Industrial Safety & Health Top Stories - Articles - Page 48

OSHA’s position on incentives

Agency clarifies that rate-based programs OK if reporting is encouraged

February 26, 2019

No, OSHA has not banned safety incentive programs. In fact, on October 11, 2018, agency regional administrators received a memo from Kim Stille, acting director of enforcement programs, which walks back the Obama administration OSHA’s more hard line stance on safety incentive programs. Even under former agency head Dr. David Michaels, OSHA never out-and-out “banned” incentive / reward programs. Michaels and his leadership team took a tougher line on incentive / reward programs that retaliated against or punished workers for reporting work-related injuries or illness.

Non-traditional work environments can harm hearing & incur costs

What do you know about “acoustic shock?”

Justin Stewart

February 25, 2019

If you hear someone say “noise monitoring,” what do you picture? If you are like most people, your mind probably goes first to settings with heavy equipment in use versus a more recreational environment, given the historical regulations necessitating hearing protection in those settings.

Top products of the week

February 24, 2019

A ladder safety enhancement, tactical work gloves and a handheld gas monitor are among the top occupational safety and health products featured on ISHN.com this week.

Weekly news round-up

February 23, 2019

A long-term silicosis study yields valuable results; an OSHA trainer makes thousands selling fake training cards and a risk from wearable tech you may not have thought of. These were among the top occupational safety and health stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

A FairWarning Story

Deaths mount from high-speed police pursuits, despite calls to restrict them

Thomas Frank

February 22, 2019

The high-speed chase through residential streets in Evansville, Indiana ended badly, as police pursuits often do. A Chevy Impala, which police mistakenly thought had been stolen, blasted through a stop sign at 74 mph and smashed into the passenger side of a PT Cruiser crossing the intersection. A young family was inside.

safety investigations, root cause analysis

Improve your investigation skills

Recommendations should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely

Ed Perz, PE

February 21, 2019

Good investigators understand what their biases are and work to control them while in investigation mode. Adopt the persona of a sports referee—the neutral arbitrator, without a stake in the outcome.

ASSP report to help companies develop active shooter plans

February 20, 2019

The shooting on Saturday in Aurora, Illinois involving a gunman who opened fire at a warehouse where he’d worked is the latest incident of its kind, but probably won’t be the last. Five people were killed and five police officers who responded to the scene were injured during the shooting, which reportedly lasted for approximately one hour. The suspect, 45-year-old Gary Martin, was killed in the exchange of gunfire. News reports say Martin returned to the warehouse armed after being fired from his job.

Noise Control

How managers at Ohio wastewater treatment plants reduced unhealthy noise levels

Vince Cavaseno

February 20, 2019

Industrial plants are known for being loud, acoustically-harsh environments. The combination of high ceilings, reflective surfaces and heavy machinery din creates an environment for reverberation and noise. Such conditions can decrease productivity and increase health and safety hazards.

ANSI/ISEA 138 standard, glove and finger protection

Protecting knuckles & fingers

New ANSI/ISEA 138 standard focuses on back of hand protection

Rodney Taylor

February 19, 2019

Prevention is a key factor for any organization seeking continual improvement in its occupational health and safety performance. In the hierarchy of controls, elimination of the hazard comes first, and the last line of defence is proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Good health boosts fitness, morale & productivity

Preventive, proactive processes reduce costs & increase safety & performance

Destiny Pope

February 18, 2019

Wellness is defined as “the condition of good physical, mental and emotional health, especially when maintained by an appropriate diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.” Companies are turning to preventative programs to reduce workplace injuries.