To make sure this holiday season is truly joyful, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and workers not to overlook workplace safety and health. For a sad reminder of how an on-the-job tragedy can leave families, friends, and co-workers grief-stricken, look no further than Akron, Ohio, where a 25-year-old worker—hanging holiday lights on a backyard tree—suffered […]
Are your employees showing up for work impaired by drugs and alcohol? Both surveys and drug testing are showing spikes in substance misuse. There’s a majority of adults in the workforce (61%) with a substance use disorder (SUD), according to government data cited by the National Safety Council (NSC). The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy […]
Blue Ash, Ohio-based meat processor Sugar Creek Packing Co. faces $277,904 in proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines after a worker fell into corrosive chemicals and suffered injuries that included severe leg burns and the degloving of their foot (the loss of skin and soft tissue), the agency announced November 29. Agency inspectors […]
Introduction Winter brings to mind a picturesque landscape blanketed in snow, but for workers, it also poses unique challenges to safety. The cold temperatures, icy surfaces, and unpredictable weather conditions demand heightened vigilance to ensure the well-being of both workers and the projects they undertake. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the critical aspects […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) renewed a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) focused on enforcement inspections in three mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia in industries with high levels of workplace noise, which can contribute to worker hearing loss, the agency announced November 28. The Region 3 emphasis program applies to area offices […]
On episode 184 of EHS On Tap, Jane Heidingsfelder, labor and employment attorney with Jones Walker, talks about current trends in OSHA inspections. This interview was recorded at the NSC Safety Congress in New Orleans in October.
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published a revision to its voluntary national consensus safety standard covering the latest safety practices and training recommendations for the construction, demolition, modification, and maintenance of communication structures. The updated ANSI/ASSP A10.48 standard will be effective on January 1, 2024. The digital standard establishes minimum criteria that […]
On episode 183 of EHS On Tap, Hector Alvarez, president of Alvarez Associates, talks about a new California workplace violence prevention law.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a new resource, titled Workplace Solutions: Reducing Workers’ Lead Exposure during Water Service Line Removal and Replacement, for employers and workers that addresses the health hazards associated with lead pipe removal and replacement. Here’s what employers need to know about protection from lead exposure. Check […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine NIOSH’s new resource for information on how to protect workers from lead exposure while working with lead pipes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a new resource […]