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.

Construction worker wiping sweat from forehead during summer day

Addressing Heat Hazards is Still Pretty Cool

Proactive employers should look to develop and implement programs to protect their employees as OSHA shapes its National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect employees from heat-related hazards in industries such as automotive, warehousing, manufacturin...

General, Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, Transportation, OSHA  •  May 24, 2023
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
Workplace violence papers and forms on an office desk

Resources Abound to Stem Increase in Workplace Assault

Violence is on the rise in the workplace, with assaults now the fifth leading cause of workplace deaths. This risk can be mitigated by establishing “zero tolerance” violence prevention policies with compliance via employee engagement...

General, Healthcare, Services, Hospitality, Education, Construction, Manufacturing, Retail, Transportation, Workplace Violence, Safety Programs  •  March 01, 2023
Machine guards in place on factory equipment

Are Your Guards in Place? Quick Tips for Improving Machine Guarding Safety

When machine guards are used properly, they keep employees safe. But, too often, these tools that protect workers in a manufacturing setting are left in an open position, set aside, damaged, or unused.

General, Manufacturing, OSHA, Safety Programs, Leadership and Management  •  January 18, 2023
Employees in office training room

What’s On Your Training Calendar This Year?

The New Year is a great time to refresh your safety training plans. Determine who needs to be trained, whether your locations are appropriate for training, which training topics would benefit your teams, and your goals for a safe and healthy workplac...

General, Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Transportation, Leadership and Management, Safety Programs  •  January 04, 2023
Man working at computer, struggling with back pain.

The Humongous Possibilities of the Homunculus

If you made a humanesque model of all the accumulated injuries experienced at your workplace, the resulting homunculus would probably look scary and grotesque, but don’t be frightened! It can be tamed, and even shrunk back into proportion...

General, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Ergonomics, Leadership and Management, Manual Material Handling, Safety Programs, Wellness  •  December 07, 2022
Warehouse workers working in retail warehouse

Training the Industrial Athlete

Employers should think of their employees as athletes and implement training plans that address the physical demands of the job. Designing stretching, strengthening, conditioning and hydration programs can decrease injuries and lead to a healthier wo...

General, Manufacturing, Ergonomics, Safety Programs, Wellness  •  October 20, 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

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