Safety

Utilizing Spotters for Backing up Vehicles Utilizing Spotters for Backing up Vehicles At Smiley Crane, safety is our top priority. One critical aspect of our safety protocol is the use of spotters when backing up vehicles. This practice is not just a recommendation but a vital procedure that significantly reduces the risk of accidents. Remember that if you don’t have a Smiley Team Member around to act as a spotter, politely asking the HVAC contractor or one of the contractor’s crew members onsite to assist is ok. The GOAL Model: Get Out and Look Lately, we have seen an increase in damage caused by backing into items or other vehicles due to not utilizing the GOAL (Get Out and Look) model. This model emphasizes the importance of the [...]

5 Characteristics of a Defensive Driver Defensive driving does not require a high degree of special training. The character­istics of a defensive driver are the same characteristics that apply to many aspects of our lives. Let’s look at the five most important requirements for defensive driving. 1. KNOWLEDGE Defensive drivers take time to educate themselves about safe driving techniques. They know how to recognize hazards and avoid collisions. They know the traffic laws in their area. This knowledge helps them know how to act correctly and quickly in traffic situations. They also know how to properly maintain their vehicles in a safe operating condition. 2. ALERTNESS Defensive drivers are alert, both to traffic conditions and to how their own mental and physi­cal conditions may affect their driving. They pay [...]

Protecting workers from potential head injuries is an essential component of any workplace safety program, especially in the construction industry, where a head injury can become life-threatening in an instant. Hard hats, if worn properly and consistently, can protect crew members from falling or flying objects, electrical shock hazards and unintentional hard hits against fixed objects. OSHA Standard 1926.100(a) Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, shall be protected by protective helmets. In order to be effective, hard hats, or protective helmets, must be penetration-resistant, shock-absorbent, water- and fire-resistant. Hard hats must have easy-to-understand instructions provided that explain proper adjustment as well as how to replace the suspension and headband [...]

Why Large Crane Operations Require Specific Requirements Crane operators require specialized training and requirements. Workers rigging the load to be moved, and those guiding or working as a spotter must also be specially trained in their specific duties and tasks. Bob (480) 651-3977 View All Posts

Daily Forklift Inspection Checklist EVERYONE, not only warehouse workers, must be trained and certified to operate a forklift. Forklifts (OSHA calls them Powered Industrial Trucks) are used in many industries, primarily to move materials. They can also be used to raise, lower, or remove large objects or smaller objects on pallets, in crates or other containers, and sometimes with great caution and the right safety procedures… even people. View All Posts

Ladder Safety Every year, over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents, and thousands more suffer disabling injuries. Mark your calendar to join the American Ladder Institute (ALI) in observing National Ladder Safety Month, designed to raise awareness of ladder safety and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities. View All Posts

Your Hard Hat Will Save Your Day! Falling objects, like tools, materials, or debris, can expose workers to minor injuries like cuts and abrasions, but can also cause more serious injuries like puncture wounds or concussions. In some cases, especially if workers are not wearing hard hats, a dropped object can result in hospitalization or even a fatal injury. Bob (480) 651-3977 View All Posts