What hazards can you see in this job site photo? #HazardSpotting

#HazardSpotting is a community safety initiative that helps raise awareness about dangerous workplace safety violations, developed by MySafetySign.com and supported by VISTA Training, Inc. Personal protective equipment is critical when you're working on a job site - especially if you're working with machinery where things can sometimes go wrong. It's hard to tell exactly what this machine is, but it looks like a rig for cutting pipe to length. It has two clamps that hold pipe or material in place, plus we assume some sort of a rotating cutting device. The worker pictured here is not wearing eye protection. What happens if cut material is thrown in his direction, or if the material or pipe that's clamped in place suddenly breaks loose, due to the torque being applied to it? He could easily be blinded or killed. This begs the question: Why doesn't this machine have any sort of guarding to protect the worker who is using it? Normally, any type of device that applies torque or rotation to material has a guard that can deflect thrown material and waste product from the cutting process away from its operator. In the background is a commercial building under construction. Because this worker is on an active job site, he should also be wearing a hard hat. In addition, the gloves he's wearing don't look like they're made out of a protective material. They look like they would not provide much protection against laceration or puncture injuries. Looking to avoid? See: The Eyedology of Safety If you found this #HazardSpotting article to be helpful, please share it with your colleagues. Don't forget to use the #HazardSpotting hashtag!