Shield of Armor Safety

03/16/2026

This image is a clear example of how demanding underground utility work can be and why strong safety practices matter on every job.

Relevant WAC codes for work like this include:

WAC 296‑155‑657 — Protective Systems: Requirements for trench protection such as sloping, shoring, shielding, or trench boxes.

WAC 296‑155‑655 — General Excavation Safety: Covers safe access, soil stability, spoil placement, water control, and equipment distance from trench edges.

WAC 296‑155‑615 — Earth‑Moving Equipment Operation: Rules for safe excavator operation, operator training, communication, and worker clearance.

These guidelines exist to protect workers in exactly these kinds of high‑risk environments. Following them consistently helps ensure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.

03/09/2026

Unsafe Work at Height

This image shows a boom lift being supported by a telehandler/forklift while a worker is elevated. Using equipment in ways it was not designed for creates a serious fall and tip-over hazard.

Potential Washington WAC Violations:

WAC 296-869-20005 – Safe Use of Elevating Work Platforms
Employers must ensure aerial lifts are used according to manufacturer requirements. Supporting a boom lift with another piece of equipment is not an approved use.

WAC 296-863-20025 – Forklifts Lifting Personnel
Forklifts may only lift workers when using an approved personnel platform secured to the forks. Using a telehandler to support another lift does not meet this requirement.

WAC 296-880-20005 – Fall Protection Requirements
Employees working at height must be protected from fall hazards and equipment must be stable and properly positioned to prevent collapse or tipping.

Safety shortcuts can quickly turn into serious incidents. Always use equipment only as designed and according to safety standards.

02/24/2026

This is a serious incident waiting to happen.

An employee is standing on unsecured pallets lifted by heavy equipment with no fall protection, no approved work platform, and no safe access method. This setup creates extreme fall and struck-by hazards.

Potential Washington State WAC Violations:

• WAC 296-155-24609 – Employees exposed to fall hazards of 10 feet or more must be protected by an approved fall protection system.
• WAC 296-155-527(1) – Prohibits employees from riding on loads, hooks, or lifting devices not designed for personnel.
• WAC 296-155-475(3) – Requires proper use of material handling equipment and prohibits unsafe lifting practices.
• WAC 296-155-305 – Employers must ensure a safe workplace free from recognized hazards.

Using pallets as a makeshift work platform on heavy equipment is not an acceptable or compliant access method. Use an approved man basket or aerial lift designed for lifting personnel.

One shortcut can lead to a lifetime consequence. Work safe.

02/05/2026

This image shows a worker standing on exposed steel with no visible fall protection, while another worker reaches from an aerial lift to assist. One slip. One misstep. One life changed forever.

Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in construction and this is exactly why Washington has strict safety requirements.

Potential WAC violations include:
• WAC 296-155-24505 – Fall protection required
Fall protection is required when employees are exposed to falls of 4 feet or more in construction.
• WAC 296-155-24510 – Personal fall arrest systems
Workers must be properly tied off when exposed to fall hazards.
• WAC 296-155-61530 – Aerial lift work practices
Employees must not climb out of or work outside the guardrails of an aerial lift or use it to access another surface.
• WAC 296-155-61520 – Aerial lift training requirements
Operators and occupants must be trained on proper and safe use.

Employees working on structural steel must be protected from fall hazards.

Compliance isn’t optional. It’s lifesaving.
Train your crews. Use the right equipment. Follow the code.

If you want to avoid citations, injuries, and shutdowns — safety has to come first.

01/29/2026

This photo shows a worker hanging from a crane hook with no fall protection or approved personnel platform. This is not just unsafe—it’s a serious violation of Washington State safety laws and could easily result in a fatal fall.

Broken WAC rules include:

• WAC 296-155-53302 – Fall protection is required when employees are exposed to falls of 10 feet or more
• WAC 296-155-53402 – Cranes may not hoist personnel unless very specific requirements are met, including a certified personnel platform
• WAC 296-155-53400 – Employees are prohibited from riding crane hooks, slings, or loads
• WAC 296-800-16005 – Employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious injury or death

One equipment failure, one slip, or one sudden movement could be catastrophic.

This is exactly why fall protection, proper lift planning, and crane safety training are non-negotiable on any job site.

01/28/2026

Workers’ Comp Injury Fraud Case in Washington

A Washington State bus driver is facing felony charges after investigators say he collected workers’ compensation benefits for an injury while claiming he was unable to work yet continued working other jobs at the same time.

According to Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, workers’ comp benefits are strictly for employees who are truly unable to work due to a job-related injury. Collecting benefits while earning wages elsewhere can be considered theft and fraud.

Cases like this highlight why accurate injury reporting, medical documentation, and compliance with L&I rules matter for workers, employers, and the system as a whole.

Read the full article below for all the details:

A news release from Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

01/22/2026

Serious Safety Violations

This setup exposes workers to a severe fall and struck-by hazard. Standing on a window ledge without protection and working over another employee is extremely dangerous and entirely preventable.

No PROPER fall protection provided – WAC 296-155-24611
(Fall protection is required when employees are exposed to falls of 4 feet or more, including window openings and ledges.)

Unsafe working surface / positioning – WAC 296-155-110
(Employers must provide a safe workplace and ensure employees are not working from unstable or hazardous surfaces.)

Improper ladder use – WAC 296-876-40020
(Ladders must be used only as designed and cannot be used as a work platform or in an unsafe manner.)

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities.

Proper planning, correct equipment, and stopping unsafe work saves lives.

01/06/2026

Unsafe Lift Practices = Serious Risk

Using a forklift to elevate a scissor lift — especially with a worker inside — creates a serious fall, tip-over, and struck-by hazard. Forklifts are not designed to support aerial lifts, and this setup puts both the operator and nearby workers at significant risk.

Washington State WAC Violations:

WAC 296-863-40005 – Forklifts must be used only for their intended purpose and per manufacturer requirements.

WAC 296-869-20020 – Aerial lifts must be used and supported as designed by the manufacturer.

WAC 296-880-20005 – Fall protection is required when employees are exposed to fall hazards.

WAC 296-863-60020 – Prohibits lifting personnel with forklifts without approved platforms and procedures.

Using the proper equipment and following WAC requirements helps prevent serious injuries and costly violations. Safety should never be improvised.

01/05/2026

This image shows several Washington State L&I safety violations that put a worker at serious risk.

WAC violations include:

-Improper ladder use
WAC 296-155-477 — Ladders must be properly secured and used on stable footing.
A ladder between a bucket truck and a utility pole over water is not an approved access method

-Fall protection missing
WAC 296-155-24611 — Fall protection is required at 10 feet or more.
No visible harness, tie-off, or approved anchorage.
Working over water without protection
WAC 296-155-24510 — Life vests and rescue plans are required when working over water.

-Improper aerial lift use
WAC 296-155-703 — Aerial lifts must be used per manufacturer instructions, not as ladder supports.

Bottom line:
This isn’t efficiency, it’s a serious safety violation. Follow L&I rules, protect your workers, and prevent injuries before they happen.

01/02/2026

HOODIE DEALS (LIMITED TIME)

Keep your crew warm, professional, and branded on every job site without overspending.

Bulk hoodie pricing:

• 25 Hoodies — $550 (Save $150)

• 50 Hoodies — $1,000 (Save $200)

• 100 Hoodies — $1,850 (Save $450)

Perfect for cold weather jobs, company branding, and everyday workwear your team will actually use.

Contact us to order or customize:
aborneman@shieldofarmorsafety.com

(All sizes XXL and up are $2 extra per item)

12/31/2025

CONTRACTORS — LIMITED-TIME DEAL

Outfit your crew and stay compliant without breaking the budget.

This bundle includes:
• 50 Shirts
• 50 Safety Vests
• 25 Hoodies

Now only $1,800 (Save $300)

Perfect for job sites, company branding, and keeping your team visible and professional year-round.

Contact us to order or customize:
aborneman@shieldofarmorsafety.com

(All sizes for XXL and up will be $2 extra per item)

12/29/2025

A Serious Fall Hazard

This image shows multiple unsafe practices that would be serious violations if this were a construction jobsite. Ladders and scaffolds must be used strictly as designed improvised access greatly increases the risk of a catastrophic fall.

Potential Washington State L&I / WAC Violations:

• WAC 296-876-40020 & 296-876-40025 – Extension ladder is unsecured, not properly positioned, and being used as a work platform. Ladders must be used only for their intended purpose, maintain proper angle, extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface, and be secured against displacement.

• WAC 296-876-40020 – Worker is climbing while carrying materials, preventing the required 3-point contact and increasing the likelihood of losing balance.

• WAC 296-155-24505 – Work is being performed well above 10 feet without any form of fall protection such as guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets.

• WAC 296-874-30004 – Scaffold is being used improperly to support a ladder and does not provide safe, manufacturer-approved access to an elevated work area.

One slip is all it takes.

Shortcuts may save time, but they can permanently change lives.