13
2014
Could OSHA actually get more funding from new Congress?
Now that the dust has settled after the midterm elections, what do the results mean for OSHA? History tells us that things might not be quite what you’d expect. According to former OSHA staffer John Newquist, the last time the U.S. saw a Republican Congress with a Democratic President (1999 — 2000) OSHA’s budget went up from $370 million in 1998 to $455 million in 2001…
12
2014
Use Near Misses to Get Management Thinking About Safety
A “near miss” is a close call. It’s an incident that could have ended badly, an accident that could have caused serious injury or death but didn’t. Most of the time, in the wake of a near miss, workers are shaky but relieved, laughing nervously and mopping their brows over what might have happened and how narrow their escape was. But near misses are actually…
11
2014
Company owner arrested for ignoring OSHA violations
OSHA is serious about forcing employers to pay for the safety violations they receive. Case in point: One individual was recently taken into custody after his company failed to correct violations and pay the fines after multiple OSHA inspections and citations. Illinois business owner Mike Neri was taken into custody by a U.S. Marshal because he didn’t correct some serious trenching hazards and pay the OSHA fines. Neri,…
05
2014Ebola Virus Control and Prevention
Currently, most workers in the U.S. are unlikely to encounter Ebola virus or individuals with Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF). However, exposure to the virus or someone with EHF may be more likely in certain sectors, including the healthcare, mortuary/death care, and airline servicing industries. Workers who interact with people, animals, goods, and equipment arriving in the U.S. from foreign countries with current EHF outbreaks are…
04
2014Workers dragging their feet on new safety rules: What would you do?
Here’s a challenging scenario you might face in the workplace: A safety manager learned about some great new safety procedures that he thinks would help his workers. But he knows the workers are set in their ways. The safety manager needs to get them to comply. What would you do in this situation?
30
2014
Taking the Measure of Your Safety Program through Safety Communication
Is your safety program working? How do you know? Tracking injuries, illnesses, and workers’ compensation claims is a good start, but there are other indicators that can give you a broader, deeper, clearer picture of how your safety program is functioning. Most safety program metrics begin with required injury and illness recordkeeping, and with workers’ compensation claims and x-mods. These can certainly give you a…
24
2014
What are the hazards in a confined space?
All hazards found in a regular workspace can also be found in a confined space. However, they can be even more hazardous in a confined space than in a regular worksite. Hazards in confined spaces can include: •Poor air quality: There may be an insufficient amount of oxygen for the worker to breathe. The atmosphere might contain a poisonous substance that could make the worker…
23
2014
Warning signs that your workplace may be too noisy?
Noise may be a problem in your workplace if: ◾You hear ringing or humming in your ears when you leave work. ◾You have to shout to be heard by a coworker an arm’s length away. ◾You experience temporary hearing loss when leaving work. OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace. These limits are based on a worker’s time weighted average over an…
21
2014Williams Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recalled for Botulism Risk
Williams Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Pesto is being recalled for botulism risk. No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall, but consumers who have purchased the product should not eat it, the product may have been improperly processed, it may contain Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism a paralytic illness that is fatal if untreated. The recalled product has been distributed nationwide since…
20
2014
Ebola workplace safety: 7 prevention steps
OSHA has teamed up with other state health agencies to release recommendations that will help protect workers from Ebola. Workers in certain professions could potentially be exposed to Ebola. These include: ◾healthcare workers ◾emergency responders ◾laboratory staff ◾death care workers ◾airline crews and airport staff, and ◾quarantine operations staff. The safety recommendations urge employers to: ◾Make sure workers who are at risk of Ebola exposure…