worker health and safety

How to comprehensively review your safety measures with a three-phase approach

September 1, 2021

Performance Safety can be defined as an on-going review of processes, procedures, and practices through observation, workplace examinations, and task analysis.

Are long work hours unhealthy? The issue is more complex than it initially appears

Dan Markiewicz, MS, CIH, CSP, CHMM

August 25, 2021

Long working hours are now considered by the WHO/ILO to be the occupational risk factor with the largest attributable disease burden. WHO/ILO advise, “Protecting and promoting occupational and workers’ safety and health requires interventions to reduce hazardous long working hours.”

Best Practices

Can PWFA transform how OHS is practiced?

Pregnant workers bill could be enacted this year

Dan Markiewicz, MS, CIH, CSP, CHMM

April 27, 2021

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065, February 2021) is being fast-tracked into federal law. The bill has wide bipartisan support. President Biden campaigned on the law’s passage.

PPE designed to help workers stay productive year-round

Keep your Cool

M.B. Sutherland

September 1, 2020

Summer may be officially over, but for many of us, the heat’s still on! In fact, just this July, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a La Niña Watch. That means it’s likely that much of the country may see above average or significantly above average temperatures well into fall.

Digital Exclusive

Mental Health Focus: 5 Effective Steps to take in the workplace

Katrina McKinnon

May 13, 2020

Managers say their employees’ personal lives shouldn’t be their concern. However, this isn’t the best approach because workplace mental health is an important matter. It’s a common mistake to forget the human nature of employees. As an employer, it’s important to be compassionate with those who work for you.

Cover Story

12 Critical COVID-19 EHS Practices

What your peers are doing on the frontlines

Dave Johnson

May 5, 2020

ISHN interviewed a score of EHS professionals to learn and share with you critical crisis practices that must be executed with careful thought and planning, and at the same time with urgency and speed. It’s an unprecedented challenge. Here are 12 ways pros are rising to the occasion.

Rethinking Traditional Safety, Part 5

How we lose safety judgment & skill development

Larry Wilson

April 1, 2020

Since mind not on task is bound to happen if you know how to do something well, there is much more “leverage” or efficiency in getting people to put more effort than they are currently making (none) into improving their safety-related habits.

Heat illness more dangerous, easier to prevent than you think

Hot jobs, high risk

M.B. Sutherland

March 31, 2020

We sat down recently to talk to Dr. Douglas J. Casa, CEO of the University of Connecticut-based Korey Stringer Institute (KSI). The mission of the KSI is to provide research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter and laborer.

Four tips to prevent & reduce musculoskeletal disorders

How to avoid the “walking wounded”

Nancy Moorhouse, CSP, ARM, CHSM

March 2, 2020

No magic pills make musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) disappear, yet risk, human resources and safety departments continue to buy into programs and systems that do not affectively aid in helping employees deemed the “walking wounded.”

How to monitor workers in a confined space

Is anybody watching?

Jason Fry

March 2, 2020

With technology incorporated in nearly every aspect of our lives, you’ve probably wondered more than once whether someone was watching your every move.