As the new school year begins, relay the following safety tips to your children, and take some upon yourself for best practice: Walking • Use sidewalks or walk facing traffic if no sidewalk is available. Use crosswalks or cross at intersections after checking that it is safe to do so. Always look both ways and…
High temperatures and high humidity can create heat stress hazards. To be Mission Ready, you need to be well hydrated, rested, and acclimated to higher heat environments. Acclimation to reduce the risk of heat-related injury or illness is accomplished through gradual progressive exposure to physical work in the heat. Proper acclimation results in beneficial adaptations…
Backfeeding occurs when electricity flows in the opposite direction of its normal path. If a secondary power system (solar arrays, generators, or batteries) is connected to a building’s electrical system without a properly engineered isolation or transfer switch, it can feed electricity backward into the main panel and utility lines. This backfeeding turns an assumed-de-energized…
Footwear requirements vary depending on the work location. Procedure PROC-EH-2000, General Safety Requirements defines footwear requirements for three distinct work areas. Please consult your safety representative if you have questions about the following footwear guidelines for areas in which you work or visit: Central campus and administrative/office areas: Buildings used exclusively as offices that are…
Lightning poses a significant, yet often underestimated hazard for individuals working or playing outdoors. Each year, lightning strikes the ground millions of times in the United States, leading to hundreds of injuries and many fatalities (21 fatalities in 2025, the most since 2019). Florida led the nation with the most deaths, four, and water activities…
Recognizing the existence of overhead hazards is the first step toward mitigating their risks. Falling objects, suspended or elevated loads, overhead power lines, or obstructions such as beams, pipes, lights or tree branches are a few of the overhead hazards we may encounter. When the potential for an overhead hazard exists, serious injuries or fatalities…
When working in and around trenches, the most common potential hazards include cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, falling objects or debris, and struck-by or caught-between scenarios. Remember to use the following safe practices when working in or around trenches: Maintain a safe way to enter and exit – Trenches 4 feet or deeper must be equipped with…
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, passenger vehicle trailer-towing accidents are prominent. During 2023, more than 69,000 passenger vehicle trailer-towing crashes are estimated to have resulted in 500 fatalities and 25,000 nonfatal injuries with Tennessee having the fifth highest number of fatalities at 19. Severe crashes typically involved preventable mechanical and operational failures,…
Sudden cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function caused by an electrical malfunction. It prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the brain and vital organs, leading to death within minutes if untreated. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a sophisticated yet easy-to-use portable medical device. It analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, delivers…
Mental health is a critical component of overall wellbeing, influencing how we think, feel, and act. It impacts nearly every aspect of our lives—relationships, communication, decision-making, sleep, physical health, etc. Establishing good mental wellbeing is key to navigating life and achieving your goals with a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. Proactively investing in your…
