Even the federal government puts profit over safety. Between 2010 and 2016, nine fatalities were reported of young, healthy men working alone in federal oil fields. Each death resulted from hydrocarbon exposure after opening the thief hatch to manually measure oil quantity in tanks. Adding a $2,000 automated measuring device could have prevented exposure. Adding […]
Ransomware is quickly becoming a top choice for criminals looking to extort financial gain from hospital systems. The MedStar hospital system has been shut down by an apparent ransomware attack, paralyzing computer systems across the DC and Maryland region. MedStar operates 10 hospitals in DC and Maryland and employs 30,000 staff members and 6,000 affiliated physicians. Read […]
After a 45-year journey, OSHA has finally updated its crystalline silica standard. Under the new standard, permissible limits will be cut to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air over an 8-hour period. Current limits range from 250 micrograms in construction to 100 micrograms in a variety of other industries. The standard requires employers to […]
Could a healthy and safe workforce positively contribute to a company’s overall performance? I’ll be presenting the latest from UL’s Integrated Health & Safety Institute (IHSI), during tomorrow’s webinar hosted by the National Business Group on Health (NGBH). IHSI recently sponsored a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental […]
Are you ready to spring forward on Sunday? The clocks have it easy; the people have the tougher adjustment. Changing times during daylight savings can lead to sleep deprivation, safety risks and reduced performance at work. NIOSH offers a few tips to employers to help their workers get used to the change. Read more here.
Have you posted your OSHA Form 300A yet? Employers have an obligation to post a copy of the form—which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during the 2015 calendar year—in a common area where employees can see it. You will often see this in a break room or common area where other federally mandated notices (like […]
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has brought criminal charges against the production company behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Actor Harrison Ford was seriously injured when a hydraulic metal door on the Millennium Falcon set fell on his leg. Read more here.
Dear valued customers, We’ve heard you. For years, we have been a trusted partner for your workplace health and safety needs. But we know that’s not where your company ends. We know that in addition to your employees’ safety and workplace health, you are focused on your environmental impact, your corporate social responsibility, and your […]
A recently-issued interpretation clarifies that OSHA considers fainting to be a recordable event, even if the fainting is caused by the sight of one’s own blood. The interpretation discusses an incident in which an employee scratched his finger on a vinyl saw clamp, then fainted at the sight of a small amount of blood before […]
NIOSH and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have developed a new initiative to address a crucial safety gap: training for young people. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 1.5 million teenagers work in the United States, and 8 out of 10 high school students will work at some point during the year. Younger […]