Safety Questions

Q&As

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“What’s the difference between heat stress and heat-related illness?”

If you ever read anything about heat-related hazards, you’ll encounter a lot of references to heat stress. That makes sense. It’s the thing workers have to worry about if they do a lot of…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What is the difference between a first, second, and third degree burn?”

It’s common knowledge that burns come in degrees. And almost everyone knows that first degree burns are the least severe, while third degree burns are a serious cause for concern. But few…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“How many people should be in a safety committee?”

The safety committee is tasked with one of the most important responsibilities in the workplace: ensuring that everyone can work safely and get through their shift without being injured. They do this…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What should be included on a safety inspection checklist?”

Checklists are a simple but highly effective safety tool. Using a checklist during safety inspections is a good way to ensure that: Workplace conditions are checked thoroughly The inspection process…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“How do you prevent repetitive strain injuries (RSI)?”

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) can be challenging to prevent because they have a way of sneaking up on you. That’s because the movements that cause an RSI really don’t seem that…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What should you do when an employee refuses medical treatment?”

An employee slips at work and injures their ankle. They can still walk, but slowly and with a noticeable limp. Every few steps, they wince in pain. The supervisor advises them to have the injury…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“Why is OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule so controversial?”

Since the Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted in 1970, its section on inspections has remained largely unchanged – but not unchallenged. The way it is written leaves room for…

Answered by: Daniel Clark
Safety and Quality Management System Specialist

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“How often should hard hats be inspected?”

Your hard hat is the last line of defense between impact hazards and one of the most important parts of your body. When you put it on your head, you need to be confident that it will be able to…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What is the difference between ATPV and EBT?”

The arc rating of a material is a measure of how well it can protect the wearer from burns resulting from arc flashes. Sounds simple enough. But it gets a bit more complicated, because there are…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“When should I use a trailer stand for a semi trailer?”

No one wants to be inside a semi trailer when it tips. That’s why it’s important to make sure every trailer is fully stabilized before being loaded or unloaded. At its most basic, that…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What is the difference between an incident and an accident?”

Most people think that a safety professional’s job is to prevent workplace accidents. But if you listen to safety professionals talk, they almost never mention accidents. Instead, they’ll…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What is wet bulb temperature and how is it related to heat stress?”

We’re all quite familiar with air temperature. We know that we can measure it by setting out a thermometer, and that we can use the reading from the thermometer to decide how we should dress…

Answered by: Daniel Clark
Safety and Quality Management System Specialist

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“Can flame-resistant clothing be customized with logos or embroidery?”

The short answer is: yes, your flame-resistant (FR) clothing can be customized with logos, name tags, and embroidery. But the full answer is: it depends! While there are certainly ways to customize…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“How should flame-resistant clothing be maintained?”

Flame-resistant clothing is an essential last line of defense against fire hazards. Whether it is made of self-extinguishing fabrics or regular materials that have a been chemically treated, taking…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“Why is flame-resistant clothing important in the oil and gas industry?”

The answer is right in the name. Oil and gas personnel spend their workdays in close proximity to large quantities of flammable materials, such as petrochemicals, hydrogen sulfide, and vapors that…

Answered by: Safeopedia Staff

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“What type of clothing should be worn inside a clean room?”

What kind of clothing you'll need in a clean room depends on the type of clean room you're entering. Even clean rooms of the same level will have different features. The appropriate apparel…

Answered by: Henry Skjerven

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“What are the most common toxic gases in confined spaces?”

Toxic gases can be produced by materials deliberately used or stored in confined spaces, can be produced by natural processes, can be accidentally introduced into the space, or in the case of sewers…

Answered by: Bob Henderson
President

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“What is the best kind of gas detector to use in confined spaces?”

It can only take seconds to succumb to a hazardous atmosphere in a confined space. That’s why investing in high-quality gas detectors is one of the most important steps you can take to protect…

Answered by: Chad Schmidt
Business Development Manager - Western Canada

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“Can I use regular detergent to clean FR clothing?”

Though there might be a debate over how often to wash FR clothing, it is impossible to avoid entirely. Like any other garment, FR clothing will get soiled and need to be laundered. While washing your…

Answered by: Karoly Ban Matei
HR and Safety Manager

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“What risks need to be considered when rescuing someone from a confined space?”

What Is a Confined Space? A confined space is a workspace that limits free movement while working, especially with regard to safe entry and exit. A relatively large space like a railway tank car is…

Answered by: Steve Prentice

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Q&A With Our Experts

Q&As

“What’s the difference between heat stress and heat-related illness?”

“What is the difference between a first, second, and third degree burn?”

“How many people should be in a safety committee?”

“What should be included on a safety inspection checklist?”

“How do you prevent repetitive strain injuries (RSI)?”

“What should you do when an employee refuses medical treatment?”

“Why is OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule so controversial?”

“How often should hard hats be inspected?”

“What is the difference between ATPV and EBT?”

“When should I use a trailer stand for a semi trailer?”

“What is the difference between an incident and an accident?”

“What is wet bulb temperature and how is it related to heat stress?”

“Can flame-resistant clothing be customized with logos or embroidery?”

“How should flame-resistant clothing be maintained?”

“Why is flame-resistant clothing important in the oil and gas industry?”

“What type of clothing should be worn inside a clean room?”

“What are the most common toxic gases in confined spaces?”

“What is the best kind of gas detector to use in confined spaces?”

“Can I use regular detergent to clean FR clothing?”

“What risks need to be considered when rescuing someone from a confined space?”

Featured Experts

Mathieu Roy

Jamie Young

Safeopedia Staff