Category: Personnel Safety

Coronavirus

OSHA Addresses Concerns Surrounding COVID-19

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expanded guidance regarding shortages of N95 filtering facepiece respirators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA instructed field offices to exercise discretion when enforcing annual fit-testing requirements, as long as employers have made good-faith efforts to comply with requirements of the respiratory protection standard.

COVID-19 coronavirus

NSC President and CEO Releases Statement Regarding COVID-19

Itasca, IL – National Safety Council President & CEO Lorraine Martin today issued the following call to business leaders across the country to take aggressive action to ensure employee safety from COVID-19. In a survey conducted this week, over 70% of NSC member companies indicated they have employees still reporting to work, unable to work remotely. Many […]

Drug testing

Bill Current on Post-Accident Drug Testing and Cannabis Legalization

On our latest episode of the EHS on Tap podcast, we discussed a persistent problem for occupational health and safety managers—post-accident drug testing. Read on for a transcript of our conversation with Bill Current, President of the Current Consulting Group and a 30-year veteran of the drug testing industry.

California and COVID-19

Cal/OSHA Expands COVID-19 Guidance to Nursing, Agricultural Employers

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued additional employer guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cal/OSHA released interim guidelines for long-term care and skilled nursing facilities and agricultural employers.

Facemask at work

UPDATED: Can Employers Mandate the Use of Facemasks, and What If Employees Can’t (or Won’t) Wear Them?

This article was last updated and reposted on July 20 in accordance with more up-to-date guidance and links to additional resources. The world has changed in an unprecedented way since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and employers have a lot of questions for our experts at Safety.BLR.com®. Read on to see how experts answered […]

Construction workers with social distancing

COVID-19: Nevada OSHA Reminds Construction Firms of Social Distancing

Nevada state safety and health officials reminded construction firms in the state to follow social distancing practices to prevent COVID-19 infections. The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent letters to employers because the agency found workers at job sites allowed or instructed to work in close proximity.

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.

California State Flag

Cal/OSHA Issues Interim Guidelines for COVID-19

On March 6, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) notified employers the agency has developed interim guidelines for general industry employers on the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Cal/OSHA also issued updated guidance for healthcare facilities about the efficient use of respirator supplies.

Distracted Driving

NTSB Recommends OSHA Take Action on Distracted Driving

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently said it would make recommendations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and others to take steps to address motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. The Board revealed its initial findings concerning the probable cause of a fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla Model […]

Disinfecting spray, wipes

COVID-19: EPA Releases List of Registered Disinfectants

The EPA has released a list of 82 registered disinfectant products that have been qualified for use against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.