Category: Emergency Preparedness and Response

No one wants it to happen, but an emergency, natural or manmade, can strike at anytime, 24/7. What’s more, it need not be a major, nationally-televised incident, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or act of political terror. An event as common as a local building fire can present just as large a challenge to you. These resources will help you create a plan for handling such crises, whatever their scope, and to carry it out in a way that best protects your employees and your company.

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hurricane

OSHA Issues Warning to Employers on Hurricane Hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warned employers to protect workers from the safety and health hazards that often follow hurricanes, including the biological and chemical hazards of contaminated floodwaters, damaged power lines, debris and downed trees, and carbon monoxide fumes from gasoline-powered generators.

Emergency planning

It’s National Preparedness Month—Ensure Your Plans Cover a Variety of Workplace Emergencies

Depending on your region of the country, there can be a wide variety of emergencies you need to plan and prepare for—floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. All are complicated by an ongoing public health emergency: the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. You also may need to prepare for accidents or emergencies involving the substances and processes […]

hurricane

10 Tips for Hurricane Preparedness

In addition to September being National Preparedness Month, we are also now right in the middle of hurricane season, which officially occurs from June 1 until November 30. It’s important for businesses that could be in the path of a storm to review their emergency preparations.

EHS on Tap: E59 Mental Health and Workplace Violence in the Age of COVID-19

Among the many health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 is the challenge posed to all of our collective mental health. Our current situation has put a strain on all of us to some extent, and with mental health challenges come a concern about potential workplace violence. It’s important for environment, health, and safety professionals […]

Anxiety, depression

Read the Transcript of our Conversation with JP Guilbault of Navigate360

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, EHS professionals need to remain aware of the collective strain workers in their organization might be feeling, as long-term mental health challenges could create the potential for workplace violence. As it’s important for environment, health, and safety professionals to be prepared for any such threats to their businesses, and […]

Anxiety, depression

COVID-19-Related Mental Health Strain Likely to Increase Workplace Violence

No one is immune from the pandemic, but there are parts of our society that are experiencing greater loss and impact than others. One of the most dangerous effects is also one that is the hardest to identify—that of ideation, often fueled by feelings of injustice, a lack of control, and extreme depression and anxiety.

CPR

American Heart Association Issues COVID-19 CPR Guidelines

The American Heart Association (AHA) issued interim cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines that apply during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AHA recommended bystanders and lay rescuers administer “hands only” CPR without mouth-to-mouth ventilation to limit exposures to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

First responders, ambulance corps

COVID-19: First Responders Must Be Notified of Coronavirus Exposure

Healthcare facilities and public health officials now must inform emergency responders when they have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. On March 27, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) updated its list of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases to which emergency responders may be exposed (85 Federal Register 17335).

disinfectant

How the Coronavirus Is Affecting Small Business

It’s impossible to avoid at this point, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is on everyone’s mind. Sports leagues around the world have shut down, companies are going fully remote, and colleges have switched to being exclusively online.

COVID-19 coronavirus

COVID-19: OSHA Urges Businesses to Prepare for Outbreak

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued guidance on preparing workplaces for a COVID-19 outbreak. The guide explains how COVID-19 could affect workplaces and steps employers can take to reduce workers’ risk of exposure.