28
2015
Prevent New Hire Injuries With These Tips
New employees are more likely to be injured on the job than experienced workers. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By addressing the risks much as you address physical or chemical hazards, you can significantly eliminate them. Estimates suggest that 30 percent to 40 percent of injured workers have been on the job for less than a year. The first step to addressing…
27
2015
Food Safety on Food Trucks Called ‘A Little More of a Challenge’
It can take more to ensure that food is safe on a food truck than at a brick-and-mortar restaurant, says Bob Kramer, a registered sanitarian who provides training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. Kramer is the director of food safety and food services for a microlender in Ohio called the Economic and Community Development Institute and vice president of a consulting business called Savour Food…
26
2015
Is it Work-Related? OSHA Answers Common Recordkeeping Questions
Determining when an injury or illness is work-related for the purposes of OSHA 300 recordkeeping can be a challenge. While the distinction may seem straightforward, applying OSHA’s criteria to real-world situations is often anything but. In two recent letters of interpretation (LOIs), OSHA attempts to shed light on some common questions surrounding the work-relatedness of injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents. Keep reading to…
21
2015
Democrats Reject Proposal to Cut Benefits for Injured Federal Workers
The Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on May 20 to review the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposal that would cut workers’ compensation benefits for some federal workers who have been disabled due to job-related injuries. Democratic committee members rejected the proposal, claiming it would leave most workers considerably worse off than if they had not incurred the injury. Rep. Robert C. (Bobby) Scott…
20
2015
How to spell the word ‘SAFETY’
Experience has shown the predominant small- to mid-size company perception of occupational safety is best summarized by the name of a major river in Africa. The fact that you are reading this article establishes your understanding of the key elements necessary for keeping that job running smoothly, incident- and injury-free. How do you do it? The Number One Basic Action: Just Say the Word: Tell…
18
2015
Contractor: My competitors have waged an OSHA war
A roofing contractor says competing companies have started an “OSHA war” by reporting violations by their competitors. He says he now has no choice but to “stoop to their level.” This all started with the most recent fines issued by OSHA to Tip Top Roofing & Construction, based in Sycamore, IL, in connection with a residential construction project. OSHA issued two willful and four serious violations…
11
2015
Workplace suicide numbers are heading in the wrong direction. What can you do?
Workplace suicide rates are climbing faster than rates for the general population. What’s behind this sobering statistic, and what can safety professionals do about it? Get insights here. A new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study concludes that occupations including protective services, farming and fishing, and automotive repair have the highest rates of workplace suicide. The study, published in the American Journal…
07
2015
OSHA unveils new version of its required workplace poster
The last time OSHA updated the “It’s the Law” poster was in 2007. Now the agency is out with a new version that incorporates new injury reporting obligations for employers. The new poster informs workers of their right to: request an OSHA inspection of their workplace participate in an OSHA inspection and speak privately with the inspector see any OSHA citations issued to your employer…
04
2015Educating Tomorrow’s Safety Professionals
Would-be safety professionals have their choice of hundreds of educational programs across the United States, from associate’s through doctoral degrees. As the profession evolves, educational offerings have grown and changed as well. Keep reading to learn about the latest trends surrounding accreditation and certification in the safety field. The professionalization of occupational safety and health (OSH) is one of the hottest topics among leaders in…
30
2015
OSHA Says Ringling Bros. Agrees to Enhance Safety for Aerial Acts
Hundreds watched as an aerial act at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance in Providence, R.I., went badly wrong on May 4, 2014. A group of aerialists plummeted to the ground, injuring nine of them. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will implement ongoing safety enhancements in aerial acts to protect employees against injuries like those sustained by its aerialists during…