30
2015
Prevent Employee Exposure to Silica
OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently issued a joint hazard alert about protecting workers from significant crystalline silica exposure during manufacturing, finishing, and installing natural and manufactured stone countertops. Protect workers in this and other industries from silica exposure with the safety measures outlined below. Preventing Silica Exposures Because the damage crystalline silica causes can’t be undone,…
15
2015
Generation Y Safety: The Challenges of Reaching the Under-30 Worker
When it comes to under-30 workers’ approach to safety and their trainability safety professionals such as Mike Byington of LaCrosse, Wisc.-based Inland Label and Marketing Services believe there is a difference between them and their older (or perhaps the more politically correct description is “age-enhanced”) counterparts. For one thing, Byington has observed that under-30 workers tend to absorb information and respond with questions quicker. “That’s…
13
2015
Expanded Safety Fest 2015 Set For September
Safer workplaces result in safer communities. Why? Because workers take safety practices learned on the job back home and into their communities. In Oak Ridge, once a year, an event is held to ensure safer communities by offering free safety training to anyone who registers. For the fourth consecutive year, the Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership (ORBSP), partnering with numerous businesses and organizations will host…
08
2015
Don’t Tell OSHA Injury Was Due to ‘Careless Workers’
Telling OSHA that an injury was the worker’s fault is a sure way to get inspected, according to the head of the agency. OSHA administrator David Michaels made the comment in a recent speech at a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) meeting. “When employers say an injury was a worker’s fault, an inspection will likely take place,” Michaels said. For the first 5…
06
2015
OSHA Announces Increased Enforcement at Hospitals
The rate of work-related injuries and illnesses at U.S. hospitals is nearly twice as high as the overall rate for private industry. OSHA has asked inspectors to focus on five key hazards at hospitals and other inpatient care sites including nursing homes. Get details on the hazards and find out why OSHA is so concerned about this vulnerable worker population. Although the agency has officially…
01
2015
OSHA Cites Poultry Processor for Ergonomic Hazards
Workers cutting chicken fat, bone and cartilage eight hours a day at a Delaware poultry plant were suffering musculoskeletal injuries caused by their jobs, an OSHA inspection found. Keep reading to learn what OSHA cited the employer for and how to prevent and fix similar hazards at your worksite. Following the inspection, OSHA cited the company for exposing employees on the debone line to musculoskeletal…
01
2015
Awareness in Safety: Did You See It Coming?
Awareness is an important element in any effort to reduce accidents and incidents. Just what is the difference between an accident and an incident? According to the National Safety Council, an “incident” is an unexpected or unintended event that adversely affects completion of a task, while an “accident” is an unexpected or unintended event that results in property damage or personal injury. The words “unexpected”…
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…
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…
14
2015
Advanced Safety System May Have Prevented Crash
For more than four decades, the National Transportation Safety Board badgered presidents and lawmakers to adopt a sophisticated automated railway safety system. It finally got its way, and the system is supposed to be installed nationwide by the end of the year. But that’s too late for the passengers and crew on an Amtrak Northeast Regional Train, seven of whom were killed and scores more…