It’s becoming more and more common for companies to employ temporary workers from staffing agencies, especially at large worksites. Companies decide to use staffing agencies for many reasons, sometimes because doing so is cost-effective or helps cover periods of higher production. One of the problems with this rising phenomenon is that when workers at a jobsite…
In 2012, OSHA updated its Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Many of these changes have begun to impact employers, as businesses are required to train workers in how to read the new chemical labels and safety data sheets, and beginning…
You’ve probably heard of OSHA’s General Duty Clause, perhaps in the context of a company receiving a citation. For safety managers and business owners, hearing stories about OSHA using the General Duty Clause to issue citations might sound a bit intimidating because the clause itself is vague. OSHA’s General Duty Clause, found at section 5(a)(1)…
Trenching and excavation accidents in the construction industry aren’t a new occurrence. Fatalities have happened for decades, in large part because of cave-ins. OSHA even began a National Emphasis Program for trenching and excavation safety in 1985 to reduce the number of serious accidents. Violations, serious injuries and fatalities related to this type of work continue…
If you have hazardous chemicals in your workplace, you’ve probably heard about the upcoming changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom or HCS). Beginning in 2015, labels and information sheets for hazardous chemicals will be changing to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System (GHS) that standardizes labels to make communication between countries simpler.…
All workplaces have to do periodic inspections of things like safety procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and exit routes. These inspections help businesses make sure their operations are up to code and functioning well, and they can be useful in office environments, manufacturing floors, warehouses, laboratories and many other work sites. Workplaces can perform…
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur frequently in the workplace and in 2011 accounted for a third of all injuries and illnesses reported, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These injuries result in time away from work and lost productivity, which significantly impact employers in addition to employees. In 2009, MSDs cost businesses in the U.S.…
Did you know the most common work-related injury in the United States isn’t back injuries or sprains? It’s actually noise-induced hearing loss, and 22 million workers experience noises in the workplace that are loud enough to cause hearing damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When noise levels in the workplace…
Many employers turn to personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep workers safe around hazards. Safety glasses prevent flying debris from injuring workers’ eyes, safety gloves protect employees’ hands from chemicals and fire-resistant clothing protects those who work close to flames or hot objects. PPE should actually be the last line of defense against workplace hazards,…
What you need to know: Respiratory 101 Respirators are a worker’s first line of defense against areas with insufficient oxygen, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. Without the proper protection, these can all lead to fatal situations. Workers that have been exposed to these hazards have suffered from lung impairment, diseases, cancer,…