Occupational Safety - Articles - Page 163

Mississippi manufacturer cited after worker fatality

October 4, 2019

OSHA has cited Howard Industries Inc. – a manufacturer and supplier of electrical transmission and distribution equipment – for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards after a fatality at the company’s Laurel, Mississippi, facility. The company faces $53,040 in penalties. The employee was performing a leak test on a transformer when a drive chain supporting the equipment failed.

New features at A+A 2019

October 3, 2019

From November 5 – 8, 2019, A+A – the Leading International Trade Fair for Safety, Security and Health at Work – held concurrently with the 36th International Congress for Occupational Safety and Health - will provide a comprehensive overview of the sector and its future in the digital age. Several new features have been added for this years’ event including the enhanced A+A Highlight Route, the “kommmitmensch Film & Media Festival of A+A 2019” and the international A+A START-UP ZONE.

From safety expert Richard Hawk:

Five ways to energize on-site safety trainings

October 3, 2019

As the keynote speaker at the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Fall Conference, safety expert Richard Hawk presented "The Future of Safety in Manufacturing Plants: A Hawk-Eye View of What's on the Safety and Health Horizon." Hawk, who has more than 35 years of experience in the health and safety field, offered tips for how to energize on-site safety trainings at manufacturing plants and facilities.

Two states, two workplace accidents: two workers killed

October 2, 2019

OSHA is investigating two workplace deaths that occurred last Thursday – in Pennsylvania and Illinois. News reports say 38-year-old Luke Marzano was part of a crew cleaning up the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. headquarters – which was demolished four months ago – when he was killed in an incident.

OSHA approves new respirator fit testing protocols

October 2, 2019

OSHA last week issued a final rule approving two additional quantitative fit testing protocols for inclusion in appendix A of the Respiratory Protection Standard. These protocols are: 1. The modified ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocol for full-facepiece and half-mask elastomeric respirators; and 2. The modified ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocol for filtering facepiece respirators.

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For Your Health & Wellness: Catching a quick nap is smart business

October 2, 2019

Sleeping on the job was once considered taboo, but today, more companies are encouraging employees to take a mid-shift snooze. And it’s a wise practice: 29 percent of workers report falling asleep or becoming very sleepy at work, and a lack of sleep costs the United States $63 billion each year in lost productivity.

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A Personal Story of Human Errors

Remember: You can’t change the human condition

Dave Johnson

October 2, 2019

Yes, this is a story about errors - plural - made by one person, me. I’m not going to beat myself up here. James Reason, professor emeritus at the University of Manchester (UK), and one of the seminal authorities on human error, reminds us that most errors are caused by good, competent people who are trying to do the right thing.

ASSP adding virtual participants to classroom safety training

October 1, 2019

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is taking its live safety training to the next level by using two-way video projection that will enable virtual attendees to participate from their home or office. The new option – called Live Virtual Classroom – means that safety professionals can enjoy the benefits of face-to-face instruction without the travel time or expense. Virtual participants will be able to ask the instructor questions in real time, interact with the entire class and even join the class when breaking into small groups for discussion.

Risk management failure at root of fatal train crash

Two employees killed, dozens of people injured

October 1, 2019

A collision last year in South Carolina between an Amtrak passenger train and a CSX freight train was caused by CSX Transportation Corporation’s failure to assess and mitigate a specific risk, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The incident killed two employees and injured 91 passengers and crewmembers.

How manufacturing workers end up with repetitive-motion injuries

October 1, 2019

Working in a manufacturing setting requires many people to perform the same task repeatedly every day. That can mean eight hours or more a day on your feet, as well as straining your back, hips, knees and hands. For those who hope to retire from manufacturing jobs, repetitive-motion injuries — also called repetitive-stress injuries — could prove a bigger risk than a catastrophic workplace accident.