Safety is Our Priority

You, as our employee, are TAG’s most important asset. We choose our clients carefully to ensure you have a safe workplace. If you are asked to perform work which was not part of your initial job description or you are injured while on assignment, call your TAG supervisor immediately.

Make safety a priority in your work environment and review these common workplace hazards.

Always exercise due care while working for TAG. Because most accidents can be prevented with proper caution, TAG has implemented the following general safety rules to be followed on any assignment you accept – whether it’s an office or industrial environment.

General Safety Rules

• You are not expected to take risks - report any unsafe acts, conditions, or equipment to your client supervisor and TAG supervisor.
• When you don’t know, ask your client supervisor.
• Know your area — each workplace is different and conditions can change. Become familiar with each client’s safety procedures and equipment.
• Never operate any machine or equipment for which you have not received training.
• Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE - hats, gloves, goggles and steel-toed shoes) at all times.
• Obey all signs and labels as they alert you to hazards on the job.
• Never start any hazardous job without being completely familiar with the applicable safety techniques.
• If you are taking prescription medicines that cause fatigue or drowsiness, inform your supervisor.

Chemical Safety Rules

• Thoroughly flush area if a spill occurs.
• Become familiar with material safety data sheets (MSDS) that accompany the product. Learn where MSDS and related information concerning hazardous materials in the workplace are maintained in each department.
• Proper care should be used when handling industrial chemicals to avoid damage to your health or the environment.
• Wear suitable hand, face, and eye protection in well-ventilated areas when handling acid-based products.
• Remove contaminated clothing immediately.

Fire Safety Rules

• Observe "No Smoking" signs.
• Handle and store flammable liquids properly.
• Know the location and use of fire extinguishers.

Hand Tool Safety Rules

• Use the right tool, every time.
• Keep tools in good condition.
• Do not use broken hand tools.

Housekeeping Safety Rules

• Keep storage and work areas orderly.
• Put tools and equipment away when they are not in use.
• Do not store materials in aisles or passageways.
• Stack all materials neatly and make sure piles are stable.
• Keep all aisles, stairways, and exits clear of skids, boxes, air hoses, equipment, and spillage.
• Do not place equipment and materials so as to block emergency exit routes, fire boxes, sprinkler shutoffs, machine or electrical control panels, or fire extinguishers.
• Be on the lookout for others.

Ladder Safety Rules

• Inspect ladders before use to make sure they are in good condition.
• Make sure the ladder is set on a firm, level base.
• Set extension ladders against a wall at a one-to-four ratio. (The base should be one foot from the wall for every four feet of height.)
• Allow only one person on a ladder at a time.
• Never use metal ladders around electrical lines.

Machine Safety Rules

• Use guards/bypassing guards on machines that require them.
• Do not operate equipment while it is being serviced/cleaned.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing and jewelry while operating machines or equipment.
• Do not operate defective equipment.
• Report defective or hazardous equipment to your supervisor.
• Obtain full instructions before operating a machine with which you are not familiar.
• Do not operate any machine or equipment unless you are specifically authorized to do so by your supervisor.
• Shut off equipment that is not in use.
• Never repair or adjust any machine or equipment unless you are specifically authorized to do so by your supervisor.
• Never oil, clean, repair, or adjust any machine while it is in motion.
• Do not operate machines or equipment if you are less than fully alert.

Material Handling Safety Rules

• Stack materials safely.
• Use wagons, lift trucks, carts, and dollies safely when moving large objects, even if you are only moving it a short distance.
• Lift properly. Never lift with your back. Keep load close to your body. Your back should be as straight as possible. Bend your knees and lift with your leg muscles. Have a firm footing.
• Wear a back brace when heavy lifting is part of your daily activity.
• Do not lift items that are too bulky or too heavy to handled by one person. Ask for assistance.
• Empty standing water out of any appliances before trying to move them.

Office Safety Rules

• Do not stand on desks, chairs, or tables.
• Open one file drawer at a time.
• Close it immediately after use.

Protective Equipment Safety Rules

• Use glasses, gloves, safety shoes, aprons, etc. where required.
• Sandals or other open-toed or thin-soled shoes should not be worn.
• Ask supervisors to supply or replace worn out protective equipment.
• Remember that wire and metal can cut deeply if carelessly handled. The ends can be very sharp and can easily penetrate the skin.
• Safety gloves should be worn when uncrating appliances or units, handling sheet metal or chemicals, or cutting lumber.
• Eye protection should be worn when the duties of the job or the hazards of the environment require their use, such as welding, sawing, drilling, or using chemicals.

Personal Conduct Safety Rules

• Horseplay is not allowed.
• Do not run in your work environment.
• Observe warning and caution signs.

Power Truck Safety Rules

• Power truck operators must safeguard other workers at all times.
• Only trained personnel are to operate power trucks.
• Workers must show courtesy to power-truck operators.

Your TAG supervisor will review detailed safety instructions and general precautions with you for each assignment offered to you. Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

If you are injured while on assignment with TAG, please refer to our Workers' Compensation Policy.