EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), February 9, 2026, Vol. 23, No. 544, 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 Inconsistent use of safety gear identified as significant challenge You’re not alone if you struggle to get your crew members to consistently use their safety equipment. In fact, 54% of 719 construction industry professionals who responded to a recent survey conducted by the American Society of Safety Professionals said the inconsistent use of gear is the greatest safety-related challenge they face. And 31% of respondents said discomfort or poor fit is a significant issue. Other major safety gear challenges identified by construction pros include cost (26%), the impact of weather (22%) and inadequate training (15%). Your takeaway: Try to get your crew members involved in the selection of safety equipment – people are more likely to use gear they had a hand in choosing. Survey respondents also identified the practices that have the most impact on safety compliance, with 84% pointing to safety huddles as most significant, followed by: • jobsite audits (83%) • safety meetings (81%) • compliance reviews (79%) • job hazard analyses (79%) • emergency drills (77%) • worker suggestions (75%) Slipshod disposal of hazardous waste leads to criminal indictment If you doubt the importance of properly disposing of hazardous waste materials, consider the plight now faced by Carl Fioravanti, owner of Alliance Environmental Control Inc., Lansing, IL. Fioravanti has been hit with a 24-count criminal indictment by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for his role in the abatement of hazardous waste materials at a jobsite in Waukegan, IL. According to the criminal charges, Fioravanti directed employees to dispose of a regulated contaminant in a landfill even though he was legally required to ensure the substance was handled by an approved hazardous waste disposal contractor. Based on U.S.A. v. Carl Fioravanti and Alliance Environmental Control Inc. Man asphyxiated after entering tank with an oxygen content of 15% Alert: Make sure your staff members recognize the importance of always testing the atmosphere before entering a potentially hazardous confined space. By doing so, you’ll avoid a fatality like the one that just happened at the Hyoungwon E&C America Inc. plant in White, GA. Marion Jose Rugama was asphyxiated shortly after he went into a storage tank that had an oxygen content of only 15%. Rugama failed to check the air before entering the tank. Following the incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit Hyoungwon E&C with a proposed fine of $20,522. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors February 9, 2026 One-quarter of hearing loss cases caused by occupational exposure If any of your crew members doubt the importance of using hearing protection when they’re laboring in a noisy environment, let them know this fact: About one-quarter of all hearing loss cases in the U.S. can be directly linked to occupational exposure to high noise levels. Why vibrating tool users should put on gloves in cold conditions When they’re working in cold conditions, crew members using equipment or tools that vibrate excessively should be sure to wear gloves in order to keep their hands and fingers as warm as possible. Here’s why: Cold temperatures restrict blood flow and increase the chances that a worker exposed to vibration will become afflicted by conditions such as hand-arm vibration syndrome or white finger. Employees should also try not to grip vibrating tools or equipment too tightly, and they should be especially alert for the signs of a vibration- related injury if they’re a smoker or have a circulation-related problem. Let staffers know what types of injuries require a 9-1-1 call At your next training session on first aid, let your staffers know that they should call 9-1-1 if an injured coworker shows any of the following symptoms: • The person isn’t responsive, breathing, or moving – begin CPR while waiting for responders. • The bleeding is heavy. • Even gentle pressure causes pain. • The limbs or joints are deformed. • A broken bone has pierced the skin. • The extremity of an injured limb, such as a toe or a finger, is numb or blue. • The victim appears to have a broken bone in his or her neck, head, or back. 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