| Some alarming workplace facts | | | | because the machinery was defective and there |
| Did you know that everyday more than 12 U.S. | | | | was no safety tag to notify the hapless user. |
| workers on an average lose their lives through | | | | Other situations may not be quite so serious but |
| workplace accidents? Yet another 10,000 are hurt | | | | could prove serious time wasters, like people |
| so badly, they end up losing sizeable work time or | | | | getting stuck in improperly functioning elevators, |
| are placed on restricted duty? Startling? These | | | | loss of data through malfunctioning computers etc. |
| are the facts as reported by OSHA, the | | | | where just a simple safety tag could have |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration. | | | | apprised users of the situation. |
| Typical accidents encountered at workplaces | | | | Fire Extinguisher Tags and Gas Cylinder safety |
| People have fallen from elevations, got caught in | | | | tags |
| explosions, body parts have been crushed in | | | | Some tags serve as records or status |
| machinery, men have been electrocuted by | | | | notifications. For example, Fire extinguisher tags |
| defective electrical equipment, and trenches and | | | | show you an inspection record of when the |
| walls have caved in on workmen...this list is by no | | | | equipment was checked - this could be a monthly |
| means complete and only illustrative of the | | | | record, annual record, or yearly record. Gas |
| hazards many workers are exposed to. | | | | cylinder safety tags tell you the status of the gas |
| What can be done to reduce the accident rate? | | | | cylinder whether full or empty. Commonly |
| Reducing workplace related accidents is a fight | | | | available gas cylinder tags are Full Cylinder tags, |
| that needs to be fought on many levels, a few | | | | Empty Cylinder tags, DOT warning labels, Danger |
| measures that should be taken are: | | | | signs and labels, Hot Work permit tags and more. |
| Imparting safety information and training | | | | Such tags go a long way in upholding safety |
| Basic safety training is inadequate or non-existent | | | | norms in a workplace. |
| in many workplaces. Safety gear is not worn and | | | | Lockout Tags |
| safety procedures are not followed. Simple safety | | | | Some widely used safety tags are the lockout |
| training courses could take care of this | | | | tags. These are high quality safety tags that can |
| shortcoming. | | | | be used over long periods. Lockout Tags are used |
| Not ignoring inspection routines | | | | to indicate equipment or machinery that is not |
| Before an employee uses a potentially risky piece | | | | operating at safe or desired levels. Various lock |
| of equipment or machinery, it must be inspected | | | | out safety tags include Do Not Operate Tags, |
| rigorously and regularly. If defective, a safety tag | | | | Defective Material Tags, and Custom Lockout |
| should be put up as a warning flag and employees | | | | Tags etc. |
| should be informed. Training in inspection | | | | Repair Tags |
| procedures must also be imparted. | | | | There is a class of tags that also serves as |
| For long drawn processes, a written safety | | | | customer tickets when an item is given for |
| manual or guide must be in place | | | | repairing. A retailer can simply hand over the stub |
| Safety procedures if put down in writing serve as | | | | to the customer as receipt after accepting the |
| ready reference to employees and also help train | | | | equipment to be repaired. Repair tags for |
| them to watch out for accident triggers and take | | | | maintenance of heavy machinery serve the same |
| care of them right away. | | | | purpose but are generally tougher and are also |
| An easy way to minimize accidents | | | | available in fluorescent colors. |
| Safety training and inspection routines, though | | | | Handling of Safety Tags |
| imperative, take time to implement. One of the | | | | Some rules must be observed while using safety |
| simple ways to start minimizing accidents is to | | | | tags to make their use more effective: |
| use safety and caution tags in the workplace. | | | | - Only an authorized person must add or remove |
| These are also convenient to use since they are | | | | tags from equipment |
| commonly available and simple to attach. | | | | - Safety tags must be safe to handle, with |
| Types of Safety Tags | | | | rounded corners and no sharp edges or |
| Safety Tags are the hallmark of a safe, working | | | | projections. |
| environment | | | | - They must have the main signal word like |
| Safety and caution tags can make a huge | | | | 'Caution', 'Danger' etc visible even at 5 feet of |
| difference in safety levels at any workplace. | | | | distance |
| Safety tags come in many forms - fire | | | | - Safety tags should be replaced once they start |
| extinguisher safety tags, gas cylinder safety tags, | | | | to fade or people will not be able to read them. |
| OK to Use safety tags, Defective Do Not Use | | | | - The safety tags must be fixed as close to the |
| safety tags, Inspection tags and Repair Tags etc. | | | | equipment as possible and where they are clearly |
| Safety tags serve as warning and information | | | | visible. |
| devices especially in potentially hazardous | | | | - Organizations must make sure employees know |
| situations. For example, imagine the plight of a | | | | about these tags and understand their purpose. |
| worker getting his arm caught in machinery just | | | | |