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2015OSHA Issues $260K After Worker is Disciplined for Reporting Injury
Federal officials have levied the largest penalty of its kind against an employer following an investigation that showed the company taking action against an employee who reported a workplace injury. The Metro-North Commuter Railroad, based in Hartford, CT, has been ordered to pay the employee $250,000 in punitive damages, $10,000 in compensatory damages and “reasonable attorney fees.” OSHA investigated following a complaint filed by a…
10
2015Illinois OSHA Healthcare | Social Services Guidelines Update
April is National Workplace Violence Prevention Month: OSHA updates guidance for healthcare and social services Illinois business owner should pay attention to the latest update from their government. The implications if you do business in Illinois are far reaching. Pursuant to the OSHA Act, employers must comply with safety and health standards and regulations issued and enforced either by OSHA or by an OSHA-approved state plan….
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2014Exits and Exit Routes
An exit is: the part of the exit route that is a way out of the workplace. A workplace must have two or more exit routes, depending on the number of people involved and the layout and size of the work area. These exit routes must be permanent and always unobstructed. The following are safety guidelines for exit and exit route safety: Exit doors must…
16
2014The Seven Worst Things to Find in Your Refrigerator or Ice Machine
Health inspectors get to see the worst of the worst when it comes to commercial kitchens. They see the little extras that are left behind the refrigerator, they notice the smells in the walk-in freezers, and they notice the slime inside of the ice bin. We’ve taken our cues from the health inspectors and compiled some of the worst things that you can find. 1….
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2014Food Safety Hand Washing
Hand washing is vital in preventing contamination of food by food handlers. Harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus and viruses present on hands of food workers are removed by proper hand washing techniques. Hands should be washed as often as necessary and always: Before starting work Before handling cooked or ready-to-eat food After handling or preparing raw food After handling waste…
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2014OSHA seeks new approach to hazardous chemicals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching a national dialogue with chemical manufacturers and users on methods to prevent illnesses caused by workplace exposure to hazardous substances, the agency has announced. OSHA Administrator David Michaels unveiled the program in a teleconference Oct. 9. Further details of the program—including a 180-day comment period—will be released in a notice soon to be published in the Federal…
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20145 Quick Tips for Business website Security
Clean Computer – Be sure your computer is behind a firewall, your anti-virus program is up-to-date, and run daily virus/malware scans. Backups – Make frequent backups of your server files and your database. If you update your site daily, then make a backup daily. Upgrade – When there’s an upgrade available for your installation and/or plugins, update as soon as possible. Many times these…
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2014Chronic complainer… What would you do?
Here’s a challenging scenario you could face in the workplace: A 20-year employee is a good worker and follows all the safety procedures but complains about it constantly. It’s hurting safety morale, and employees are fed up, the complainer is poisoning safety morality. What would you do or say?
03
2014Flu season is almost here: 10 tips to keep workers healthy
With the flu season fast approaching, now is the time to show your employees ways they can take initiative and stay healthy this winter. The CDC has encouraged employers to get involved and educate workers on what they can do to stay healthy this flu season. These 10 tips could help keep the illness out of your workplace: Help employees get vaccinated Let employees know…
02
2014Proposed Rule : Drug history database for commercial Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to make it easier for companies to find out if a commercial driver has past drug or alcohol violations. But the rule includes a requirement for employers as well. The agency issued a proposed rule that would create a “drug and alcohol clearinghouse” for all commercially licensed drivers. Companies would be required to search the online database…