Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The recent hurricane season has apparently prompted OSHA to issue a fact sheet on safely installing plastic tarps on damaged roofs. Reinforced plastic tarps, commonly called blue roofs, provide temporary protection for buildings following severe weather.
The use of e-cigarettes, commonly called vaping, has been promoted by manufacturers and retailers as a safe alternative to smoking tobacco smoke. The chemical evidence backs up this claim, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but there’s more to the picture.
November 19, 2018, is a key date for employers with existing outdoor fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet (ft) above a lower level. Ladders that were erected before that date must be equipped with at least one type of device that protects workers from falling. Ladders erected after November 19, 2018, must meet […]
Protecting workers from the hazards of trenches has lately been front and center in OSHA’s outreach to employers. One critical step in ensuring that you are meeting your obligations to protect employees who dig and work in trenches is to have a solid knowledge of how to classify soils. The Agency has produced an 11-minute […]
In a case originating more than 75 years ago, a 4–3 majority of Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled that a company was liable in the death of an employee’s family member who was exposed to asbestos fibers carried by the employee on his clothing into his home.
An OSHA standard to mitigate workplace violence in healthcare facilities does not appear to be on the horizon, but this is not because OSHA is not aware of the main provisions that would be included in such a standard. In fact, it is not uncommon for OSHA to issue citations against healthcare employers whose employees […]
Unloading a dump truck can be a hazardous operation, particularly when the ground is uneven or when the load is being delivered into a pit. This is a common scenario at mining sites. Moreover, dump trucks loaded with coal can face even higher risks because the load can be wet, freeze in the bed, and […]
In a recent news release, OSHA announced the development of a series of compliance assistance resources to help keep workers safe from trenching and excavation hazards. OSHA’s goal is to increase awareness of trenching hazards in construction, educate job creators and workers on safe cave-in prevention solutions, and decrease the number of trench collapses. These […]
A recent National Safety Council (NSC) survey report found that 69% of employees—many of whom work in in safety-critical industries—are tired at work, increasing the risk of injuries and incidents on the job.
America’s aging population includes many people over the age of 55 who drive to and from work and have jobs that require driving. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that by 2020, 25 percent of workers will be aged 55 or older, and there will be 40 million licensed drivers. Also, […]