Operating heavy machinery can create significant hazards on a construction site.

Falls from tractors or trailing equipment can lead to serious injury and death on farms and ranches.

Forklift trucks are powerful equipment, and employees can be seriously injured if safe operating procedures are not followed.

According to the 2014 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts,” contact with objects and equipment was responsible for 15.1 percent of workplace deaths by event or exposure in 2011.

Woodworking equipment can be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly or if proper safeguards are not in place. Common injuries include lacerations, amputations, severed fingers and blindness. Additionally, wood dust can contain hazardous chemicals, which may cause skin and respiratory diseases.

Working on and around heavy equipment – including tractors, forklifts and bulldozers – can result in serious injuries and even death. One potential danger is falling from the equipment.

Pinch points are a serious hazard when working with machinery that has rotating parts. Pinch points are caused by machinery parts that move toward each other or a part that moves past something stationary.

Amputations are serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. These injuries are widespread.

Wood chippers and shredders are powerful machines. Ohio State University cautions that the knives used in wood chippers as well as in shredders can easily slice through fresh wood, and the engines are powerful enough to grind tree limbs and entire branches.

Forklifts are commonplace around construction sites, warehouses and factories. But these powered industrial trucks can be deadly if used improperly, and they require respect and diligence for safe operation.

Woodworking machines – with their moving parts and sharp blades – can be extremely dangerous if not used correctly. Amputations, blindness and lacerations are common injuries related to working with these machines.

Do your employees use gas-powered equipment at work? If so, they may be exposed to carbon monoxide.

Used in the plastics industry, thermoplastic injection molding machines “produce molded plastic parts by converting plastic pellets into molten material, injecting the molten plastic into a mold and cooling the plastic material,” OSHA says. Industries that use these machines include toy, medical device and beverage container manufacturers.

Skid-steer loaders, often used on construction sites for excavating and other tasks, have features that expose workers to many injury risks, including caught-between incidents and rollovers.

Do you operate a crane on your jobsite? Here are some tips on safe use from OSHA.

Are quick coupling devices used on your worksite to change excavator buckets and other attachments?

Because of their youth and inexperience, extra attention needs to be paid to teen workers, cautions the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

In an effort to better protect temporary workers – who are at an increased risk of work-related injuries and illnesses – OSHA and NIOSH partnered to release a report containing recommended practices for staffing agencies and host employers.

Having a job can be an exciting and rewarding experience for young people. But according to OSHA, people younger than 25 are 2 times as likely as older workers to be injured on the job, and more than 170,000 young workers were injured and 361 were killed at work in 2012.

According to NIOSH, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths among people ages 16 to 24 in the United States.

A 16-year-old worker died after his ladder came in contact with a power line.

A quick look at state-level efforts to amend laws that mandate where, when and how long teens can work.

Unsafe habits can develop from using portable power tools at home, and these habits can creep into the workplace

In woodworking, potential contact with a saw blade presents a very serious hazard. Even though guards offer protection, it is important to remember they alone cannot prevent an injury from happening.

Workers who operate equipment such as cutting saws, pumps and generators in buildings or semi-enclosed spaces are at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning – even in areas that appear well-ventilated.

Chain saws are one of the most efficient portable power tools workers have at their disposal, according to OSHA. They also are one of the most dangerous.

Supervisors are responsible for the safety and health of their employees. This holds true when ensuring employees are using tools safely.

Nail guns are helpful tools, but they also have the potential to cause injury. NIOSH notes that nail gun injuries result in an estimated 37,000 emergency department visits every year, with 68 percent of these visits involving workers.

When working with a circular saw, one moment of distraction or carelessness is all it takes for tragedy to strike.

Powered hand drills can save workers a lot of time on the job, but caution is called for to avoid serious injuries.

Although many chainsaws now come equipped with safety features, workers still need to be trained on proper use of the tool.

Commonly used by construction workers, cut-off saws “can be extremely dangerous because unguarded blades operate at very high speeds,” the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations cautions. The agency has created a list of do’s and don’ts.

Monitoring and managing the safe behavior of a workforce can be a difficult task, even in an enclosed environment. Although the term “lone worker” also covers those performing individual jobs on a worksite – such as a job task in an area of the plant that cannot be easily viewed by co-workers, or even a receptionist in a large office building – the needs of remote workers who cannot be supervised through conventional means present perhaps the greatest challenge.

Washington – Dog bites, falls and vehicle collisions were the leading causes of injuries among U.S. Postal Service employees in 2012, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Sept. 26.

Washington – A final rule updating OSHA standards for power line workers has cleared one of the final regulatory hurdles and could be published as soon as March.

Washington – OSHA on April 1 released its final rule on electric power generation, transmission and distribution; and electrical protective equipment.

Telework can offer plenty of benefits for employers and employees alike. But how can companies promote safety for workers who are out of sight, working from a home office? Learn some tips from safety professionals, human resources directors and other telework experts.

Solitary work is a fact of life in many industries. How do organizations ensure safety for employees they cannot see? Safety experts and government officials offer advice on protecting lone workers.

In some organizations, the safety team consists of one person. What challenges does this create? How does a safety professional avoid feeling isolated and keep up with important trends when he or she is all alone? Three safety pros weigh in.

The definition of the gig economy is far from clear-cut, but experts agree that the ranks are growing – raising questions about who is responsible for gig workers' on-the-job safety and health.

Darien, IL — Fatigue and sleepiness are inherent safety risks for ridesharing drivers and their passengers, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine declares in a recent position statement.

Wearable technology offers EHS pros another way to help employees stay safer and healthier. But with its potential comes concerns.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has published guidance on a new state law intended to protect workers in the hospitality industry from sexual harassment and assault.

Experts on NIOSH’s Total Worker Health approach hosted a webinar exploring the “opportunities and complexities” of sensor technology.

What can employers do to help people working from home stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic – and beyond?

Washington — A new white paper from the National Safety Council is intended to help employers identify and implement monitoring technology to keep lone workers safe.

Washington — Spurred by a number of deaths in which a guy wire being worked on contacted an energized high-voltage power line, OSHA has issued a hazard alert.

Washington — Location geofencing is the subject of the latest white paper from the National Safety Council’s Work to Zero initiative

Washington — New fact sheets from NIOSH are intended to help workers at gas stations and convenience stores – and their employers – reduce the risk of violence on the job.

Mount Vernon FR and Carhartt have launched the Carhartt Flame-Resistant Extremes Arctic Outerwear Line, which offers wind resistance, durability, warmth and comfort to workers in extreme weather conditions – without added weight or bulk.