Fall Protection: Avoiding the Focus Four Hazard and Top 10 Citation
Is OSHA more likely to inspect your worksite now that the agency assigns greater weight to inspections for its Focus Four hazards—falls, struck by, caught in, and electrocution?
Category: Personnel Safety
For Safety-Sensitive Jobs, NSC Opposes Cannabis Use
The National Safety Council (NSC) issued a policy position on recent moves to decriminalize or legalize cannabis (also commonly known as marijuana) use, saying there is no acceptable level of use for workers in safety-sensitive positions. The NSC called on employers to restrict marijuana use by any employee in a position that impacts the safety […]
Texas Company Cited by OSHA in Airport Confined Space Fatality
OSHA cited a Texas employer for two willful and three serious violations after a worker fatality at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The agency is seeking $301,188 in penalties.
Marijuana Safety Concerns Voiced by Occupational and Environmental Medical Group
An occupational and environmental medical group urged members of Congress to keep workplace safety implications in mind when considering marijuana legalization. Congress should proceed cautiously and make public and worker safety its primary concern before legalizing marijuana, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) said in a statement. Several states already have enacted […]
Common Workplace Accidents and How to Prevent Them
When you’re growing your business, the last thing you want to deal with is a workplace accident or injury. Accidents in the workplace can lead to not only physical harm but also undue stress and hardship for employees and employers.
The Workforce Is Aging—We Need to Keep It Healthy and Safe
The number of older people in the population—and with it, the proportion of older to younger workers—has grown in the past 5 decades and is projected to continue to grow. People are living longer. They either need or want to continue working at an older age for reasons ranging from inadequate retirement savings or a […]
NIOSH’s Virtual Toolkit for First Responders Addresses Illicit Drugs
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a new virtual toolkit to help first responders reduce their exposure to fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The toolkit provides resources to help keep first responders safe when arriving on a scene where illicit drugs, including fentanyl, are present or suspected to be present.
When It Comes to Safety, Messes Matter: Tips for Clutter Clearing
What did you see when you walked into your facility this morning? Were there cords snaking across the floor, remnants of a spill from a couple of days ago, or overflowing trash cans? Or did you observe a strong sense of order, with clear walkways, properly stored tools, well-lit and clearly marked stairways, and hazardous […]
NIOSH’s Tools for Safe International Business Travel
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a series of tools to help small businesses keep their employees safe while traveling internationally.
Marijuana and Workplace Safety: The Evolving Landscape
Marijuana—or “cannabis” as the emerging industry likes to call it—is big business. It employs 5 times more Americans than the coal industry, according to one cannabis industry analyst. There are medical marijuana statutes in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Ten states and D.C. so far also have approved it for recreational use, and […]