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Do you have a driver training program?” This is one of the first questions asked by an investigator during a compliance review or audit of a motor carrier.
At last year’s National Safety Council Congress
and Expo, OSHA presenters noted that fall protection
was the agency’s second-most cited violation
category. That’s no surprise — fall protection
consistently ranks among OSHA’s highest number of
inspections and total fines.
Use of hearing protection in both occupational and non-occupational environments is intended to help reduce noise exposure levels and noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL).
You might be surprised to learn that many of the same technologies used to construct “Watson,” the supercomputer that beat the best human champions on the game show “Jeopardy,” as well as the “Deep Blue” supercomputer that defeated Gary Kasparov and other chess masters, are being employed to bring cutting edge predictive and advanced analytics to the field of safety.
Summer is upon us and after the very long and cold winter experienced nearly everywhere this year, not a day too soon. Summer brings with it the age-old question for many safety directors: do you use plain water or electrolyte beverages for hydration?
Gift cards are recognized as the top award in
the incentive industry, according to surveys
and studies. Recipients are empowered
with the right to choose the item that most motivates
himself or herself.
Every year thousands of eye injuries occur in
the workplace. Throughout the past few years,
stringent regulation and an ever-growing concern
for the health and well-being of employees has
brought advancements in processes, safety procedures,
and first aid protocols to treat the injured.
It is a misconception that hearing-impaired or deaf workers do not have to participate in a hearing conservation program. Like those with normal hearing, these workers still fall under OSHA, MSHA and FRA regulations for occupational noise exposures.
Our company recently conducted a national survey of safety managers and executives involved in purchasing high visibility safety apparel. Comfort and quality ranked as the most important factors influencing their purchases — not price.
With the introduction of new age glove fibers to replace yesteryear’s leather and cotton work gloves, hand protection and personal protection equipment (PPE) is on an uptrend in winning the war against hand injuries.
In the past, the most widely recognized occupational exposure limits for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have referenced an 8-hour TWA of 10 ppm, and a 15-minute STEL of 15 ppm. In February 2010, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) adopted a new threshold limit value (TLV®) recommendation for H2S, lowering the 8-hour TWA to 1.0 ppm, and the STEL to 5.0 ppm.
I get asked to visit companies and “diagnose” why their behavioral safety program has “lost steam” or never got off the ground to begin with. Inevitably I find the whole shebang is being run by the safety department and a few anointed safety enthusiasts who do all the observations.
According to the OSHA Technical Manual, which prescribes workloads for workers under temperatures typically experienced outdoors during the summer months, to keep from exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) when the ambient temperature is above 86° F, the work regimen will consist of 25 percent work and 75 percent rest.
It was the summer of 1981 and I was a newly enlisted U.S. Army Military Police soldier. My basic combat training took place just outside Anniston, Ala., at a now retired Army base known as Ft. McClellan.
For more than 35 years, the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 standard on emergency eyewash and shower equipment has been the authoritative document for equipment manufacturers, users, specifiers, installers and regulators.
Boom! Bang! Crunch! Ouch! No… this is not the beginning of another Batman TV episode. But it might be the beginning of a real-life nightmare for you and your employer.
Today, our nation’s workforce is comprised of the highest percentage of workers aged 55 and older since the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began reporting labor force data in 1948.
Serious and disabling foot injuries such as crushing, puncture wounds and sprains get considerable attention in the workplace, but a more subtle kind of foot injury — one which develops over time — can also be painful and disabling.
In the constant struggle to keep employees safe, facility safety signage is often overlooked or overused. Both ends of the spectrum can be a detriment to the safety program you have worked hard to establish.
Thanks to advances in safety, the hard hat has evolved over the decades. There have been many improvements in the last decade, but the story began almost 100 years ago.
In any industry where employees are required to work from an elevated height, the risks of falling must be taken into careful consideration. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Falls are one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all occupational fatalities from trauma.”
Too often safety and health professionals work under the illusion that the advice they provide to someone is “helpful.” If only giving “help” were so easy.
You ever think about your driving? Unless you’ve had a recent crash, a DUI, your premiums jacked up, a nearcrash, or a violation that costs you bucks, why, really, would you?
Within the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) unstable explosives require the highest codification prevention precautionary statement P201 — “Obtain special instructions before use.”
When folks are brought together around some common task or set of tasks, their earliest experiences “set the tone” for the team. When team members develop the positive attitude that they can succeed, they are more likely to do so.
The SK5-NT cut-resistant glove has a steel core and Kevlar® blended knit, with a nitrile coated palm for better grip. It also features a strap cuff for a snug fit
Very few people count noise as a possible cause of fatigue. But noise can cause hearing loss to exhaustion, according to eHow.com, the “How to do just about anything” information web site.
Axion™ MSR by Haws® is the first and only eye/face wash system specifically designed to operate in concert with standard healthcare protocols. Axion™ MSR eyewash streams are inverted, sweeping contaminants
The new Sierra Monitor Model 5100-25-IT Ammonia Gas Sensor Module utilizes smart sensor technology. This network-enabled gas detector includes: extended calibration frequencies only requiring calibration every six months; non-intrusive, one-person
The new Shark knife is designed so fingers cannot reach the blade. The patented, specially designed mouth of the Fish series guides material onto and along a surgical steel blade,
KeeHatch® Mightylight roof hatch rail is an “exact fit” for Bilco, Babcock Davis and other hatches. Made of aluminum, it weighs only 35 lbs., has few parts and is easy
The ProRx Industrial Skin Care System offers 100 percent biodegradable soaps and solvent-free formulas with all natural grit scrubbers that meet higher environmental standards. Green Seal™ formulas and recyclable boxless
Sun X SPF 30+ Sunscreen and Bug X Insect Repellent were created with the employer and employee in mind. Affordable packaging allows companies to implement a cost effective and OSHA-compliant
SCRUBS® SUN SKEETER™ easy-to-apply wipes combine 20 percent DEET with broad-spectrum SPF 25 sunscreen to repel mosquitoes, chiggers and more and protect workers from the sun’s rays. The EPAlisted, patented
STOKO® REFRESH 4 in 1 is an innovative, costsaving dispensing system that provides a choice of four different hand-cleansing applications in a single dispenser — foam, spray, liquid or gel.
Staphaseptic® is a new approach to wound care. Use in place of a triple antibiotic or poly-biotic ointment as an everyday infection prevention product for minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions and
Glove Guard® and Utility Guard® glove clips by Glove Guard LP help reduce hand injuries and glove loss because gloves will be used if available. They can be imprinted with
Being prepared, knowing your rights and presenting your company “in the best possible light” is the way to face local and national emphasis program inspections, according to Michael T. Taylor, a lawyer with the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Arent Fox LLP.
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) hopes Connecticut’s ban on natural gas blows at power plants will “set an example for the rest of the country,” according to a statement released last week.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published a Federal Register notice amending the commercial driver’s license (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and establishing new minimum Federal standards for States to issue the commercial learner’s permit (CLP).
Commercial carriers and truck drivers conducted 380,000 pre-employment driver safety record searches during the first year of a new, secure online search program, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reported this week.
The WorkLife Program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is “evolving to address a wider range of factors that influence workers’ total health,” according to the institute.
Noble Canary offers the OSHA Audit 29 CFR 1910 mobile auditing application for iPhone, iPad and Android. Now safety and health professionals can conduct a full safety audit from their
More than 150 chemicals used in health and safety studies and found in air fresheners, non-stick and stain resistant materials, fire resistant materials and other compounds and formulations have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which rejected claims by the chemical industry that the names of the substances should be kept under wraps.
In a new report issued for World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warns that a staggeringly high number of children are still caught in hazardous work – some 115 million of the world’s 215 million child labourers– and calls for urgent action to halt the practice.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today
announced its new list of the most critical transportation
issues that need to be addressed to improve safety and save
lives.
OSHA has announced a three-month phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the Agency's new directive to provide residential construction workers with fall protection.
Moldex introduces the new easy-to-wear 7000 half-mask and 9000 full-face series. These reusable respirators are completely free of metal parts, are PVC-Free and feature lighter weight, fewer parts, less maintenance,
Howard Leight’s new Sync™ stereo earmuff provides proper levels of hearing protection, high-fidelity sound, and the ability to listen to portable audio devices and MP3 players safely at work. For
While more people than ever are accessing HIV treatment – including an estimated 420,000-460,000 children – millions who need care are not receiving it, according to a new report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Rescuers will brave a mine fire and a collapsed roof to locate and rescue missing miners Wednesday and Thursday in Maysville, Kentucky. Fortunately, it’ll be a drill, not an emergency.
Two Wisconsin companies failed to adequately brace formwork while pouring walls, leading to the collapse of a wet concrete wall that killed a worker at a building site in 2010, according to an OSHA investigation.
Taking a “simple and obvious precaution” could have prevented the death of a worker at a NY construction site, according to Kay Gee, OSHA’s area director in Manhattan.
Women who work in several occupations and industries have a higher-than-average chance of dying of lung cancer, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
An OSHA investigation following an explosion and fire that killed three workers has resulted in the agency citing AL Solutions Inc. of West Virginia for exposing workers to workplace safety and health hazards.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday determined that a 2010 accident on the Delaware River that killed two people and injured numerous others occurred because a tugboat mate was using his cell phone and lap top computer while towing a barge up the river.
Vaccines, infectious disease prevention and anti-tobacco efforts hold the top three slots in the list of top ten public health achievements released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Musculoskeletal pain, obesity, and smoking are among the factors associated with an increased risk of work disability due to low back disorders, reports a study in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
Thousands of people from more than 40 countries met in Chicago this week for the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Professional Development Conference (PDC) and Exposition, setting a record high attendance and helping the ASSE celebrate its 100th birthday.
A New Jersey farm’s use of children younger than 12 years of age to do agricultural work was just one of the violations found during investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
OSHA has sued a South Carolina real estate management company CMM Realty Inc. for allegedly firing an employee who voiced and reported workplace and environmental concerns regarding asbestos at one of the company's worksites.
The True Flex knee pads are lightweight, tough safety knee pads that provide the ultimate in comfort and protection. Uniquely jointed to move with the natural motion of the knee,
An analysis of several studies conducted among Hispanics in the United States reveal that they are at a higher risk of exposure to toxic mercury pollution because of a combination of cultural, economic and linguistic factors.
A report released yesterday by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows that on-duty firefighter fatalities are at their lowest level since 1977 – the year the NFPA began conducting its annual study.
Although environmental responsibility and occupational safety have a lot in common -- such as the fact that both are both related to behavior changes – “green” has “bolted into the limelight” while occupational safety has remained a niche topic of interest mainly to industrial hygienists, regulators and technical experts.
Accuform’s non-glare and easy-to-read Braille signs help companies comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III for Signage: “Signs designating permanent rooms and spaces…must have raised and Brailled letters,
In recognition of his continued efforts to enhance workplace safety and health, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently named Ashok Garlapati, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), of ASSE’s Kuwait Chapter as the recipient of the Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) award for the year 2011.
The Jackson Safety W60 TrueSight is a new auto-darkening filter (ADF) for welders that offers quick one-touch mode adjustment, intuitive digital controls and improved visibility. It features separate buttons —
For Fall 2011, Wolverine is paying homage to its more than 125-year history with a new line of made-in-the-USA work boots, including the men’s Northman. Built of genuine Horween leather
OSHA has announced in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking an update and revision of two aspects of the agency's recordkeeping and reporting requirements for work-related injuries and illnesses.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said its ongoing investigation has revealed that the explosion at the Hoeganaes facility in Gallatin, Tennessee was caused by hydrogen gas leaking into a trench from a large hole in a vent pipe -- but that combustible dust played a part as well.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Dr. David Michaels has signed an agreement renewing OSHA's partnership with Ford Motor Co., the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America and Automotive Component Holdings LLC, and welcoming the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a new partner.
Workrite’s Dickies® FR carpenter jean combines Workrite’s expertise in high quality flame-resistant garments with Dickies popular styling. It’s made from 14 oz. pre-washed 100% cotton Indura FR fabric and features
New SafeSPEC™ 2.0 from DuPont is a powerful online tool that helps you choose garments that offer protection for your people from thousands of chemical hazards. Evaluate up to 5
Wiley X® Eyewear has expanded its popular Active Series™ of performance sunglasses with the stylish new Flare™. Those with a “flair” for fashion will appreciate this new model’s attractive styling.
The number of women working in industry and trade is growing slowly but steadily. The most popular professions include gardening, carpentry and joinery, painting, tiling and mechatronics.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has announced plans to launch a new Center for Safety and Health in Sustainability (CSHS) at the group’s Professional Development Conference (PDC) and Exposition, Safety 2011, in June.
Faced with rising health care costs and a growing concern over the health of their employees, a vast majority of multinational organizations plan to place a higher priority on workforce health initiatives and the overall well-being of their workers over the next few years.
The Justice Department has announced a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Wells Fargo & Company to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities to Wells Fargo’s services nationwide.
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis yesterday announced the appointment of eight new members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.
Salmonella infections have not decreased during the past 15 years and have instead risen by 10 percent in recent years, according to a new Vital Signs report just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to assess a $584,375 civil penalty against United Airlines, Inc. for allegedly violating FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) regulations for random drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive employees.
Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
A new poll by University of Michigan researchers found that few parents make their children shower before using water parks – leaving them and other water park visitors at greater risk of getting infections from the water.
OSHA has cited Bontrager Excavating LTD in Uniontown for two alleged willful, two serious and one repeat safety violation for failing to protect workers from cave-ins during trenching operations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unveiled nine new and graphic health warnings – one of which will be required to appear on every pack and carton of cigarettes sold in the United States and used in every cigarette advertisement no later than September, 2012.
A national consumer advocacy group is calling on OSHA to enact its plan to track musculoskeletal disease, saying that it would not be overly burdensome to small businesses.
We are reporting live from the sprawling McCormick Place expo hall in cool, sunny Chicago at the American Society of Safety Engineers’ annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition. Chicago is home of ASSE HQ (Des Plaines actually) and the Windy City is replete with street corner banners heralding ASSE’s 100th anniversary.
Just as employees have gotten comfortable with the idea of work life flexibility, worrying less about the impact it has on their paychecks or careers, new research shows increased workloads or no time are now the biggest obstacles.
Despite warnings from the World Health Organization that cell phone use could be associated with some risk for brain cancer, 73% of U.S. voters say they will not alter their cell phone usage.
The following is the recent testimony of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works:
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) announced that a 20-year ASSE member from Uniondale, NY took the top prize in the ASSE’s written essay contest this year.
The 3M™ G-Series retractable lanyards have a lightweight design. Except where noted, the hardware of the G-Series retractable features 3600 lb. gate rating and the internal working components are machined
