Commitment to Workplace Safety Begins on Day One
The way employers enable learning and information-sharing plays an influential role in whether new employees will become safety leaders or safety liabilities.
Total Quality Management – Was Deming Right?
Dr. W. Edward Deming authored Total Quality Management, which espoused a group approach to management. Applying his concepts meant that management would encourage employees to join in the process of continuous improvement. His methods helped Japan recover following WWII. In fact, he is still revered there as a business hero.
Workplace Safety – Is Intimidation a Useful Tool?
I saw this question posed recently on a safety discussion thread,“Is intimidation a useful tool in getting people to work safely?” My thoughts? Book answer is “no – don’t intimidate”. Treat people with respect and develop trust. Through trust, people will bring forth ideas and concerns that would have otherwise been suppressed. Learning about ideas […]
Fireworks Safety for the 4th
There’s nothing like a good fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day in the United States. We all know fireworks can be dangerous (just ask the NY Giants’ Jason-Pierre Paul), but did you know that OSHA has specific guidance for pyrotechnic workers? This site highlights the pre-display approval, site, display, and post-event checklists that workers should […]
Safety for Fasting Workers During Ramadan
It is the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and observant Muslims around the world are celebrating. Those who are able are obliged to abstain from food and drink throughout the daylight hours, from dawn until sunset. Ramadan is based on the Islamic calendar so its timing varies. When it falls during the summer months, as […]
Occupational Health’s Need for Safety Data Shows the Health & Safety Overlap
The Importance of Safety Data for Occupational Health Like most things in business, workplace health and safety can be analyzed in terms of its cost or benefit. Safety managers and HR departments both need to demonstrate safety as a business value. Often, safety activities are viewed as a cost or overhead. An injury is a […]
Turbine Manufacturers Should Rethink Their Workplace Safety Programs
Manufacturers of turbines and turbine generators (NAICS 333611) employed 29,184 workers across 331 establishments in 2012. Average wages were a relatively high $85,450 per year compared to the U.S. average of $49,200.
Global Workforce Brings New Challenges and Opportunities to Workplace Health and Safety
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Doha in Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Singapore as part of our research on workplace health and safety management needs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. I was joined on the trip by my colleague Janardhanan Chandrasekar (JC), UL’s Business Development Director […]
Online safety training to support MSHA’s Part 46 requirements for miners
The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Part 46 requires training for miners engaged in shell dreging or employed at sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, colloidal phosphate or surface limestone mines. See MSHA’s website for complete compliance guidelines and resources.
Coping with mental fatigue myths and realities in the workplace
The American comedian Ron White says, “You can’t fix stupid!” However, in the workplace you can prevent some of the stupidity caused by mental fatigue.