Industrial Safety & Health Top Stories

Rethinking Safety Footwear for the Modern Jobsite

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Every jobsite has its own unique safety requirements, so there is no universal solution for selecting work boots.

The Appreciative Inquiry Index Offers Transformational Management Tool

peter.furst@gmail.com (Peter G. Furst) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

To improve operational outcomes, businesses commonly focused on what was not working in order to “fix” them and so improve organizational results. The Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Model was influenced by numerous research studies of positive outcomes in the fields of sports, medicine, and behavior science.

Shifting from Compliance to Maturity: A Conversation with ASSP’s 2026 Safety Professional of the Year Wyatt Bradbury

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Recognized for his exceptional leadership and technical expertise, Wyatt Bradbury talks about modern indicator-based safety strategies and advocating for inclusive safety standards.

Delphi Consensus Study: A Better Measure of Well-Being

dan.markiewicz@gmail.com (Dan Markiewicz MS, CIH, CSP, RMP) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The word “well-being” has helped to define industrial hygiene from its earliest days to the present. What does it mean today?

Heat Illness Prevention Begins Long Before Temperatures Rise

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0400

In construction, manufacturing, and other high-exertion industries, heat exposure is predictable, measurable, and something we see season after season. Yet many heat illness prevention efforts still focus primarily on what happens during the work shift.

Safety Stand-Down Turns Awareness into Safer Jobsite Behaviors

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Werner is bridging the disconnect between compliance and real-world behavior, and building a sustainable culture where safety is deeply personal.

Most Workplaces Measure Psychological Safety, Ignoring Psychosocial Risks

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:08:43 -0400

Psychological and psychosocial safety are two different things.

Mental Health Awareness Linked to Workplace Safety Initiatives

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:26:18 -0400

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Clare Epstein of Vector Solutions spoke to ISHN about why mental health is so important as part of workplace safety initiatives.

Intelligent Software is Modernizing Hazmat Management at NASA and the DoD

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Scott Woestman, Group Vice President of Public Sector at Sphera, talks about how the company has been working with NASA and the Defense Logistics Agency, part of the DoD, to modernize how they handle hazardous materials.

After March 2026 Rivian Death, Safety Managers Reassess Loading Dock Systems Under OSHA's Warehouse Emphasis Program

Wed, 27 May 2026 10:50:07 -0400

Two warehouse worker deaths occurred during OSHA's active National Emphasis Program (NEP) targeting warehousing operations.

Navigating the New Era of Combustible Dust

Tue, 26 May 2026 09:57:22 -0400

In advanced manufacturing, the dust doesn’t need to pile up like snowdrifts to become a problem. Sometimes all it takes is a microscopic cloud, the wrong spark, and a few seconds of bad luck.

Psychosocial Hazards Linked to More Than 800,000 Worker Deaths Annually

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:57:58 -0400

On-the-job psychosocial risk factors may contribute to more than 800,000 worker deaths globally each year due to cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders, according to recent research.

PODCAST | Shadows on the Job Site

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

On the latest episode of ISHN’s podcast, Simon Goncharenko dissects the dual challenges of fraudulent site access and the massive generational knowledge transfer currently facing the workforce.

How to Leave a Job the Right Way: An EHS Perspective

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:40:47 -0400

While looking forward to future improvements, it is worth thinking about current safety, continuity, and professional reputation.

Indoor Air Quality's Hidden Impact on Workplace Productivity and Cognitive Performance

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:03:11 -0400

Indoor environments shape how people think, feel and perform. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) is often an underestimated factor in occupational wellness.

How AI Tests EHS Professional Ethics

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:04:04 -0400

“Our profession's ethics canons — duty to workers, scientific integrity, transparency, independent professional judgment — get harder, not easier, when AI is in the loop."

The Next Safety Incident May Start Between Your Systems

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:36:06 -0400

Most safety conversations today focus on people, procedures, and training. And they should. But there’s a growing risk in modern operations that doesn’t get enough attention

PODCAST | The Hidden Asset in Your Supply Chain

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

While many think reusable packaging is just a "green" choice, it can also be a strategic asset for navigating federal regulations and tight margins.

What is Fall of Ground in Underground Mining?

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Fall of ground refers to the unexpected collapse or detachment of rock from the roof, sidewalls, or face of an underground excavation.

Why Your Lockout Procedures Stop Matching Reality Within 12 Months

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Procedural changes can alter the isolation requirements for a machine, but maintenance work orders rarely trigger a corresponding update to the LOTO procedure. Over time, the gap between what the procedure says and what the machine actually requires grows.

How to Tell When a Co-Worker is Impaired? A Safety Pro’s Challenge

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:29:26 -0400

Mike works in a large consumer goods warehouse, driving a forklift. For the past week or two he hasn’t been himself. Coworkers have noticed the change.

The Hidden Hazards of Tank Batteries

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Tank batteries in oil and gas fields, like the Permian and Uinta Basins, pose silent risks from trapped gases that can build up during routine tasks.

Annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ Companies Eye-Opening Look at Safety Violations

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The report was released amid a sharp drop in workplace health and safety enforcement, as federal penalties decline 47 percent in 2025.

The Progression Problem: Why Safety Programs Stall and How to Move Workers Forward

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The gap between awareness and action is not a training problem, but instead a culture problem. Culture problems always require a different set of tools than a refresher training course or a revised work procedure.

Extending the Life of Aging Coal Plants Requires Modern Approach to Safety

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A sharp increase in energy demand due to the rapid growth of power-intensive AI, combined with ever-evolving policy priorities are reshaping assumptions about coal-fired power.

Study Worker Behavior to Implement Real Change, Optimize Efficiency

peter.furst@gmail.com (Peter G. Furst) — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In studying worker behavior as they go about performing their tasks, one may realize that the worker’s attitude was manifested in how they performed their work.

Deep Dive: Is AIHA’s ‘Looming Crisis’ Real?

dan.markiewicz@gmail.com (Dan Markiewicz MS, CIH, CSP, RMP) — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

AIHA is trying to help the OEHS community address a “looming” crisis. Among the organization’s 2026 Public Policy Priorities, the crisis concern is ranked third

Are Safety Jobs Safe from an AI Takeover?

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:13:35 -0400

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know there is widespread apprehension about AI taking away thousands and thousands, if not millions, of jobs — whole categories of jobs.

Critical Infrastructure Assessment Requirements for Industrial Facilities in High-Wind Zones

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:44:08 -0400

A plan that looks comprehensive on paper does not guarantee protection in a real-world high-wind event.

Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse: A Workplace Safety Strategy Employers Can’t Overlook

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:02:50 -0400

Prescription opioids and other controlled substances remain widely used to treat workplace and non-workplace injuries.