’re a member. Membership is about $50/year, and I pay roughly $300/month for coverage, which is comparable to what I had at my full-time job. It works a little differently than traditional insurance and may not be ideal for everyone (especially if you have pre-existing conditions), but it’s worth looking into if the marketplace plans are expensive. https://www.txfb-ins.com/ You probably have something similar in your state! 2️⃣ Professional liability insurance Good coverage doesn’t have to break the bank, but it can be challenging to find the right resources. I’ve had a great experience getting EHS consulting coverage through: David Macario Macario Insurance Group, LLC 📧 david@macarioinsurance.com 📞 858-764-0583 🌐 https://www.macarioinsurance.com/ He works with a lot of environmental and safety consultants and understands the risks we deal with and can get great rates - just a recommendation in case you are having trouble finding a good contact! 3️⃣ Life & disability insurance If you’ve ever been a federal employee (even briefly), check WAEPA. I was only in federal service for about 1.5 years, but that still qualified me for very affordable life insurance and short-term disability coverage. https://www.waepa.org/ 4️⃣ Keep an eye on S-Corp status If you’re operating as an LLC, it may eventually make sense to elect S-Corporation taxation once revenue stabilizes. A few potential benefits: Reduces self-employment tax by allowing part of income as distributions Can create tax savings once profit is consistently above salary level Helps separate owner compensation from business profit I’m still in LLC status while I navigate the early stages, but preparing for an S-Corp election once the numbers make sense. Soooooo going out on your own is exciting, but figuring out the back-end stuff (insurance, taxes, structure) can be the tricky part. If you’re an independent EHS consultant, I’d love to hear what resources or tools have helped you!!

The Hidden Dangers of Risk Normalization: Lessons from a Desert Motorcycle Ride

Another of my network connections posted this article from EHSToday on LinkedIn. It does a great job explaining risk normalization. https://www.ehstoday.com/training-and-engagement/article/55361989/the-hidden-dangers-of-risk-normalization-lessons-from-a-desert-motorcycle-ride

Fire Extinguishers on PIV's

Is there a requirement for portable Fire Extinguishers to be mounted/attached to PIVs?

Where are you most active online as a safety professional?

We’re looking to better understand where safety professionals spend their time online so we can share resources and conversations where the community is most active.

Job Opportunity in Burlington VT

Hi all, The University of Vermont is hiring an Environmental Compliance Manager, and I thought I'd share the post here in case it was of interest to any safety knights! https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4377533546

Free Resources

Our Team at OptiCare Connect is committed to health and safety of employees. We are going to be providing free monthly one-page resource guides covering various first aid specifics pertaining to a myriad of injuries and issues. If there is anything specific you would like to see let us know!

O2 Nose Filters for Welding?

For those of you who work in an environment with welding and grinding, have any of you provided these O2 nose filters to your employees? https://share.google/D3HHXdM8ApwOCfqH4 Are they actually effective? The employees asking about them keep complaining about how hot/sweaty they get when wearing a respirator and have chosen to not wear it in situations they claim they normally would.

Emergency Oxygen Training

Does anyone know of companies that have emergency oxygen administration training for first aid providers. We have a small oxygen bottle in our AED cabinet, but I do not have anyone that is trained on how to administer.

Virtual Walkway Projectors

Has anyone had any experience using virtual walkway projectors? If so, what are your thoughts on them compared to the tradition methods of painted walkways and signs? I love the idea of them especially in our facility where the paint chips easily because of the ground we built the facility on, but the upfront cost is fairly steep and might be difficult to get approval from management.

AI is moving fast. Most safety leaders are not.

I’m hosting a free, practical workshop focused on real-world AI use for safety in a couple of weeks. Last week, I ran a poll with 84 HSE leaders: ▪️ 69% are still learning or only using AI occasionally. ▪️ 10% say they’re leading with AI in HSE. That gap matters. The Free Workshop is called: Practical AI Use in Safety This is not a vendor demo and not an AI hype session. We’ll walk through: ▪️ Where AI actually fits in day-to-day safety work ▪️ Practical AI examples for reporting, investigations, and training ▪️ Where AI gives you back time so you can focus on what matters ▪️ How AI can sharpen your safety decision-making ▪️ What “good” looks like before you scale anything If you’re an HSE leader who wants clarity, not buzzwords, this will be time well spent. Here is the registration link: https://lnkd.in/gYbxiYUM No cost. No BS. Just practical insight you can use immediately.

Is this OK Need Electrican or Electrical Expert.

Please see the picture. There is no strain relief on this electrical cord. I think it is dual-phase 440 (possibly 220). It hangs about 6' down from a breaker box in a metal conduit. At this connection, it goes to a flexible cord down to a large wood processing machine 8' below. The yellow cord is not an electrical cord but a data (WiFi - router) cord. That is OK. The major cable seems secure, which is the intent of stress relief, but it does not look right and per code. The flexible cable looks "crimped" into the conduit. The more I look at 1910.305(g)(2)(iii), I do not think it is acceptable, but I do not know why. What do you think?

Respirator FIT Testing

We are starting a new job at a new building. It includes a lot of welding and when we visited another plant to watch the operation, all employees were wearing half face respirators. We will still do our own IH testing once we begin but if respirators are needed, is there a certification and device I could do so that we can do these in house? Employee turnover is always an issue so if I can take care of this myself so I don't have to constantly send people to a 3rd party I would definitely prefer that.