Section

Safety

Articles and resources on safety practices and equipment for trades and DIY work.

A tradesperson wearing safety gear meticulously works on an electrical panel, demonstrating essential electrical safety practices in a professional setting.

Essential Electrical Safety Practices for Tradespeople

Every year, over 2,000 tradespeople in the US suffer non-fatal electrical shock injuries, leading to lost workdays.

Ben Foster· Aug 11· 4 min
Tradespeople on a construction site wearing essential PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, and work boots, demonstrating workplace safety.

8 Essential PPE Items for Tradespeople

A single severe neck or back injury on a job site can cost a business over £160,000, according to PoweredNow .

Ben Foster· Aug 7· 4 min
Worker safely performing machine maintenance with Lockout Tagout (LOTO) devices clearly attached to prevent accidental startup.

How Lockout Tagout LOTO Procedures Prevent Accidents

In a review of fatal industrial incidents, lockout procedures were not even attempted in at least 58.

Ben Foster· Jul 21· 5 min
Construction worker safely climbing an extension ladder, demonstrating proper technique and adherence to safety protocols at a height.

How to Use Ladders Safely: Protocols and Techniques Explained

Falls from ladders account for 1.

Ben Foster· Jul 17· 5 min
Worker in safety gear meticulously applying a lockout tag to a large industrial machine's control panel on a factory floor.

What Are Lockout/Tagout Procedures for Machinery Maintenance?

In the majority of fatal industrial incidents reviewed, lockout procedures were not even attempted, directly contributing to worker deaths.

Ben Foster· Jul 12· 5 min
Skilled tradespeople in full PPE safely operating various power tools on a busy construction site, highlighting teamwork and safety consciousness.

How to Use Power Tools Safely: PPE and Best Practices

In 2013, the highest percentage of power tool injuries occurred in the 51-60 age group, accounting for 23.

Ben Foster· Jul 11· 7 min
Construction worker using safety harness and fall protection equipment while working at height on a residential building site.

What are common safety hazards in residential construction and how to prevent falls?

More than 1,000 construction workers have died on the job annually since 2016, with over one-third of these fatalities resulting from falls to a lower level, according to CPWR .

Ben Foster· Jul 5· 5 min
Tradespeople collaborating on safety plans, highlighting preparedness and adherence to 2026 standards for enhanced worker protection.

Tradesperson Safety: 2026 Standards & Strategic Planning

Last-minute emergency safety gear purchases cost 15-40% more than planned acquisitions, reports Intrinsicallysafestore .

Ben Foster· Jun 27· 4 min
A modern workshop with effective ventilation systems in operation, demonstrating safe working conditions for technicians and students.

Ensuring Effective Workshop Ventilation Systems in 2026

At City of Glasgow College's Riverside campus, welding demonstrations crucial for student qualifications were conducted without the correct use of local exhaust ventilation equipment, exposing individ

Ben Foster· Jun 24· 5 min
Construction worker carefully inspecting a hard hat for safety compliance on a busy job site, highlighting the importance of PPE maintenance.

How to Maintain PPE for Job Site Safety: Best Practices for 2026

A single serious OSHA violation for neglecting personal protective equipment (PPE) can result in fines up to $14,502, according to Liberty Safety .

Ben Foster· Jun 22· 5 min
Industrial ventilation system actively removing hazardous welding fumes from a workshop, ensuring worker safety and clean air.

What is Industrial Ventilation and How Does It Prevent Hazards?

At City of Glasgow College's Riverside campus, welding demonstrations were conducted without the correct use of ventilation equipment, a critical safety lapse discovered by the Health and Safety Execu

Ben Foster· Jun 21· 6 min
AI drones and holographic displays enhance hazard identification and risk assessment on a futuristic construction site in 2026.

What is Job Site Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in 2026?

A novel framework, 2D-3CKO-MTHSAN, integrates Discrete Dilated Cosine Causal Convolution with Multi-Head Self-Attention and Discrete Cosine-Krawtchouk-Tchebichef Transform for robust safety equipment

Ben Foster· Jun 20· 5 min
A firefighter expertly operating a fire extinguisher to combat a dangerous industrial fire, highlighting the importance of correct equipment.

What Are the Different Types of Fire Extinguishers and Their Uses?

A 10-B extinguisher can put out a fire involving 31 gallons of heptane spread over 25 square feet.

Ben Foster· Jun 20· 6 min
Construction workers on a job site wearing properly fitted personal protective equipment, emphasizing the new OSHA standard for individual fit and safety.

What is OSHA's New PPE Fit Standard for Construction?

Starting Monday, January 13, 2025, construction employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) that properly fits each worker, according to NASPweb .

Ben Foster· Jun 17· 5 min
AI-powered smart safety technology integrated into a Hong Kong construction site, with a focus on the challenges of worker adoption and real-time hazard monitoring.

Smart Safety Tech Faces Adoption Hurdles in Construction Safety

At a Hong Kong construction site, AI doesn't just monitor hazards in real-time; it is being framed as a collaborator.

Ben Foster· Jun 10· 4 min
Close-up of a sparking electrical panel in a home, symbolizing hidden electrical hazards and the urgent need for safety measures.

How to Prevent Electrical Hazards in Homes and Businesses

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) recently confirmed three fatal house fires were directly linked to faulty electrical equipment, underscoring a persistent, deadly threat in homes.

Ben Foster· May 29· 9 min
Construction workers reviewing blueprints at a residential building site in California, emphasizing adherence to new safety regulations and fire sprinkler mandates.

Residential Construction Regulations Explained

In California, every new residential dwelling unit must now include fire sprinklers, a significant cost and design consideration that was not universally required just a few years ago.

Ben Foster· May 13· 5 min
Hands wearing thick safety gloves operating a circular saw with precision, highlighting the importance of protective gear and careful operation.

Essential Power Tool Safety Protocols and Best Practices

In a four-year study, 60.

Ben Foster· May 6· 6 min
Electrician in specialized safety gear working cautiously near a towering high-voltage power line, emphasizing the critical need for safety protocols.

The Critical Need for High-Voltage Electrical Safety Protocols

Electricians and electrical power installers face significantly higher proportions of fatalities from contact with live currents and overhead power lines compared to other professions, according to ex

Ben Foster· May 5· 5 min
Electrician in full arc flash gear narrowly escapes a powerful arc flash explosion with intense heat and flying sparks.

What Are Arc Flash Safety Principles for Electricians and Why Do They Matter?

The heat generated by an arc flash can reach temperatures exceeding 35,000°F.

Ben Foster· May 4· 5 min
Farmer using accessible equipment in a modern farm field, showcasing the benefits of universal design for inclusivity and safety.

Why Farmers Are Embracing Universal Design for Safer Fields

At a small family farm in rural Iowa, a self-closing latch on a stall door, a seemingly minor detail, has enabled a farmer with limited mobility to continue his lifelong work.

Ben Foster· Apr 23· 3 min
A home electrical panel sparking, illustrating the danger of electrical hazards and the importance of prevention in homes and businesses.

How to Prevent Electrical Hazards in Homes and Businesses

In 2023 alone, electrical malfunctions ignited 23,700 residential fires, claiming 305 lives and incinerating over $1,501,600,000 in property value, according to the USFA .

Ben Foster· Apr 22· 5 min
Construction workers on a high-rise site, demonstrating the critical need for OSHA fall protection standards and safety equipment.

What are OSHA fall protection standards for construction sites?

In 2021 alone, 372 construction workers were killed by falls to a lower level, making falls the leading cause of death in the industry despite clear federal regulations, according to KIPRC .

Ben Foster· Apr 19· 5 min
Worker performing a Lockout Tagout (LOTO) procedure on industrial machinery, ensuring safety during maintenance.

What are Lockout Tagout (LOTO) principles and procedures?

In over 58% of reviewed fatal workplace incidents, the life-saving Lockout/Tagout procedures were never even attempted, according to research published in PubMed .

Ben Foster· Apr 17· 5 min
Industrial workers implementing strict lockout tagout procedures on complex machinery in a modern factory to ensure safety during maintenance.

Improving Lockout Tagout Procedures for Industrial Worker Safety

In fiscal year 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recorded 2,554 Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) citations, marking a 17% increase from the previous year.

Ben Foster· Apr 15· 5 min
A skilled tradesperson demonstrating correct ergonomic posture while lifting heavy materials, highlighting injury prevention in skilled trades.

What Are Ergonomic Principles for Skilled Trades Injury Prevention?

Block masons manually lift over 200 concrete masonry units (CMUs) each day, with individual units weighing 16.

Ben Foster· Apr 14· 6 min
Close-up of an overloaded electrical outlet with faint sparks, symbolizing a hidden danger in a home.

How to Improve Home Electrical Safety Protocols

In 2021, United States fire departments reported an estimated 24,200 residential electrical fires.

Ben Foster· Apr 13· 5 min
A skilled tradesperson demonstrating correct ergonomic posture while working with machinery, emphasizing safety and injury prevention in the workplace.

Why ergonomic principles are crucial for skilled trades injury prevention

More than 90% of participating construction firms had a written safety program, yet the majority lacked trade-specific ergonomic interventions, according to a study published in PubMed .

Ben Foster· Apr 13· 8 min
A safety inspector carefully inspecting a large piece of construction heavy machinery on a busy worksite, highlighting the importance of thorough checks.

How to Inspect Heavy Machinery Safely: Best Practices Guide

Even with a 50% decline in machinery-related fatality rates between 1980 and 1992, heavy equipment still caused approximately 404 deaths annually in construction from 1992 to 2010.

Ben Foster· Apr 12· 8 min
Technician safely performing machine maintenance in a 2026 workshop using lockout tagout procedures and clear safety protocols.

How Do Electrical Safety Protocols and Lockout Tagout Procedures Work in 2026?

Every year, the proper application of electrical safety protocols and lockout tagout procedures prevents an estimated 120 fatalities in workplaces across the United States.

Ben Foster· Apr 10· 6 min