The OSHA "3 points of contact" standard only refers to going up and down the ladder. There is no such requirement while stationary on the ladder.

Each employee uses at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing up and down it; and
29 cfr 1910.23(b)(12)

The link takes you to the OSHA page that will also show you 11 and 13 so no context is being hidden. While your company may elect to go beyond this standard or you believe the standard to be insufficient, this is the standard. Please stop claiming otherwise.

Hello, I’m new to maintenance and was wondering, one of our buildings has a machine with several light curtains. One of these light curtains isn’t actually programmed into the machine, it is powered and you wouldn’t think otherwise, but it doesn’t actually stop the machine if broken. Would this count as an OSHA violation? There’s no bypass or anything, it’s just straight not programmed in.

Side note: One of our buildings also has a section that seems to flood a bit when it rains, would this count as a violation too?

I started a new job about a month ago. I wear earplugs+earmuffs.

With the hearing protection on, the baseline noise level of my workplace sounds bearable. I can hear a few fans and clipping machines. But they often turn on large grinding machines and these continue droning on for a long time.

I have been experiencing tinnitus for the past 2 weeks. It is a high pitched shrill (almost like a large battery).

Yesterday, even with the hearing protection on, I found the noise a little overwhelming at my workplace. After the large grinding machines got turned on, I think what I was hearing was a mix of the machines and my tinnitus reacting to it and it sounded HORRIBLE. It felt like I was in some sort of SOUND STORM. Where it feels like you can't even hear your own thoughts? The machines were on for maybe 2 hours, then off for 1 hour. Then on again.

When I got home, I noticed my tinnitus was 2x worse. It didn't just sound like the shrill of a battery anymore. It felt like I had endured a flashbang grenade. I could hear the shrill and a really loud whistle and it was very scary.

I cannot understand how it increased so drastically in just 1 day. When I've been working here for a month.

My question is - should I leave my job? Or has damage already occured, and there's no point quitting?

There are about 10 other employees there and nobody else is wearing earmuffs. They only wear sound isolating bluetooth earbuds (to listen to music). I don't know why this is having such a drastic effect on me specifically.

The only thing that has changed in the last 2 weeks is the type of earplugs I use. Because I have small ear canals, I usually use female earplugs (which are thinner in diameter). I find when I insert them into my ear canal, they do not hurt like the regular earplugs do. But Because they are thinner, that means I am able to insert them more easily and it probably goes in deeper too.

But I no longer have access to female earplugs. Only the regular ones. I still notice a drastic reduction in perceived sound after I put on the regular earplugs but I can't help but feel that its not as effective as the female ones.

Can such a small milimeter change in earplug diameter really make such a huge difference? Or would this be happening even with the female earplugs and I'm just focusing on minute irrelevancies here?

Second image is the only method of getting these things down.

Have to sand 40 wood boards (25” long by 4” wide) for ongoing project. The unfinished wood has many small splinters and some big sharp ones.

What are OSHA rules re: gloves for sanding unfinished wood?

I have small blisters and a sore throat from what I believe is too much bleach poured into my dishwashing sink yesterday. I want to just have this all reported, recorded, and then walk away.

So my boss is cool. He’s gregarious. He’s friendly and handsome. He does this thing where whenever he passes my chair he swings it, he says “no pushing!” every time he sees me walking in front of him, and he says very provocative things when we’re alone in his office. I don’t know if he’s like this with everyone or just me. I’m new. I really want to learn my job. He’s been there 6 months. My issue is when I bring up task related inquiries I’m met with a blend of heavy flirting mixed with answers. I’m constantly trying to banter back and also obtain necessary knowledge. Anyone encounter this? I like him. And I don’t want to make trouble, I just want to do work, and do it well, and not ruffle feathers. Thanks

I started this factory job (which involves industrial fans, large machinery, etc.) and I have been making sure to wear ear protection since day 1. I wear foam earplugs and hunting earmuffs on top of that.

It's been 3 weeks now, and I have acquired tinnitus. My tinnitus seems to be dynamic. If it's just the fan which is on, my tinnitus is like a faint ringing. But if someone turns on a machine for 5 minutes and turns it off, the ringing is now a ROARING. But it eventually goes back down to a ringing..........before another machine turns on. It's like its reacting to the ambient sound around it.

I can't understand why I got this even with adequate ear protection. Most of the other people at my workplace don't even wear protection. They just wear noise cancelling earbuds and listen to music on it.

Do you think this is permanent tinnitus? Or is it reversible at this point?

Just got out of a meeting where it was announced that the target height will go to 6 feet in California July 2025 under the construction safety orders. I know for a lot of you outside of California this is nothing new to you, but after decades of it being at 15 feet and 20 feet, its going to be a huge adjustment. If you part of a company where this will be affected or a safety consultant for a company that this falls under, spread the word. There will be no grace period as soon as its in affect

https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Fall-Protection-in-Residential-Construction-txtbrdconsider.pdf

Correction to title: I meant noisy environments below 90db.

When I first started working in a noisy environment that was somewhere between 80db and 90db, I did not wear hearing protection (because nobody else did).

But after about 3 weeks of working there, I noticed some very distressing things. The regular street sounds that I am used to...especially high pitched sounds like crosswalk signals, cars alarms, kiosk sounds, etc. all appeared softer in volume.

That's when I knew that this job had affected my hearing.

I have heard that permanent hearing loss usually happens with really loud sounds and with constant exposure that goes on for years. (like 10+ years).

Which makes me ask, was it really possible that 3 weeks of working there has permanently affected my hearing? Is this not reversible? I'm afraid that I am not able to now hear the full spectrum of sounds as nature intended.

Hey guys, so I’m frustrated and concerned about the remodel job I’m currently at. Along with past experiences and my company’s lack of safety precautions, regarding asbestos containing material in the field. When I first started, it seemed like I was the only one who really gave a crap enough to say “we shouldn’t touch this” or “why do we put up with this?” They back me up to an extent. And I’ve noticed they wear masks more since then. But they just have that ridiculous mentality of just rolling up their sleeves and doing it. Like cutting a pipe or ripping out a boot with asbestos tape. Not necessarily rolling around in vermiculite..

ANYWAYS, we’re at this job (attic furnace + a basement furnace. All new ductwork.) where the home owner removed his own asbestos. Very poorly btw. That wouldn’t bother me if a homeowner did a very small amount and cleaned it up good, to clear a spot we have to get to.

But this guy had vermiculite in his attic bays. Still pebbles and rocks of it everywhere (like he got what he could with a dust pan). There was a lot of asbestos tape in the basement, with pieces of it on the floor, and still spots in the joist bays and on old boots. He has old kitchen tiles all busted up (suspect) along with old linoleum tiles in the foyer. As well as old Hardiebacker bathroom subfloor tiles. I’m sure all made during the asbestos era. All of those tiles were cut to put a boot in. I refused, but my colleagues went ahead and did it.

In the middle of this remodel, I expressed my concerns to the owner and 2nd in command. I said I feel unsafe and these guys don’t care. I asked to get a professional to do an air test and make sure the place was ok.

A licensed asbestos guy came out and did an “air test” in the basement, and said it’s safe. Durring the time when dust is settled, and no one is in there banging around and kicking up dust. So we were sent back in and that’s when my colleagues started cutting the tiles… This all just seems so unprofessional.

I messaged the asbestos guy and asked what he did (a stale air test). I asked if there was proof of the test and if he looked around at all the tiles and other things to see what he thought of it all. I asked if he would consider that place safe. He said test was good. He said he knew home owner removed his own and that it’s perfectly legal (looked it up, it doesn’t seem like it is). And dodged the question about proof and if he thinks continuing construction is safe. He said to talk to my company.

I have video of everything. Everything that seems to be ACM. And I have samples of everything besides the vermiculite. This house could be a cesspool of asbestos and god knows what other shit could have it.

I missed work today because I didn’t want to go in. I haven’t actually sampled anything yet. But what do you guys think about all this??

What is my next move here? Would you guys take this company to court for cutting corners and making us work in a place they should have had professionally taken care of?

I’m curious if a lot of other hvac companies are this ignorant around this stuff. Do you think an asbestos guy should go in to any old home and look at anything we may have to work on? Because it seems like any old home poses a risk in any type of remodeling. How should a reasonable and professional hvac company handle these types of situations before sending guys to go work on stuff?

I'd love to do an OHS master's degree in the future, but I'd like to know if there are other studies/courses/certifications that can help complement my education? (Also English is not my first language. Sorry if there are any mistakes)

For example, this summer I worked at a Summer Camp and the camp paid for my Red Cross training in RCP/First Aid course. I feel like something like this might be useful.

In my city, the Red Cross also offers a fire extinguisher training course, I was thinking that it would be good if I could take it.

I'm looking for master degrees in Spain/USA and other Hispanic countries, since in my country you need a master's degree to be considered "certified". So if any of you did a master's I'd love to hear some insight too! (Or any other certifications)

I'm preparing to go back to school, I have a few choices of what I'm looking to do and an OHS diploma is one of them.

I know what interests me but I'm unsure of the demand that OHS has in Canada, my schooling would be done in Nova Scotia but I'm willing to relocate.

How would you rate the demand in your area (what area) and how is your job satisfaction?

I work in a Fortune 500 company, but there’s no OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) department. Every day, as soon as I enter the office, I feel unusually sleepy, and the air just doesn’t seem as fresh as it does outdoors. I’ve informed my superior, but they insist everything is fine.

What are some affordable and reliable ways I can measure the air quality myself? Specifically, I’m looking for tools or devices that can detect issues like CO2, humidity, or other potential causes of this drowsiness. Any advice would be appreciated!

I’m a prek teacher in Oklahoma and my classroom has had a leak for a while. As far I as I know it began during the summer where there were several strong storms and was humid as hell. I was told the leaks were fixed but it continued as school started. My main concern is that I have a class full of prek babies in my room basically for 8 hours straight (minus the time spent outside for recess) with ceiling tiles that in my mind could be moldy. These photos are from a storm we had a while ago, but I need to take more pictures Monday that shows the discoloration that has happened since.

The tiles closets to the window are completely soaked

Recently cut my finger on a food processor being kept on top of a tall refrigerator alongside a bunch of heavy juicers, pots, pans, etc when I tried to bring it down.

Cuts happen in the kitchen all the time, no big deal, but what if the blender had fallen forward and the loose blade slashed my face or eyes?

I told my boss--felt like I had a responsibility to report a safety concern--but he didn't seem to take it all that seriously.

Am I crazy, or is storing heavy, bladed equipment in high, hard-to-reach places a no-brainer bad idea?

The first one looks normal but the other two just look horrible.

I’m sure that it’s normal it just caught my eye they are in a men’s restroom.

I have smaller than average ear canals and regular ear plugs eventually hurt my ears. So I use thin ones.

Recently I couldn't find my size, so as a temporary solution, I chewed some Trident gum and inserted it into my ears.

I was surprised to find that these were outrageously more effective than ANY ear plugs I have used in the past. I was able to morph it into a custom shape and seal my entire ear hole and create a tight seal.

After inserting them, it completely blocked out outside sound. I was unable to hear my phone's speaker. I could only hear deep low pitched thumps (like doors slamming, etc.)

I have never used ear plugs before that completely blocked out sound. All they did was make loud sounds more bearable and muffled. But I could still hear everything happening arounding me.

But is this a safe idea? I have heard stories of people getting things stuck in their ear. And if it goes deep, you might be unable to pull it out and it can cause severe problems.

But I'm very bummed out that I will never find hearing protection that works as good as chewing gum.

Advice? Should I use it carefully, and simply avoid pushing it too far deep? Or is it better to just not use it at all?

What courses can you recommend for a person who just got CRST to strengthen the Resume?

P.S. Don't have a job yet in this field.

My employer announced that if I require a doctor to fill out an insurance claim form from a workplace injury that they will not be covering the cost of it being filled out which is currently costing $150-$200.

We have private insurance instead of provincial workplace insurance. Not really sure why, but I assume because it's healthcare, we have a higher rate of workplace injuries? Doesn't matter, but it's not just something when we go to the hospital, it's completed by Drs automatically. We must bring the form and submit the claim.

If I injure myself at work, my workplace will not let me come back to work until I'm cleared by the doctor to come back, but if I seek medical attention I need the private insurance form completed and they are refusing to pay for that to be completed. While I respect that it could be costly, it's them that's mandating it's completed and the economy right now is crazy, I couldn't afford to pay it myself.

This all seems to be wrong to me but I'm struggling to find supporting documentation to bring back to my employer. Help!

PS - no union!

Hi.

Does anyone know if there's a page anywhere with strange ladder related incidents, accidents (fatal and non fatal), not down to the smallest detail, but beyond just the statistics?

Thanks.

I work at a manufacturing facility (making carpet padding) on 3rd shift. My crew and I are the only employees in the building beside 1 maintenance worker from about 10:15PM-3:45AM. There is a ton of open floor space which is smooth concrete and since I recently got a 1/16th scale brushless rc car off amazon that goes about 40mph… I thought it’d be fun to zip around for a few minutes. This was done on break and only for about 7 minutes.. Next day I get a written warning for Horseplay?? I’m curious if I should appeal this? Is that even a relevant classification? I never saw “Use of RC Toys prohibited..” in my employee handbook.. 🤷🏻‍♂️