SafetyBlog

Nothing beats the warmth and relaxing ambiance of an outdoor fire pit. When the sun goes down, you can relax around a fire pit with your friends and family. When setting up your fire pit, however, you should check to ensure that it's at least 10 feet away from your home. Placing your fire pit closer to your home could result in a structure fire.Fire Pits Can Reach Temperatures of Up to 1,000 DegreesTo say fire pits get "hot" would be an understatement. Assuming you have a wood-burning fire pit - …

Do you work with machines? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over a quarter-million workers sustain a severe machine-related injury each year. Whether it's a lathe, press, mill or any other machine, though, guarding can lower the risk of bodily injury. Machine guarding is an invaluable element of all heavy machinery. What is machine guarding exactly, and why is it important?Overview of Machine GuardingMachine guarding consists of the barriers, rails and …

When was the last time that you tested the smoke detectors in your home? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), over 340,000 house fires occur each year in the United States. Smoke detectors, of course, can both prevent and mitigate the effects of fires. While available in different types, smoke detectors are all designed to trigger an audible alarm in the presence of smoke.Smoke detectors require testing. Maybe the batteries die in a smoke detector, or perhaps the al …

When renovating your home, you may need to locate studs in the walls. Studs are vertical framing beams. They are designed to support the homes in which they are used. Maybe you want to install new shelves, or perhaps you want to open up a section of your home. Regardless, you may need to locate studs in the walls.Studs, however, aren't visible. They are found behind drywall. While you can see the drywall in your home, you won't be able to see the studs. Fortunately, there are stud finders availa …

Clamps offer a simple and effective workholding solution. While available in different styles -- bar, C-clamps, hand screw clamps, etc. -- they are all designed to hold a workpiece. You can secure a workpiece with a clamp, after which you can cut and drill the workpiece. The clamp will prevent the workpiece from moving while you are working on it. If you're going to use a clamp, though, you should follow these five safety tips to protect against injury.#1) Make Full Contact With the Pressure Pla …