Articles by Dave Johnson

Editor's Letter

Survivors of a fatality can struggle for answers

April 1, 2020

. Gene Hobbs was working for the Meade County Road Department, raking along the edge of a road shortly after noon, when he was run over by a dump truck backing up, killing him upon impact, on December 13, 2016.

Safety Technology

ISEA work group begins the process

A standard for connected worker issues?

Dave Johnson

April 1, 2020

ISEA – the International Safety Equipment Association – is moving forward with a connected worker task group of member companies -- all safety equipment manufacturers -- to decide what actions are needed to ensure and advance safety in the broad, rapidly expanding field of connected worker devices.

Strengthen safety by emphasizing equipment reliability

Keep the Gears Moving

Dave Johnson

April 1, 2020

Frankly I’m puzzled why others don’t see the parallels between world-class manufacturing and reliability and maintainability and worker safety,” says Phil LaDuke, who taught reliability and maintainability for one of the Big Three auto companies before moving into safety consulting.

Denying executive accountability is too common

Throwing safety under the bus

Dave Johnson

March 2, 2020

Sad but true. In 2020, OSHA celebrates its 50th anniversary. Safety’s sage, Dan Petersen, published “Safety Management, a Human Approach” in 1975. Lessons haven’t been learned.

The problem with the OSHA rate

Too often it is the only measure of safety performance

Dave Johnson

February 4, 2020

I have found that the companies that do not really ‘get’ safety and health measure their entire program on the OSHA rate (recordable injuries and illnesses). That is all they care about,” says a former OSHA official.

How many workers hide pain?

“Don’t be a pain”

Dave Johnson

January 1, 2020

Locker room talk. A fellow was saying he was in bed for ten days after having his big toe operated on. “Ten days for your big toe?” “Yeah, the doc said my joint was shot and if I didn’t have a pin put in, I couldn’t walk and would be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. Man, I’d wake up in the middle of the night and my toe was killing me.”

Introducing the 2020 Buyers’ & Resource Guide

Solutions to safety, health, environmental issues are accelerating

Dave Johnson

December 4, 2019

Search for the products you are looking for in this guide by manufacturers, distributors, and associations. Scan the ad index for suppliers, too. Keep this buyers guide close by so when the need arises, you can take advantage of the many innovations that have come to the EHS field in recent years.

Editor's Note

Saving a culture: Going from worst to first

Dave Johnson

December 3, 2019

U.S. Navy Captain Mike Abrashoff was given command of the USS Benfold at age 36, making him the youngest commanding officer in the Pacific fleet. His challenge was daunting: the destroyer with 310 sailors was a notable loser, with low morale and the highest turnover in the Navy. Many safety and health pros early in their careers face the challenge of establishing their credibility.

Mining electrocutions trigger MSHA alert

The Mine Safety and Health Administration issues electrical safety best practices

Dave Johnson

December 3, 2019

In late 2019, a plant electrician with 15 years of mining experience was electrocuted when he contacted an energized connection of a 4,160 VAC electrical circuit. Two more mining fatalities by electrocution have occurred since. The electrocution deaths prompted the MSHA to issue a safety alert.

No decline in 2018 workplace injury rate

Dave Johnson

November 8, 2019

For the first time since 2012, the national injury rate for U.S. workplaces did not decline in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2018, unchanged from 2017. In both years the total recordable injury case rate (TRC) per 100 full-time workers was 2.8 cases.

During this webinar, we will share knowledge, real world examples, and lessons learned from years of Safety Management Experience gained from working with OSHA, and various industries including defense, construction, utilities, and industrial facilities management.

In this webinar, we will discuss the effects of cold stress and heat stress and what employers can do to keep their workers safe in these extreme conditions.