Jessica Barrett Contributor Bio

Articles by Jessica Barrett

How to Clean, Maintain, and Extend the Life of Your Respirator

Your respirator can last a long time if it's properly maintained. Find out how to care for it.
Safety Certifications 101

With so many safety certifications to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. Learn more about certifications and how to know which is right for you.
Decoding Safety Signs and Symbols

Health and safety symbols deliver important information, but they only work if everyone knows what they mean.
Fire Extinguisher Classifications: What They Mean and Why They Matter

Selecting a fire extinguisher is not as easy as it looks. Find out about the different classes of fire and which type of extinguisher is appropriate for each of them.
Workplace First Aid Basics for Broken Bones

Bone fractures are one of the most common seriously workplace injuries. Do you know what to do if a worker suffers one at your business?
Is Your Contractor Management System Automated? Here’s Why It Should Be

Manual contractor management is inefficient. Learn 5 ways you can benefit from automating it.
How Data From Workforce Wearables Is Impacting EHS

Safety is increasingly data-driven. Find out how workplace wearable technology is enhancing on-site safety.
What Can the Latest Statistics Tell Us About Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention

Statistics about slips and trips aren't always promising, but they can help us develop a prevention strategy. Find out more.
5 Things to Know About Safety Signs

Safety signs may be simple, but a lot of thought goes into selecting and placing them. Find out what you need to know about them.
Major Safety Concerns for Construction Workers and What to Do About Them

Compared to most professions, construction comes with a high risk of injury and fatality. Find out how to keep workers safe on the construction site.
How to Make Sure Your Work Boots Are as Comfortable as They Can Be

To keep you safe, your work boots also need to be comfortable. Find out how to select comfortable work boots and troubleshoot common problems.
Back Support Belts: The Simple Tool That Can Help Prevent Injury

Back support belts can help reduce back injuries, but only if used properly. Find out what you need to know before using them.
7 Basic Hydration Facts Every Worker Should Be Aware Of

Does coffee dehydrate you? Learn the answer to this and other basic hydration questions.
How to Reduce Noise Levels in Your Workplace

PPE is your last line of defense against noise hazards. Find out what controls you should implement first.
Uneven Ground Conditions: Solutions and Precautions

Uneven ground surfaces don't look dangerous but they account for a number of trip and fall incidents. Learn more about mitigating this risk.
How to Select the Right Protective Sleeves for Your Workplace

Gloves aren't always enough. Find out what you need to know about protective sleeves before purchasing some for your workplace.
Why Worker Engagement Is Key to Data Capture and Tracking Safety KPIs

Workers engagement and data tracking are closely linked. Find out how.
The Top 5 Workplace Summer Safety Hazards (and What You Can Do About Them)

Summer brings a number of safety challenges for outdoor workers. Here are the biggest ones.
How to Conduct a Risk Assessment

Risk assessments are a cornerstone of workplace safety. Find out how to conduct and effective and thorough one.
Advances in Hearing Protection Tech

Hearing protection is about more than just earplugs and earmuffs. Find out how new tech is improving hearing PPE.
Heat Stress: Indoors vs. Outdoor

Did you know that indoor and outdoor heat aren't the same? Find out how they differ and what it means for worker safety.
How to Stay Safe When Spray Painting and Coating

Spray painting has risks that aren't present when using a roller or paintbrush. Find out how to keep workers in industrial painting operations safe.
Using Wearable Tech to Enhance Worksite Safety

Wearable tech is about more than just counting your steps or keeping track of your heart rate. Learn about the safety benefits of using wearable devices.
How to Use Technology to Engage Workers in Workplace Safety

Disengaged workers are associated with a 49% increase in workplace accidents. Find out how technology can help you keep your employees engaged.
Reducing Environmental Risks: Biological Hazard Control

Biological hazards are common but rarely discussed. Find out how to identify them and keep your workers safe.
HAZWOPER: A Primer

Does HAZWOPER apply to you? Find out if it does and what responsibilities this entails.
Why Your Whistleblower Policy Is Important for Your Safety Culture

Your whistleblower program does more than just provide an avenue for reporting. It can also strengthen your workplace's safety culture. Find out how.
How to Safely Dispose of Caustic Waste

Caustic waste is harmful to humans, damaging to the environment, and causes trouble for wastewater treatment plants. Learn how to dispose of it safely.
Reducing Environmental Risks: Indoor Temperature Control

Indoor work environments can put workers at risk of heat stress and cold stress. Learn about the risks and how to control them.
5 Best Practices for Dust Control in Manufacturing

Dust in manufacturing can be toxic or combustible, especially when it accumulates. Find out how to control the spread of dust in your workplace.
5 Factors that Impact Women’s Safety in the Workplace

Despite gains in employment equality, some factors continue to put women at greater risk than men. Find out what they are and how to address them.
6 Steps to Securing Transport Loads

Imbalanced or off-centered loads are a serious risk. Find out how to secure cargo the right way.
First Aid for Major Trauma: Crushes, Amputation, Impalement

First Aid isn't all about nicks and cuts. Find out what to do when one of your workers has suffered a crushing injury, amputation, or impalement.
6 Things to Look for When Selecting Machine Guards

Machine guards are a simple and effective way of preventing severe injury. Find out what you need to look for when selecting yours.
7 Signs of Fatigue and How it Affects the Workplace

Fatigue is a serious safety hazard but it's often invisible. Find out how to spot fatigue in workers and what you can do about it.
Workplace First Aid Basics: Minor and Severe Cuts

You've got first aid kits posted in your workplace, but do you know exactly how to use them? Find out how to respond to minor and severe cuts.
Are You Wearing Your Earplugs Properly? (It Might Be Destroying Your Hearing)

Earplugs are standard issue PPE on many worksites, but are they being worn properly? Find out how to use them right and really protect your hearing.
Sexual Harassment Is a Workplace Health and Safety Issue

Sexual harassment is detrimental to mental and physical health. Find out what steps employers should take to prevent it from happening in their workplaces
The 6 Best Training Courses for Canadian Safety Professionals

Canadian safety professionals have hundreds of training courses to choose from. To help you sort through them, we've selected a few of the best.
Fall Protection for the Oil and Gas Worker

Oil and gas workers face many dangers, especially when working at height. Find out how to reduce the risks.
Major Safety Concerns for Welders and What to Do About Them

Welding is an inherently hazardous job, but there are things you can do to make it safer. Learn about the risks and how to mitigate them.
10 Things to Know About Head Protection

Hard hats seem simple, but they shouldn't be treated casually. Find out when you need them, what type you need, and how to use them.
On Guard: Simple Warehouse Barriers for Protecting People and Products

More than 110,000 workers are involved in forklift-related accidents every day. Find out which type of barrier you need to make your warehouse safer.
One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes to Protective Clothing

One-size-fits-all protective clothing is not as simple as it sounds. Find out why a proper fit matters.
4 Common Forklift Accidents – And How to Prevent Them

Using forklifts in your workplace introduces a number of dangers to the drivers and their co-workers. Find out how to keep workers safe from forklift-related injuries.
How to Layer Flame-Resistant Clothing (And When You Should Do It)

Selecting FR clothing is fairly simple - until you decide to layer them. Find out what you need to know before layering FR gear.
Forklift Maintenance Tips that Help Ensure Worker Safety

Operating a forklift is risky, but too few people realize that inspecting and maintaining it also comes with hazards.
Confined Space Safety 101: First Steps You Need to Take Before Sending Workers into a Confined Space

Safety in confined spaces is particularly challenging. Find out what you need to know before sending workers into one.
6 Important Items that Get Left Off Too Many Safety Budgets

Are you cutting too much out of your safety budget? If you're leaving these items off, you just might be.
Watch Your Step! 8 Handy Tips to Prevent Winter Slips and Falls

Snow and ice make even walking a safety risk. Follow these tips to stay safe on slippery surfaces.
How to Deal with Winter Weather on the Construction Site

Construction sites are risky places, but even more so in the winter. Learn about winter construction site hazards and how to deal with them.

Q&A by Jessica Barrett

How can nurses and other healthcare workers deal with fatigue at work?

Fatigue can have a serious impact on the healthcare workers and their patients. Taking steps to address it is critical.
What is the difference between absorptive and evaporative cooling products?

In hot work environments, cooling gear is a necessity to help workers stay comfortable and combat heat stress.What many people don’t realize is that there are actually two different types of cooling products: absorptive and...
What are some of the key safety benefits of implementing a visitor management system on a work site?

Whether it’s a manufacturing plant or a construction site, keeping track of visitors is of the utmost importance. Visitor management systems help organizations develop, employ, and streamline their visitor management...
Are nitrile gloves safe?

In general, nitrile gloves are safe. However, whether they are the right choice for a given application depends entirely on the circumstances.Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic rubber and a common choice to avoid latex...
Do workers need different respirators during the summer months?

While some respirators are intended for cold weather use, you won’t generally find ones specifically for use in hot weather. During those warm summer months, your standard respirator will work just fine.With that said, every...
What questions should I ask before buying a cooling vest?

For workers in hot environments, keeping cool is about more than just comfort – it’s about and protecting their health and well-being. And while PPE is an essential part of the job, it can also increase perspiration and...
What kind of training do loading dock workers need?

The loading dock is one of the most dangerous areas in a warehouse. About a quarter of all industrial accidents happen there – and for every one of those, there are about 600 near misses (learn about 5 Simple Ways to Prevent...
How often should I inspect a loading dock?

Loading docks can be dangerous places. In fact, about a quarter of all reported warehouse injuries occurring on loading docks. The causes of dock accidents vary, but regular inspections can minimize or eliminate hazards and...
What is the difference between acute and chronic chemical exposure?

Chemical exposure of any kind can be dangerous. Generally, there are three routes of exposure through which a toxic substance can enter the body:Inhalation (breathing)Direct contact (touching)Ingestion (swallowing)The length...
When do I need high-visibility safety apparel?

For workers on job sites where traffic is a concern, there’s one question that tends to be paramount over all others: how well can others see you? There are various applications that require high-vis PPE, but the largest...
Does every layer of winter workwear need to be flame resistant?

When possible, it's a good idea to make every layer flame resistant.When it comes to layering FR clothing, both the outerwear and the regular work clothes worn underneath it need to be flame resistant. The purpose of the...
What should I do when facing multiple hazards?

A hazard is defined as any practice, behavior, or physical condition that can cause injury, illness, damage to property, damage to environment, and/or loss to process. Given the breadth of this definition, it’s pretty rare...
How often should you replace high-visibility clothing?

High visibility clothing is an essential part of the PPE package for workers who need to ensure that others can see them on the job site. But just like other protective gear, it doesn’t last forever – and using hi-vis gear...
What is the difference between primary and secondary flame resistant (FR) garments?

We use flame resistant (FR) protective clothing to protect against hazards like electric arcs, flash fires, and combustible dust. But not many people know that there are two types of FR clothing – primary and secondary (see...
How can I reduce the carbon monoxide output of a forklift?

Carbon monoxide poisoning in warehouses is more common than you might think. Here's how to reduce forklift carbon monoxide.
How often does a forklift need to be inspected?

Forklifts are dangerous, heavy machines. While they only account for about one percent of all warehouse or factory accidents, they make up a full 10 percent of physical injuries incurred in those workplaces (learn about 4...
How many wheel chocks should be used at a loading dock?

Loading docks can be dangerous places, and using wheel chocks is one way to help mitigate hazards like trailer creep (learn about 5 Loading Dock Catastrophes – And How to Prevent Them).OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178 requires...
Do forklift operators need to wear PPE?

While engineering and administrative controls are always the first line of defense against injuries in the workplace, personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a critical role, too (learn more about The Hierarchy of Hazard...
When should you lockout a forklift?

Before we talk about when you should lockout a forklift, let’s discuss what the term even means.Locking Out a ForkliftLockout/tagout refers to the practices and procedures that help protect employees from the unexpected...
Is a sit-down forklift safer than a stand-up forklift?

As you might expect, there’s no clear-cut answer to this question. Both sit-down and stand-up forklifts have their safety benefits and drawbacks, and the safest one for your drivers depends very much on where it will be...
Is it possible to promote safety culture with temporary workers?

Creating a strong culture of safety among your permanent staff is important, but it’s equally as important with temporary or contract workers – and entirely possible.We know it seems like a daunting task. The American...
Should management take part in safety training?

Creating a safe workplace isn’t just about training lower-level workers to identify safety hazards and enabling them to take action to mitigate them. A more preferable and effective approach involves creating a culture of...
What is the difference between arc flash and flame resistant clothing?

AR and FR clothing both provide essential protection for workers, but each keeps them safe from different hazards. Learn the difference here.
What are OSHA’s regulations for post-accident drug testing?

In December 2016, OSHA introduced a final rule (29 CFR 1904) that revised their regulations on recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses. While the rule itself didn’t mention drug testing, it has...
What is the best way to handle fogging in a Level A suit face visor?

Getting comfortable in your Level A safety suit is no easy feat. When you're working, you might notice your visor starting to fog up and reducing visibility. It's a frustrating situation, but it's not uncommon.The Level A...
What are positive and negative pressure seal checks and how are they performed?

It’s important to understand that respirators aren’t a one-size-fits-all piece of PPE. If a respirator doesn’t fit correctly, it can’t do its job properly – leaving workers vulnerable to dangerous and potentially deadly...
What is the ‘rainbow passage’ when it comes to respirator fit tests?

Read the full text of the rainbow passage and learn about its role in respirator fit testing.
What is silica and why is it hazardous?

A natural mineral found in the Earth, the most common form of silica is quartz. It’s a widely used industrial material and is generally a component in sand, stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar.While silica isn’t...
What is the difference between a warning sign and a caution sign?

It can be tricky to determine the meaning of signs, especially when the words all seem to be synonyms with each other. But don’t be fooled: there is, in fact, a difference between cautions and warnings.Here’s what you need...
Must I be medically evaluated and cleared to use a respirator?

To maintain the safety of all workers, OSHA standards mandate that every employee required or volunteering to use a respirator undergo a medical evaluation. This helps ensure that the individual can tolerate the...