Karen Hamel

Complying with OSHA’s walking-working surface standard

Fall protection beyond construction

October 15, 2018

When OSHA revised the walking-working surface standard in 2016, part of the goal was to make the general industry standard more consistent with existing construction standards.

Labels must stick: Who knows what lurks in unidentified containers?

Karen Hamel

August 1, 2018

To help prevent injuries and deaths from working with hazardous chemicals, OSHA requires employers to establish a hazard communication program [29 CFR 1910.1200.]

Choose and use the right portable ladder for the job

Take the Best Steps

Karen Hamel

June 8, 2018

Because using a ladder is such a familiar skill, it can be easy to overlook the need for safe operating procedures in the workplace. However, ladders continue to be a contributing factor in more than 150 fatalities and 20,000 non-fatal workplace injuries each year.

Planning for emergency evacuations

Cut through the chaos to account for all employees & visitors

Karen Hamel

May 21, 2018

Emergency action, evacuation and contingency plans need to contain procedures for accounting for employees, vendors and visitors during emergencies.

Hydration prevents acute & chronic health conditions

Keep the water flowing

Karen Hamel

April 1, 2018

When activity levels increase or people are exposed to extreme environments, water is lost more rapidly and needs to be replaced more frequently. Maintaining adequate hydration levels in the body can help avoid both acute and chronic health problems ranging from minor headaches to death.

How to effectively use safety signage

Avoid sensory overload

Karen Hamel

February 22, 2018

Signage is often posted to make everyone aware of a hazard, but when signage is overwhelming, unclear, vague, improperly placed or poorly maintained it’s true purpose can become minimized or defeated.

Keep your hazard communication program up to date

Karen Hamel

September 1, 2017

Periodic reviews are the best way to make sure that chemical inventories are still accurate, the people responsible for coordinating elements of the hazard communication program are still performing needed duties and training continues to addresses chemical hazards appropriately.

Inspect walking-working surfaces to identify hazards

Eliminate slip-ups

Karen Hamel

June 22, 2017

To help reduce same-level slip, trip and fall incidents, OSHA recently a provision to the walking-working surface rules for facilities to conduct regular inspections of all walking-working surfaces. This, coupled with the new requirement to fix any hazards that are found will help prevent slip, trip and fall incidents.