Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Annual physical exams for some or all employees may be a good idea for many reasons. But make sure your policy is clearly communicated to employees and meets legal requirements. There are many legitimate reasons for requiring employees to have annual physical exams—for example, to ensure that individuals are physically capable of performing the required […]
Wellness programs seem like a simple, appealing way to reduce skyrocketing healthcare costs. But be aware that some programs can run afoul of federal and state laws. Wellness programs encourage employees to adopt or maintain healthy lifestyles—or at least take the first steps toward learning about healthy alternatives. Choosing healthier alternatives to reduce cholesterol levels, […]
A back injury on or off the job could put one of your workers on the sick list for days or even weeks. Don’t take chances when back safety is concerned. Train all your employees to prevent back injuries. One of the most important ways employees can prevent back injuries is to lift correctly. The […]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that back injuries account for 1 in 5 workplace injuries/illnesses. Back problems also account for many lost workdays. Simple steps to care for the back can prevent injury. According to the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), risk factors for back injuries […]
More Americans than ever—some 50 million—report suffering from chronic pain and may be taking pain medications. This reality can have a profound effect on safety in the workplace, not only because some of these meds have potentially dangerous side effects, but also because more people are becoming addicted and may continue using the drugs even […]
OSHA requires you to have an effective lockout/tagout program and train employees involved in or affected by LOTO. All employees who work with or around machinery and equipment should be trained to understand the importance of lockout/tagout and how it affects workplace safety. All employees who work with and around equipment that can be locked […]
According to OSHA, some 3 million workers face the risk of injury or death from hazardous energy–related accidents. Compliance with lockout/tagout rules keeps about 120 of them alive each year and prevents some 50,000 accidents. Three men were performing maintenance inside an asphalt mixer. One of them was still inside the mixer when the power […]
One in five workers says they have been put in danger or injured because of a co-worker’s substance abuse. To keep your workplace safe, you have to recognize alcohol abuse that affects job performance and take steps to correct the problem. Recognizing alcohol abuse is the first step in preventing it in your workplace. A […]
Alcohol and workplace safety don’t mix. If any of your employees are reporting to work under the influence, they’re putting themselves and others at risk. Take advantage of Alcohol Awareness Month to promote an alcohol-free and drug-free workplace. Workplace use of alcohol and drugs is a problem that costs American businesses more than $100 billion […]
Testing helps you know what your workers learned from training so you can predict if they will perform their work more safely following training. Today our Safety Training Tips editor talks about the kinds of tests that are available and how to go about writing them. True-False tests give you a good idea of what […]