Safety Chats – Part 1 – Stairs
June 29, 2026
Category: Uncategorized
10-Hour General Industry Class Offering!
June 18, 2026
We will be doing a 10-hour OSHA authorized General Industry class for a nominal fee to cover the cards ($20). Classes will be from 7PM to 9:15PM July 6, 13, 20, 17, and Aug 3 at the Spring Community Church (Aldine-Westfield and FM 1960 area). You have to attend all of them to earn the … More 10-Hour General Industry Class Offering!
Organizational/Systemic Failure: Root Cause Analysis
June 21, 2022
The best case scenario for the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) approach to safety is when used to investigate a “close call”. In our experience, these are infrequently reported. Most commonly, an RCA is conducted when a fatality/injury/other significant damage has occurred, making it a posteriori. It is a necessary step to be taken to prevent … More Organizational/Systemic Failure: Root Cause Analysis
Organizational/Systemic Failure: Malignant/Dismissive Authority
June 6, 2022
In 1956, a handful of people died in the Arundel Park fire. “Several of the sample population indicated that when they entered the hall after observing the fire from outside the building, they warned their friends and suggested they leave but were laughed at, their warning apparently disregarded.” People have a difficult time interpreting indirect … More Organizational/Systemic Failure: Malignant/Dismissive Authority
Organizational Failure Measures
June 2, 2022
As discussed in “The Search For Government Efficiency: From Hubris to Helplessness” by George W. Downs and Patrick D. Larkey, simply measuring the success of any particular organization is a challenge in of itself. For example, pages 74-87 discuss in detail the complexities of food inspection. How do you measure the success of the program … More Organizational Failure Measures
Systemic Failure: The Ghost Report
May 24, 2022
A critical report was released April 1985 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration focused on reducing braking distances of heavy vehicles. Among the findings it states, “Complete removal or deactivation of the front brakes, a practice which is common among some trucker users, obviously degrades the [braking] situation…” At issue is a rumored report … More Systemic Failure: The Ghost Report
Operator’s Manual Inspection
November 3, 2021
ACS Engineers, Elizabeth Jensen and Edward Jensen, share insights with a peer reviewed journal article into how to evaluate an operator’s manual based on our experience in engineering & safety!
ACS Safety Note: Student Safety
June 22, 2021
Now is the time to start planning for students and how they safely travel to/from home in the fall. Prior to the annual time change, Nov 7th, sunrise is at 7:39AM. This means that most high school and elementary school students will be walking or riding bicycles to school in the dark and during twilight, … More ACS Safety Note: Student Safety
Safety+Health Magazine: Competent Person
June 10, 2021
What exactly constitutes a “competent person” … More Safety+Health Magazine: Competent Person
From the Archives: Trailer Wheel Separation
July 22, 2020
A trailer truck on its way to pick up a load lost its rear wheel assembly. The debris then impacted another vehicle in the on-coming traffic side of the road, injuring its driver. An ACS engineer was assigned to investigate. By the time the trailer was available for inspection, the only remaining portions of the … More From the Archives: Trailer Wheel Separation