Latest News

Gas leak causes building evacuations in downtown St. Louis

A natural gas leak recently prompted evacuations of workers and road closures at 9th and Locust in downtown St. Louis. A hissing sound c...

Tips for protecting homes in California wildfire paths

Close windows, vents, doors, venetian blinds and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains. Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot ...

Tennessee cleanup workers exposed to hazmat can sue

A federal jury last week ruled that the company who hired workers to clean up a coal ash spill in Tennessee failed to protect them from t...

Federal regulators deflated the numbers on tire-related crash deaths, then took victory lap

Without saying why, federal traffic safety officials have quietly altered crash data, revealing that more than three times as many people...

Behind the scenes at an NTSB accident investigation

A panel on fan blades. Witnesses who’ll describe a “failure sequence.” Those are just two of the elements that will be featured in the Na...

USPS heat stress cases bring citations, penalties

Heat stress illness among United States Postal Service employees in Las Vegas has resulted in a $129,336 fine against the USPS. An OSHA i...

Weekly Toll: A few American workers who will never come home

Holland Township, MN — A man tiling a field in central Minnesota died on Friday morning in a workplace accident. The construction company...

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Only on the Web

Federal regulators deflated the numbers on tire-related crash deaths, then took victory lap

Eli Wolfe

Without saying why, federal traffic safety officials have quietly altered crash data, revealing that more than three times as many people die in wrecks linked to tire failures than previously …

Risk Management

Human error & operational risk

Peter Bridle

How confident are you that a costly, serious safety event isn’t just around the next corner? If your organization has ever been surprised or caught off-guard by a sudden deterioration …

Transportation Safety

Vegas air traffic controller is incapacitated on duty

Was it drugs or alcohol? A medical emergency? Federal officials aren’t saying, but an air traffic controller at the Las Vegas tower had to be removed from her position last …

BLS: Fewer nonfatal workplace incidents in 2017

Private industry employers reported nearly 45,800 fewer nonfatal injury and illness cases in 2017 compared to a year earlier, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last week. …

Training/Incentives

Employee safety discipline ain’t what it used to be

Dave Johnson

A tricky thing, disciplining employees. Every safety pro has a story about discipline:“I had to terminate a woman in 1987 because her body odor was so repulsive, affecting other workers …

PPE

Top products of the week

Safety eyewear to use with prescription glasses and a rescue system for handling medical emergencies were this week’s top occupational safety and health products featured on ISHN.com. …

Facility Safety

Weekly news round-up

An Amazon warehouse wall collapses, killing two workers; OSHA issues a final rule on crane operators and managers at one company are indicted for obstructing an OSHA fatal accident investigation. …

Control measures for deadly gases

The use of engineering controls and monitoring equipment will go a long way in protecting your employees. But just like any other safety equipment, you must maintain them. Calibrate personal monitors on a regular basis. For the most part, this means at least once every 30 days. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your particular monitor.

Health

The top 5 deadly gases in the oil and gas industry

If you work in the oil and gas industry, then you know how dangerous the job can be. The conditions can be harsh and the weather unpredictable. Not to mention the hazards that exist with complex industrial equipment. But did you know that one of the most serious hazards you’re exposed to is something you can’t even see? That’s right. The invisible hazards we discuss here are some of the deadliest gases in the industry.

Blogs

Achieving compliance with new OSHA fall protection regulations

By Thom Kramer PE, CSP

Now that the OSHA rule on Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection Systems (29 CFR 1910 Subparts D&I) has been effective for more than a year, organizations are still working to understand and implement required changes to fall protection projects, policies and programs.

Leading by values, not priorities

By Adam L. Bates MS, MBA

6 ways to implement a safety culture within your workplace

By Paul DeTennis

Facility Safety

Gas inhalation blamed for death of Iowa family visiting Mexico

Mexican authorities in March blamed "asphyxia by inhalation of toxic gases" for the deaths of four Iowa family members vacationing in the Caribbean resort town of Tulum. Members of the Sharp family — identified by authorities in their home state of Iowa as Kevin Sharp, 41, Amy Sharp, 38, and their children, 12-year-old Sterling and 7-year-old Adrianna — were found during a welfare check at the resort condominium they rented.

Health

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, causes & treatment

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage, or even death. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel. Improperly ventilated appliances and engines, particularly in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.

Better Living

Don’t use gas stoves near California fires

Pay attention to local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.

Oil and Gas Industry Safety & health

Downtown Columbia IL evacuated due to gas leak

A six to an eight-block area of downtown Columbia was evacuated recently due to a gas leak. Road construction workers struck a natural gas line at Legion and N. Main Street around 2:00 pm.

ISHN Magazine

2018 November

Among the articles in the November 2018 issue of ISHN Magazine, we have a list of ways to improve safety processes, offer some perspective on human error and leadership, and much more.

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