Safety Net Blog

MEMIC's all about workplace safety blog since 2008! Easy-to-read safety advice combines with email delivery to give you a whole new way to keep your safety program on track. If you'd like to search a topic not listed, please use the overall site search at the top right.

Immaculate commercial kitchen

Everything in Its Right Place

Workplace safety can be enhanced in any work environment with good housekeeping habits such as cleaning up spills, keeping aisles and exits clear, replacing worn, ripped, or damaged floors, eliminating snow, oil, or grease from floors...

Construction, Education, General, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Retail, Services, Transportation, Inspection, Leadership and Management, Safety Programs, Slips, Trips & Falls  •  March 15, 2023
Person exiting vehicle in snowy conditions

Taming the Dangerous Passage - Safely Entering and Exiting a Vehicle During Winter Weather

Common-sense moves such as approaching carefully, bracing yourself for stability, and moving without boxes, packages, or other items in hand, can help you avoid slip and fall injuries while entering or exiting a vehicle during the cold, snow, and ice...

General, Transportation, Slips, Trips & Falls, Outdoor Safety, Driving Safety  •  November 16, 2022
Person walking up stairs in a commercial setting.

Addressing Slips-and-Falls from the Ground Up

Building a better slip-and-fall prevention program requires you to think SAFE – Surface, Awareness, Footwear, and Environment. Look from the ground up at everything from surfaces to footwear to the mental state of the worker.

General, Safety Programs, Slips, Trips & Falls, Inspection  •  November 02, 2022
Worker climbing stairs with fall arrest harness attached

Spelling Out Fall Protection Beyond the A-B-Cs

Fall protection during work from heights is generally governed by the basics of anchoring, body harnesses, and connectors. But to make a comprehensive assessment, safety directors must go beyond those simple techniques and look at a variety of consid...

Construction, General, Manufacturing, OSHA, Slips, Trips & Falls, Safety Programs  •  October 05, 2022
Worker wearing fall harness climbing a ladder

Ladder Safety Part 2: Does your Ladder Safety Training Get High Marks?

Workplace ladder usage, regardless of industry, is a high-risk task that should be part of any new or existing employee training plan. Training should include ladder selection, inspection, hazard identification, fall protection measures, and safe wor...

General, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Hospitality, Services, OSHA, Slips, Trips & Falls, Manual Material Handling  •  September 29, 2022
Worker wearing hardhat setting a ladder inside

Ladder Safety Part 1: Three Points of Contact

Safe work on ladders requires three points of contact and requires employees to face the ladder, use at least one hand to keep a “firm grasp” on the ladder, and ensure they are not carrying objects or loads that could cause loss of balance or grip.

General, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Hospitality, Services, OSHA, Slips, Trips & Falls, Manual Material Handling  •  September 21, 2022
Office workers waiting for elevator

Don't Let Elevators Bring You Down

Misleveled elevator floors, insufficient maintenance program, and unsafe employee behaviors can lead to significant workplace trip or fall injuries. A comprehensive program is necessary to control hazards.

General, Retail, Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, OSHA, Inspection, Slips, Trips & Falls  •  September 14, 2022
Worker inspecting HVAC unity on rooftop

Roof Rules Depend on Slope, Distance, and Frequency

Fall protection requirements for employees performing maintenance on low-sloped roofs depend on factors that include whether the work is deemed “temporary and infrequent,” and the distance from the edge.

General, Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Retail, Services, OSHA, Slips, Trips & Falls, Outdoor Safety  •  September 07, 2022
Painter sitting on ladder, talking on cellphone.

Attention Span Can Affect Safety Performance

Inattention and distraction in the workplace can lead to significant injuries. Safety teams and leadership can start by identifying the causes of inattention, distractions, or interruptions. Attention to hazards and the task at hand builds a safer wo...

General, Leadership and Management, Safety Programs, Slips, Trips & Falls  •  July 06, 2022
Empty school hallway with green lockers

The (Not So) Surprising Truth about Injuries in Schools and Educational Services

In reviewing injury data compiled by MEMIC's Education Services Team, it was found that faculty and administrative jobs have the highest injury frequency across all departments.

Education, Slips, Trips & Falls, Ergonomics  •  September 29, 2021

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