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Training and PPE are critical, but they can’t instantly replace the situational awareness that comes from years in the field. Learn how wearable electrical hazard detection technology helps crews identify hidden dangers sooner, giving workers and supervisors additional tools to manage risk in today’s evolving utility workforce.

National Electrical Safety Month, an annual campaign sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), each May, aims to increase awareness of electrical hazards and promote safe practices at home and on the job. This blog will go beyond the basic electrical safety protocols and offer key workplace safety tips to help workers remain proactive and productive year round.

The industry’s protection model of rubber insulating gloves, arc flash clothing, dielectric footwear and established approach distances remains the foundation, but it requires the worker to already know the hazard is there. It activates at the point of contact, not before it. Learn how to close the gap with detection at the worker level, and visibility at the supervisor level and discover how to choose the right detection device for the right risk profile.

A new revision of the American National Standard Institute for the Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devices (SRDs) was approved and became effective on August 1, 2023. Manufacturers are now required to conform to this latest revision of the ANSI/ASSP Z359.14-2021 standard document. Continue reading to learn more about the important modifications to the standard that safety managers, end-users, and manufacturers should consider.

This American Heart Month the message is clear: anyone can save a life. In every cardiac emergency, the real first responder is not always a uniformed professional but often a friend, family member, co-worker, or even a stranger nearby. As a safety professional, you have a responsibility to keep your employees safe. Learn about the importance of high-quality CPR and AEDs and how you can help save a life.

As we step into 2026, the commitment to safety in the workplace remains paramount for companies striving to create secure and healthy environments for their employees. Providing a safe workplace not only decreases the risk of accidents and injuries, but also leads to higher productivity and morale. Here are some simple resolutions that you can adopt to stay protected throughout the year.

Winter workplace safety is often overlooked during the holidays even though this season brings a sharp rise in serious incidents. From hazards like increased stress/fatigue and slippery floors to overloaded electrical outlets and decoration fires, thousands of workers are at a higher risk for workplace injuries. Take action to prevent worker injuries with our six point seasonal safety checklist.

Use this checklist to quickly review the components of your workplace AED program. We recommend that you print it, place it in a visible and accessible location, and refer to it as needed.

Every year, 10,000 cardiac arrests occur in the workplace according to OSHA. That’s almost 5 people per workhour. When someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), they fall to the floor and need immediate life-saving support. Tragically, by the time EMS arrives, it can be too late. A victim’s best chance of survival is CPR and use of an AED as soon as possible. A robust AED program in your workplace can help ensure that if SCA occurs, your workplace is prepared.

OSHA workplace rules make the use of rubber insulating equipment mandatory, in order to protect workers from electrical shock and arc flash hazards on the job, even when the smallest potential of contact with low or high voltage exists. Employees that work on electrically-energized circuits and equipment use their hands, making them the most susceptible part of the body to electrical shock. Rubber insulating gloves are the only protective gear designed for constant contact with, and protection from, energized conductors and equipment. However, no rubber insulating glove is safe forever. ASTM F496 Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves require regular inspection and testing of in-service electrical protective equipment. Previously, section 7 of ASTM F496 was subject to interpretation and misunderstanding regarding the maximum test interval for either new gloves or in-service gloves. In 2024, the ASTM Committee F18 (Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers) addressed this issue with an update to the ASTM F496 standard clarifying the difference between new gloves (reference 7.1.1) and gloves previously put into service (reference 7.1.2).

There’s more to picking out the right cut-resistant glove than just choosing the one with the highest cut protection. Different jobs require certain types of protection, and too much protection can hinder performance. It’s important to understand the cut protection classifications to determine which glove is right for each task. Ansell’s Hyflex® Ultra-Lightweight Portfolio makes it easy, offering a perfect blend of protection, performance, and comfort.

Utility workers face dangerous work every day, and especially during the summer months with the outdoor elements presenting additional workplace hazards that can lead to an increase in accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Whether it’s heat stress, prolonged sun and UV ray exposure, storm-related weather, low visibility, slips, trips, and falls, or falling debris, these five expert-approved tips help beat the heat on the lines this summer and keep utility workers safe and productive.

Electrolytes power your body’s natural processes. We’ve all heard nutritionists, coaches, and athletes spread the word that electrolytes are important when working out and replenishing fluids. But they don’t always take the time to go over exactly what they are and why they’re important. Well, we don’t want to keep you in the dark, especially about something that’s essential to your health. So, here’s a primer on electrolytes and why you need to keep them in mind throughout the workday.

May is National Electrical Safety Month (NESM). As a leading manufacturer and distributor of rubber insulating products, arc flash safety clothing and kits, and the largest NAIL4PET-Accredited Test Lab, Saf-T-Gard is dedicated to serving industries where worker safety and protection from electrical current are critically important. This blog examines procedures that can help protect workers from on-the-job electrocutions and electrical injuries and prevent lost time, legal liability, increased insurance premiums, citations, penalties, and hefty fines as well as unnecessary spending.

April is National Welding Month. Learn more about what PPE and other measures that can be taken to protect those who engage in important welding and grinding applications.

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), in conjunction with industry stakeholders, has introduced ANSI/ISEA 100-2024, a new industry standard aimed at improving head protection for workers in low-impact environments. Learn how this voluntary consensus standard has outlined performance requirements for industrial bump caps and bump cap inserts, ensuring they meet specific safety benchmarks for workplace use.

No rubber insulating gloves are safe forever. It is (and has been) common practice for rubber insulating gloves to be inspected daily before use and periodically retested at an electrical testing facility. ASTM F496 Standard Specification for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves has provided guidance. Previously, section 7 of ASTM F496 was subject to interpretation and misunderstanding regarding the maximum test interval for either new gloves or in-service gloves. In 2024, the ASTM Committee F18 (Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers) addressed this issue with an update to the ASTM F496 standard clarifying the difference between new gloves (reference 7.1.1) and gloves previously put into service (reference 7.1.2).

ANSI/ISEA has released a new edition of the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard (2024 ed.). The changes include a new standardized marking to help both distributors and end-users better identify the critical protection and performance levels of a work glove.

For the first time in almost 20 years, OSHA has issued a new release to employers and employees regarding their approach to electrical safety. This guidance is designed to better protect commercial, industrial, and residential electricians from arc flash hazards and consists of four parts while emphasizing the underutilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide Americans working on energized electrical equipment the proper protection from electrical arc hazards.

While our general choices in appearance are made to influence how others see us, studies show that what we wear also influences our cognitive behavior. A Northwestern study by Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky explored how people react psychologically to wearing certain articles of clothing and determined that worker performance is influenced by how they associate with what they wear. That being said, how do food workers associate with their PPE?