The world’s largest online seller of goods tops the “Dirty Dozen” list of unsafe employers released by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health’s (National COSH) today. The annual reveal is timed to coincide with Workers Memorial Week (April 22 – 29), which honors those who have been injured, suffered illnesses or lost their lives at work. Amazon as had six worker fatalities at its facilities since 2018;.

While the extent of responsibility under the law of staffing agencies and host employers is dependent on the specific facts of each case, staffing agencies and host employers are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for temporary workers - including, for example, ensuring that OSHA's training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled.

With the holiday shopping season officially underway, OSHA is reminding employers to protect their workers, many of whom are new or temporary hires working in intense conditions. “Whether employees are stocking shelves, packing boxes, delivering products, or selling merchandise, they have the right to a safe workplace,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt.

Temporary workers should be protected from the sudden release of stored energy just as permanent workers are. That reminder from OSHA comes in a newly issued bulletin on lockout/tagout that explains the joint responsibility of host employers and staffing agencies to ensure that temporary employees are properly protected against this serious – potentially fatal - workplace hazard.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA®) and OSHAhave renewed a partnership aimed at fostering safer and more healthful American workplaces. Through the alliance, the two organizations will pursue the following national priorities, among others: young worker health and safety; temporary workers; workplace hazards within emerging industries; disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and opioids in the workplace.

OSHA recently issued several new publications providing solutions to hazards in specific occupations and industries:

In recognition of Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28, the National Safety Council is drawing attention to six areas of safety concern for U.S. employees. “Workers’ Memorial Day is a time to remember those who lost their lives on the job, to reflect on lessons learned and to bolster our commitment to worker safety,” said Mark P. Vergnano, chairman of the National Safety Council Board and president and CEO of The Chemours Company.

In October 2017 we published the first blog in a series to highlight musculoskeletal health research at NIOSH. With the holiday season upon us, this next installment will take the opportunity to discuss how best to promote musculoskeletal health in retail establishments to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among temporary retail workers.

Aerotek, a recruiting, staffing, and strategic outsourced solutions provider headquartered in Hanover, MD, has earned the Safety Standard of Excellence mark from the American Staffing Association. The program, developed by ASA and the National Safety Council, promotes industry-wide safety best practices. By participating in the Safety Standard of Excellence program, staffing companies, their temporary workers, and host employers can build a mutually beneficial relationship to help identify and mitigate workplace hazards and exposures, ensure clear communication between the staffing firm and host employer, and clearly delineate the safety responsibilities of each party.