Archives

OSHA at 40: Supporters, Critics Weigh In

OSHA turned 40 this year. For the latest on what’s happening at the agency and how OSHA initiatives are affecting U.S. business, BLR turned to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor Jordan Barab and Joe Trauger, vice president of human resources policy for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) At 40, OSHA may be middle-aged, but […]

‘Tis the Season to Celebrate Responsibly

Drinking and driving are a problem all year around. But it becomes even a bigger issue at holiday time when so many people are out celebrating. Talk to your employees about their safety this holiday season. ‘Tis the Season to Celebrate Responsibly December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, which makes it a […]

Workplace Violence: A Concern for All Employers

You’ve seen workplace violence reported on TV. You’ve read about it in the newspaper and on the Internet. But what are you doing about it? OSHA defines workplace violence as "any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site." Violent incidents include threats and […]

Recent OSHA Directive Provides Guidance on Workplace Violence

In a recent directive OSHA provides guidance for employers about reducing workplace violence risks. Read about seven basic precautions that can help protect your employees. In a recent directive entitled Enforcement Procedures for Investigating or Inspecting Workplace Violence Incidents (CPL 02-01-052, September 8, 2011), OSHA outlines general recommendations for all industries and workplaces concerning violence […]

Factors That Contribute to Back Injuries

Many people think that back injuries are always the result of one wrong move or one wrong lift, when in fact back injuries typically result from years of abuse that cause the back to weaken until one day an injury occurs. Factors that contribute to back injuries include: Poor posture when walking, standing, sitting, lying […]

Lift Employee Awareness About Safe Lifting and Lower Injury Rates

Back injuries caused by improper lifting or overexertion are among the most common of workplace injuries. Good training and frequent reminders can reduce stress factors and reduce injuries. You can never overemphasize safe lifting. In many workplaces almost every employee engages in lifting at some point during the workday. Some workers, like materials handlers, are […]

Harmonic Hazard Communication

Training your employees on understanding chemical container labels and material safety data sheets may not be music to your ears, but the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is intended to bring harmony to the process. As the world’s nations move toward GHS, give your employees answers to the following questions: Q: What is the purpose of […]

LOTO Requirements: More Questions, More Answers

Yesterday, we answered some key questions about lockout/tagout requirements. Today, we answer additional questions, and tell you about a safety resource that can answer so many more—about lockout and a multitude of other safety and health concerns. Q. Can a duplicate key for the purpose of lock removal under LOTO be held in a secure […]

Tag Out Errors and Lock In Compliance

In today’s Advisor we feature questions about OSHA’s lockout/tagout requirements recently received and answered by the safety experts at Safety.BLR.com. Q. Do I have to train the authorized employees and affected employees separately, or can I train one class comprised of both audiences? A. There are separate training requirements for authorized and affected employees under […]

Improving Workers’ Comp: Learn from the Best

“A lot of companies do things right, but an award-winning program does them all.” Those are the words of the disability manager for a company with one such program. Learn the secrets of their success. Integrated Disability Manager Lloyd Hudson explains that employees at his company, American Electric Power (AEP), work in risky jobs and […]