EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), August 31, 2026, Vol. 24, No. 558, 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 Smart scheduling can lower the chances of fatigue-related injuries Here’s one way you can lower the chances that a fatigued member of your crew will make a mistake that leads to an injury: Schedule low-risk tasks when workers are most likely to be tired, e.g., 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. So suggests a hazard advisory recently released by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA). Titled “Managing fatigue in the workplace,” the IHSA advisory points out that tired staffers are more likely to make mistakes that lead to injuries because of reduced mental and physical functioning, slowed reaction times, impaired judgment and concentration, and reduced motivation levels. The advisory also reveals how you can apply smart scheduling techniques to lower the chances of injuries caused by fatigue. For instance, you can rotate crew members through high-risk tasks to head off mental fatigue. And you can ensure breaks are long enough for staffers to rest – figure about 10 minutes for every hour of strenuous work. Plus, you can encourage staffers to work in bursts of 25 minutes at a time followed by a short break. Incident reinforces the importance of storing toxic substances safely If you’re unsure of the importance of safe storage practices, consider a newly released report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) on the September 2024 fire and toxic release incident at the KIK Consumer Products plant in Conyers, GA. According to the CSB, the incident – which led to the evacuation of 17,000 nearby residents – happened when water leaked from a corroded sprinkler and came in contact with reactive chemicals stored in the warehouse. There were nearly 14 million pounds of chemicals in a warehouse approved for only 6.2 million pounds. And the sacks containing the toxins weren’t waterproofed and were stacked so haphazardly that they prevented firefighters from reaching the initial fire. Worker fatally trapped inside crawl space while operating mini-excavator Proceed cautiously before allowing crew members to modify equipment in a manner that makes the machinery less safe. Such advice comes too late for D.L. Bandy Constructors Inc., which was just hit with a proposed fine of $276,399 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following a fatal incident in Converse, TX, in which a worker was trapped while using a mini-excavator in a crawl space. OSHA said the employer removed the rollover protective structure from the mini-excavator and added fabricated parts that made the device less safe. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors August 31, 2026 Alert: Workers shouldn’t point washer nozzles at other people Let your crew members who sometimes operate pressure washers know that they should never point the nozzle at air hoses, safety lines, equipment, or other people. That’s because 0º and 15º washer tips force out water at a velocity high enough to cut through concrete. Bonus: Due to the high pressure, staffers should also never try to repair a leak while the system is pressurized. Do your staff members know the key risk factors for heat illness? Now might be a good time to remind your workers of the key risk factors that increase the chances of a heat-related illness: • poor physical conditioning • obesity • chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease • the use of alcohol or drugs Sure, you can’t control your staff members’ lifestyle choices, but you can at least make them aware that, if any of these factors apply to them, they should take extra precautions such as working in the shade, going on periodic rest breaks and drinking lots of water whenever they’re laboring in high temperatures. Why it’s important to remove dirt, debris from wound injuries Keep in mind the importance of removing debris from wound injuries. If there’s still debris in a wound after it has been washed, use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If that doesn’t work, seek help from a medical professional. Key: After cleaning the wound, apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream or ointment to moisten the surface and prevent infection. Then cover the wound with a bandage to keep out dirt and bacteria. 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