HVAC technicians face electrical hazards, falls, heat illness, and other risks on the job every day. This month's Safety@Work shares five practical steps to help control those hazards. Use these tips to plan safer jobs, protect your crew, and help every technician return home safe and healthy at the end of the day.
Esta información también está disponible en español.
August 11 is National Safe Digging Day (811 Day), a reminder that one call can help prevent injuries, utility outages, property damage, and even fatalities. Before starting any digging, trenching, excavation, fencing, landscaping, or similar project in Texas, contact 811 or submit a request at Texas811.org to have underground utilities located and marked.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, people who contact 811 before digging have a 99% chance of avoiding injury, damage to underground utilities, and harm to the environment.
Employers can strengthen their safety programs by sharing DWC’s excavation and trenching videos or any of the following publications:
- Excavation and Trenching Safety Sample Written Program (English/Spanish).
- Excavation and Trenching Safety Training Program (English/Spanish).
- Excavation Safety Workplace Program (English/Spanish).
- Preventing Trench Collapses (English).
- Slope It, Shore It, Shield It: Working Safely in Trenches (English).
For more information, visit 811BeforeYouDig.com.
The best time to prepare for a workplace incident or emergency is before it happens. DWC offers free and low-cost training that helps Texas employers and workers recognize hazards, prevent injuries, and respond when every second counts. Whether you need OSHA-authorized safety training or CPR, AED, and First Aid certification, these courses provide practical, hands-on instruction from experienced safety professionals.
OSHA safety training
DWC's OSHA-authorized 10-Hour Construction, 10-Hour General Industry, and 30-Hour Construction courses help workers and supervisors recognize hazards, understand OSHA requirements, and prevent workplace injuries.
Key details:
- OSHA-10 Construction: Free.
- OSHA-10 General Industry and OSHA-30 Construction: $30 per person.
- Classes offered in English and Spanish.
- Interactive, in-person and Zoom (online) classes available.
- Official OSHA completion card provided after successful course completion.
Upcoming classes: Click on a class date below to register.
OSHA-10 Construction — Free
English:
Spanish:
OSHA-30 Construction — $30
English:
OSHA-10 General Industry — $30
English:
Spanish:
See the full 2026 OSHA training calendar here.
CPR, AED, and First Aid training
When a medical emergency occurs, trained responders can make a critical difference before professional help arrives. DWC's CPR, AED, and First Aid classes teach participants how to perform CPR, use an AED, and provide basic first aid through hands-on practice and real-world scenarios.
Class details:
- American Heart Association-certified training.
- Five-hour course.
- $35 per participant.
- Official American Heart Association completion eCard provided.
- Classes offered in English and Spanish, based on availability.
Upcoming classes: Click on a class date below to register.
For questions or registration assistance, visit www.txsafetyatwork.com or call 512-804-4610.
Whether you are new to workplace safety or looking to expand your knowledge, DWC’s free workplace safety webinars offer practical training for every experience level. Two webinar tracks make it easy to build core skills or take a deeper dive into today’s most important workplace hazards.
Essentials for New Safety Professionals
This four-part Zoom series introduces the fundamentals of workplace safety and health programs to those who are new to the safety profession. Each session is held live and includes opportunities for discussion. Registration is required for each session.
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OSHA Recordkeeping | October 27, 2026.
Learn OSHA's recordkeeping requirements and how to complete required injury and illness records.
10–11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m.
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Incident Investigations | January 25, 2027.
Learn how to investigate workplace incidents, identify root causes, and prevent similar events.
10–11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m.
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Preparing for Internal Audits and OSHA Inspections | March 16, 2027. Learn how to prepare your workplace for internal safety audits and OSHA inspections with confidence.
10–11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m.
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Safety and Health Program Development | July 13, 2027.
Learn how to build the foundation of an effective workplace safety and health program.
10–11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m.
Safety Program Builder series
These webinars take a closer look at common workplace hazards and safety concerns affecting today’s employers and workers. Each one-hour session focuses on a specific topic to help you identify risks and strengthen your safety program. Each webinar is offered twice on its scheduled date — choose the time that works best for you.
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Hazard Communication Program | September 17.
Learn how to build a Hazard Communication Program that helps employees recognize chemical hazards and work safely.
10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.
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Safety Program Development, Evaluation, and Improvement (Continual Improvement) | October 26.
Learn how to evaluate safety program performance and use incident trends and employee feedback to improve results.
8-9 a.m. or 1:30–2:30 p.m.
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Machine Guarding Program Development | October 29.
Learn how to identify machine hazards, select appropriate guards, and protect workers from moving parts.
8–9 a.m. or 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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Hazard Identification and Assessment | November 18.
Learn how to identify workplace hazards, use tools like Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) to break tasks down step-by-step, and apply controls that keep workers safe.
10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.
All webinars are free and presented live on Zoom, but registration is required. For more information, visit www.txsafetyatwork.com or call 512-804-4610.
With a new school year approaching, more buses, student drivers, parents, and pedestrians will be sharing Texas roads. As traffic patterns shift, employers and workers who drive as part of their jobs should be ready for the changes ahead.
For all drivers:
- Slow down and stay alert in school zones.
- Watch for children near bus stops, crosswalks, and parked vehicles.
- Put away distractions.
- Give yourself extra travel time.
- Never pass a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading students.
For workers who drive for a living:
- Plan routes with school traffic and reduced speed zones in mind.
- Allow extra stopping distance in areas with increased pedestrian activity.
- Stay alert for children who may enter the roadway unexpectedly.
- Follow all school-zone signs, crossing guards, and traffic controls.
For school bus drivers:
- Complete pre-trip inspections before every route.
- Use mirrors and safety equipment to check for students around the bus.
- Follow railroad crossing procedures and other safe-driving practices.
- Remain alert for motorists who fail to stop when required.
A few extra seconds of caution can help prevent a tragedy. Help keep students, workers, and everyone on the road safe this school year. For more resources, including DWC's Back-to-School Traffic – Take 5 for Safety publication (English/Spanish), visit www.txsafetyatwork.com.
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