/r/safetyfirst

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Dedicated to safety professionals working in Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S / HSE), as well as normal folks who are interested in safety.

A place for the corporate captain planets and safety police of the world to share their experiences, news, best practices, and networking.

Rules for posts & comments:

  • No spam or advertising
  • General civility in posts and comments
  • Direct image links only
  • No URL shorteners
  • No participation links should be used when linking to reddit threads

The advice contained in this subreddit should not be used as a substitute for federal, state, or local regulations.

Related Subreddits:

/r/labsafety

/r/safetyfirst

1,586 Subscribers

5

Tracking Employee Training

Hello everyone I was just recently hired as the HSE intern for the summer and was tasked with figuring out a better way to keep track of employee training. We currently keep track on an excel workbook but that process is a bit tedious and time-consuming. We have to keep track of completion dates since employees have to retake training on an annual/biannual basis. Wondering if anyone is using any specific program or figured out a system to better keep track of OSHA required training courses. I started to develop a dashboard on Power BI but just looking for any alternatives. I am fairly familiar with technology so any kind of software recs would be helpful!

6 Comments
2023/07/06
13:56 UTC

4

What is YOUR preferred Brand for Respiratory Protection ?

1 Comment
2023/03/02
17:28 UTC

6

Put it in WRITING!

Documenting hazardous waste management procedures should be considered a crucial aspect of workplace health and safety plans. This process will guarantee the protection of employees performing various job functions and minimize the possibility of the organization violating regulatory requirements.

0 Comments
2023/02/14
00:05 UTC

1

Have you ever donated blood?

For those who may be interested in donating, you can use this link to find a blood drive near you: https://rcblood.org/3kbWXYc

Did you know this month is coined National Volunteer Blood Donor Month? If you're a first-time donor. before your donation, make sure to:
- Eat an iron-rich diet
- Drink plenty of water
- Be well-rested

And follow by eating a snack and drinking plenty of fluids after you have donated blood. Also, spread the word so others may follow you!

2 Comments
2023/01/11
21:54 UTC

0

Do you work from home or remotely?

Do you work from a home office, or are you a remote worker?
This makes you completely responsible for your personal safety and security.

This week is Home Office and Security Week, check out this article for more regarding safety precautions you can take while working from home or anywhere and the importance of such measures: https://nationaltoday.com/home-office-safety-and-security-week/#why-we-love

Make sure you have put in place the necessary precautions to protect from fire hazards, electrical malfunctions, and trips and slips due to clutter within your home office and/or remote workstation.

View Poll

2 Comments
2023/01/09
18:37 UTC

1

NFPA 70 - What even is it?

2 Comments
2023/01/07
02:15 UTC

1

Global Handwashing Day

How important do you think handwashing is as a preventative measure for disease and infection?

View Poll

0 Comments
2022/12/15
22:22 UTC

5

Did you know this is National Handwashing Awareness Week?

How often do you wash you hands?

During this National Handwashing Awareness Week, strive to wash your hands to reduce the spread of illnesses. If working with any toxic chemicals, washing hands after working with such hazardous materials improves good health and workplace safety.

View Poll

0 Comments
2022/12/06
14:14 UTC

2

Happy Thanksgiving!

0 Comments
2022/11/25
02:13 UTC

1

Burning aluminum cans

I was making an small alcohol burner out of two aluminum cans, isopropyl alcohol, and paper towels as a wick, when I lit it and let it burn, I smelled a strange, chemical like scent. Is this dangerous? The scent of course, not the burning, I know the burning is.

3 Comments
2022/10/09
19:14 UTC

5

The Industrial S Word Podcast - Episode 3 is LIVE! No ads or sponsors

We have published episode 3! I had a great opportunity to speak with a professional engineer who has dedicated his working career to functional safety. We get to explore his long life experiences from first hand laborer to what he sees now as P.eng working on safety.

The Industrial S Word podcast was very excited to have someone speak about the legislative side of safety and some of the dangers he has been asked to consult on.

Latest episode can be found here, or any of your favourite podcast streaming services. Please consider like, commenting, and sharing. And I'm always open for discussion here.

1 Comment
2022/10/03
12:39 UTC

3

Signs something's wrong when using devices with Lithium Batteries

When using devices & equipment powered by lithium batteries, immediately stop using such equipment if you notice any of these:

  • The battery is emitting an odour,
  • Leaking,
  • Generating too much heat,
  • Changing shape,
  • Making hissing noises.

If any of these occur immediately remove the battery from the device if that's possible. Also isolate the device or equipment, & keep it away from anything flammable.

PSA - Devices with Lithium Batteries include even day-to-day things like: Cell Phones, Tablets, Laptops, Vaping Devices Electronic Toothbrushes Hoverboards, Scooters Bluetooth Headsets and Headphones and many more

Has anything like this ever happened to you, and what did you guys do?

0 Comments
2022/09/01
21:28 UTC

1

Electric heating pad-

Hi- I'm not sure this is the right venue for this Reddit but my new electric heating pad has a dime sized hole in the fabric and I'm scared it's unsafe to use.

Can it be patched and is it ok to use?

Thanks!

1 Comment
2022/08/27
01:41 UTC

3

Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) VS Sulpher Dioxide (SO2) Concentrations

I am at an HSE department for an oil and gas field.

there is an alarm system for detecting H2S and SO2 dangerous concentrations.

I know that H2S is more deadly than SO2.

but the alarm goes off like this:

SO2: 2 ppm Low 5 ppm high

H2S: 10 ppm low and 15 ppm high

why is that, wasn't H2S supposed to be more dangerous?

3 Comments
2022/08/19
11:34 UTC

5

Stop on Red!

Did you know this week is National Stop on Red Week?

What does that mean? "National Stop on Red Week” advocates safe driving on the road by advocating for motorists to stop at red lights to prevent accidents and the loss of lives. Take the rest of the week to support safe mobility on roads and highways for all.

3 Comments
2022/08/13
05:21 UTC

3

Did you know about 1.5 Million people per year die from Hepatitis

Did You Know?

World Hepatitis Day (July 28) is also the birthday of Nobel prize winner Dr Baruch Blumberg. He not only discovered the hepatitis B virus, but also developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus. Each year, more than 1.5 million people die from viral hepatitis.

The key to eliminating the deadly disease is PREVENTION. People exposed to bloodborne pathogens and OPIMs, known causes of the hepatitis B and C virus, must adhere to universal precautions and other safe work practices to prevent exposure to these viruses.

0 Comments
2022/07/29
05:16 UTC

1

Spraying starch to kill ants?

My dad was spraying starch on his face from an aerosol type can of liquid starch, to demonstrate that it's safe. He also uses it around the house to kill ants.

Is this safe? My gut intuition is FUCK NO YOU STUPID TERDY SHITFUCKING TRASH OF A NONHUMAN, but I don't feel like being victorious over him today, as usual. He's not worth my time. But if he's endangering my life I might talk to him.

2 Comments
2022/05/29
18:42 UTC

3

Starting a new career soon. Any tips/advice?

Starting a position as a technician at a tile manufacturing faculty. What items should I always carry with me? Any tips/advice?

2 Comments
2022/03/27
00:19 UTC

2

OSHA! Construction Safety Choice or Chance?

0 Comments
2022/03/16
13:34 UTC

3

OSHA: Hazard Communication Standard 1926.59

0 Comments
2021/12/14
02:57 UTC

3

How to install a 2 ton trench box #shorts

0 Comments
2021/11/27
01:53 UTC

2

How to proceed proactively...

Workplace safety concerns

I have been working at my new job for almost three months now, and I am overwhelmed by the number of safety hazards, unsafe work practices, and lack of safety training there is at this job. My background is in construction, shipping and steel distribution. All of my jobs have involved a degree of danger: operating overhead cranes, utilizing scaffolding, driving forklifts, heavy lifting, working in confined spaces etc. Every organization I have worked for in the past has had extensive safety training programs, employee run safety and housekeeping commitees, internal audits, meticulous documentation, and what could be called a "safety culture" in which employer and employees work together to make things safe for everyone and generally watch each other's backs. My current job is in manufacturing and shipping. The company has none of the things listed in the previous paragraph. There's a general sense of willful ignorance regarding anything safety related, and the training program is virtually non-existent. There are constant incidents of unsafe/hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices. I have tried to address my supervisor about some of these, and he has been dismissive or disinterested. I have addressed some of these things with the 'Safety Manager", but he started at the company only a few months ago and he also shares his time at another plant out of state. I'm not interested in leaving this job, I am starting to get overwhelmed by some of the things I have been seeing and I don't know who to turn to for help. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

6 Comments
2021/11/13
00:20 UTC

3

Consulting to EHS

Has anyone here made the transition from consulting to EHS? I am thinking about trying to make the transition in a few years, after getting some safety experience and my ASP and such. Anyone have any luck doing that? If so, how have three enjoyed the transition?

13 Comments
2021/11/11
02:18 UTC

3

Advice for a New EHS Tech

Just got my first EHS job in my last semester of college. The job sounds really interesting. I was just wondering how physically demanding the job is? My boss said I’d have to knock down walls with hammers lol. Is it usually a chill job or is there a decent amount of manual labor involved? Also what should be my salary expectation? I’ll be starting at 18 and moving to just under 20 after 3 months. I really would like to make low to mid twenties in a year or so if that’s even possible

5 Comments
2021/09/29
09:34 UTC

5

Remote Jobs for EHS?

Hi Everyone-mid career level EHS Specialist here. Anyone transition to a remote job or have advice for it? Kind of hard because we are a very boots on the ground profession, but I am trying to see if there is anything out there, or that we are apt to transition to.

3 Comments
2021/09/29
00:32 UTC

1

Best approach to broken glass clean up?

Heavy winds blew over a double paint window that was leaning against our back wall. Lots of glass pieces in the dirt behind the house that I’m trying to clean up. Aside from big chunks in a Rubbermaid, is there anything I can do for the small pieces? Should I shovel all the dirt into a bucket and run it in a Tumblr for a day to soften shards?

0 Comments
2021/09/26
21:12 UTC

4

Where can I go from here? (career guidance)

Hello r/safetyfirst!

I'll try to be brief. I have a background in laboratory science and found out I didn't want to be a lab rat my whole life. Applied on a whim, and ended up becoming an EHS/Lab Safety Specialist at a large hospital in Los Angeles. I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far, and I am going on two years now. They pay for all my certs, training, etc. and I am currently studying for my ASP (also paid for). Why I'm writing to you all is because I just have no idea where I could go from here career-wise. As an LA resident I always see positions open for EHS specialists at Amazon, SpaceX, etc. How would those compare to what I'm doing now? (i.e. conducting/developing safety programs in a research lab/hospital environment).

Thank you for your time, r/safetyfirst I hope to become a part of the community

4 Comments
2021/09/08
16:51 UTC

2

Finding comfortable eyewear for an oddly shaped face.

As stated in the title, I am looking for safety glasses that are more comfortable on my face. The usual warnings, I’m on mobile, English IS my first language, I just suck at it, ect.

I have pretty prominent cheekbones, I’m assuming due to a certain amount of Native American heritage in my family. Which is all well and good, but the end result is that I cannot find one single pair of glasses, safety or no, that doesn’t rest against my left cheekbone. Why the left specifically? That’s a very good question, and the answer is approximately “iunno.” But I do know that it is to the point that I have a permanent red spot under my eye.

Now, my current job is preeeetty relaxed about PPE compared to other places, I can generally go a whole shift with my glasses just chillin on my neck. However, avoiding problems is rarely a solution.

Is the high cheekbones thing a documented problem? If so, are there certain brands I could buy to help with this, or maybe some sort of nose piece to help keep them straight? Sorry is this post is weird. Included are pics of me with and without glasses for reference points. Thanks for taking the time to read my word salad. Hi

3 Comments
2021/04/17
15:42 UTC

6

EHS Interview Questions for a newbie

Hello everybody,

I am just graduated in Dec in Env Science major and I will have an interview with the Hiring Manager for an EHS technician position tomorrow! Honestly, I need some advice for this interview, I have tried to review the material from EPA regulations and OSHA topics but I think hearing from the experts is better to help me land my first entry job in this field.

I would love to hear from your insight experience, and how to pass the technical interview! I am new in this field, and I am willing to learn! Thank you so much!

Update: My interview went smoothly, most of the questions were from the job description, and some topics I have not known before (ISO140001, and EPA regulations). For the topics I have reviewed, I answered really smoothly but the one I have not learned before I just told the HR Manger that I have not experienced it but I willing to learn. In addition, I also told that the Manager that I love to connect, learn more about people, respect the workers before we could guide them. Earn their trust so that they will follow us!

He seemed satisfied with my answers, but I have to wait until next week to know the result from the Recruiter because they have to interview some people! I hope I scored it well!

I have really appreciated everybody that helped me with your tips, advice, and guidance! If I got a job, I will update you guys! Thank you so much!!!!!

25 Comments
2021/04/15
18:00 UTC

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