Industrial Safety & Health Top Stories - Articles - Page 44

Roadside accidents in Mich., Ohio leaves construction workers dead, injured

April 5, 2019

A Michigan man is hospitalized with critical injuries after he was struck by a co-worker who was backing up in a construction zone. News sources say Daniel Clark Jr. has collapsed lungs, broken ribs, a fractured pelvis and other injuries. The incident occurred Wednesday morning along I-75, in Troy, a suburb of Detroit. Troy police responded to the accident at around 9:30 a.m. Clark had reportedly started working for the company on Monday.

From the NIOSH Director's desk:

NIOSH Prevention through Design (PtD) update

Dr. John Howard

April 5, 2019

In 1735, Benjamin Franklin wroteExternal that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We might think he was referring to health and medicine—not so. Mr. Franklin was recommending a metal enclosure to prevent bits of hot coals from starting a building fire. He also recommended training and equipping firefighters.

Travelers cuts opioid use among injured construction workers

April 4, 2019

The Travelers Companies, Inc. reports that it has reduced opioid use by nearly 40 percent among the injured construction workers it has helped, thanks in part to the Early Severity Predictor® model, which helps predict which injured employees are at higher risk of experiencing chronic pain. Additionally, the insurance giant implemented a comprehensive pharmacy management program that monitors drug interactions, excessive dosing and abuse patterns to reduce the risk of opioid dependency.

ladder accident prevention, fall protection

What causes ladder accidents?

Mistakes like improper set up, standing on the top step, or accessing a roof with a stepladder

David Francis

April 3, 2019

Even though ladders have been around for most of recorded history, they haven't changed much in function and design since their primitive origins. This simple design is so practical almost everyone uses it; on the other hand, it is so basic it is also easy to misuse and can be dangerous.

One dead, two injured in Texas chemical plant fire

April 3, 2019

A fire at a Houston chemical plant yesterday morning killed one person, left two with critical injuries and caused residents living within a mile of the facility to shelter in place. It is unclear whether the victims were employees at the plant. News sources say the incident at KMCO plant began when a tank of isobutylene ignited, and the fire spread to an adjacent storage building.

Workplace violence claims 4 lives at ND company

April 2, 2019

Law enforcement officers responding to a 9-1-1 call yesterday morning found four people dead at a North Dakota property management business, news sources report. The victims who were discovered at RJR Maintenance and Management have been identified as 52-year-old Robert Fakler, 42-year-old Adam Fuehrer, 45-year-old Lois Cobb and her husband, 50-year-old William Cobb.

Top Warehouse Organization Mistakes

Don Amato

April 2, 2019

If something doesn't bring you joy, popular wisdom advises to get rid of it. Yet, supply chain managers don't have that luxury. Everything in their inventories has a reason to be there. That means organizing is much more complicated than for the average homeowner, and much more important.

Confined spaces demand caution

First conduct an assessment, then consider three primary options when selecting a confined space rescue service

Pat Furr

April 1, 2019

A permit-required confined space has the potential to present inherent risks to worker health and safety and should be entered only when necessary and always with extreme caution. Unfortunately, there are times employees need to enter these work areas.

American Psychological Association recognizes 8 organizations for healthy workplace practices

March 27, 2019

From a symphony orchestra in Maine to an architectural firm in Hawai’i, eight organizations across the United States and Canada have been named winners of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2019 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards. The annual award recognizes employers who implement workplace practices, backed by psychological science, that advance employee health and well-being while increasing performance and productivity.

Dust explosion control

Choose the dust explosion protection option that will best protect your systems

Brian Richardson

March 27, 2019

The potential for a combustible dust explosion is a reality in many manufacturing and processing operations, even within a dust collection system itself. An explosion in an unprotected dust collector can fragment the housing and send heat, flames and dangerous projectiles into the workplace.