EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), February 23, 2026, Vol. 23, No. 545, is published 24 times per year by Institute of Business Publications, P.O. Box 1340, Havertown, PA 19083; PHONE : 484-472-8227; FAX : 484-472-8708. Phone: 866-572-1352 Web: iobp.com Subscription Rate (for 24 issues): Users Annual price Users Annual price 1-5 $265 flat 25-29 $44/user 6-9 $53/user 30-34 $43/user 10-14 $49/user 35-40 $42/user 15-19 $47/user 41+ Call 20-24 $45/user 866-572-1352 Why safety gear should be mandatory whenever hazardous dust is visible Take note: A recently released study reinforces the importance of making sure your crew members wear respiratory protection whenever they’re performing tasks that could expose them to hazardous levels of dust. Researchers with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association measured the amount of toxic dust produced during certain job tasks and found that crew members were often exposed to levels of silica that far exceeded the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for the substance. For instance, employees who were sandblasting outside were exposed to dust levels that were 536% above the PEL for silica. Other job tasks that led to exposure above the PEL included: • chipping inside (506% above the PEL) • hand-grinding (251%) • dry concrete cutting (200%) The authors of the study suggested that exposure to silica dust could be reduced by requiring staff members to put on respiratory protection whenever dust is visible. They also recommended the use of water to keep toxic dust from becoming airborne. Doctor and dog killed after dangerous toxin infiltrates mobile clinic For more proof of the significant hazards posed by carbon monoxide, consider the recent unfortunate death of Dr. Ashraf Hussein, 56, of Eltingville, NY. The veterinarian employed by Aadobe Animal Hospital was operating on a sick dog inside a van that was being used as a mobile clinic in Queens, NY. The surgeon and the dog were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes during the procedure and they couldn’t escape. Garo Alexanian, the owner of the clinic, was able to exit the van and was later found unconscious on the ground nearby. He survived. Investigators said carbon monoxide infiltrated the van and killed the doctor and the dog because the vehicle’s exhaust pipe had become clogged with snow. Employee hurt because someone had removed machine’s safety latch One employer just found out the high cost of removing a built-in safety component from a hazardous piece of equipment: $170,136. That’s the amount of the safety penalty proposed against Rotschy Inc. by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries following an investigation into an injury incident at a jobsite in Woodland, WA. A staffer was hurt when a bucket fell off the arm of an excavator. Investigators discovered that the excavator didn’t have a safety latch designed to secure the bucket, and that supervisors knew about the missing safety component. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors February 23, 2026 Why workers should bring their eyeglasses to respirator fit tests If your crew members will be wearing prescription eyeglasses at the same time they’re using respiratory protection, they should put on the eyeglasses for their respirator fit tests. Bonus: Staffers should also wear safety equipment such as earmuffs, safety goggles and face shields for fit tests if they expect to be wearing the gear at the same time they’re using the respirator. When inspecting harnesses, pay attention to D-ring attachments When they’re inspecting safety harnesses before using them, workers should pay extra attention to the buckle and D-ring attachments, looking for unusual wear, frayed or cut fibers, or distorted buckles. Rivets should be tight enough so they can’t be easily moved. The body- side rivet base and outside rivets should be flat against the material because bent rivets often fail under stress. Also let your people know that they should look for frayed or broken strands, keeping in mind that broken strands usually appear as tufts on the webbing surface. Do staffers know when to seek medical help for burn injuries? Do your staff members understand how burn injuries are categorized? They should recognize that the severity of a burn depends on how many layers of skin it affects. For instance, first-degree burns impact only the outer layer of skin, second- degree burns affect the next layer of skin as well, and third-degree burns impact muscles and nerves. Why it matters: Make sure staffers know they should seek immediate medical assistance for second- and third-degree burns. SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS Click Here to Subscribe Now Copyright © 2026 Institute of Business Publications. Reproduction of this material is prohibited without prior permission. All rights reserved in all countries. quick ideas