Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Ladders are simple devices—and that may be their biggest fault. Workers tend to mistake simplicity for harmlessness, often overlooking necessary precautions. More precautions are necessary to stay safe on portable ladders than your employees might think. For example, even before setting up a ladder, the site has to be checked for safety. Say the site […]
This content was originally published in January 2000. For the latest in safety management, visit our archives or try our online compliance portal, Safety.BLR.com. “Watch out below!”—those are three words you never want to hear when your employees are working with slings that are hauling heavy materials overhead. You want to know that the slings […]
May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month, an appropriate time to inform employees that skin cancer accounts for more than half of the cancer cases diagnosed in the United States each year. The good news is that it is both preventable and, if caught early, curable. Today’s Advisor gives you valuable training information for your […]
Federal law does not prohibit drivers from using mobile phones while driving, but many states and local jurisdictions have imposed restrictions. Today we, look a resource that keeps you abreast of the latest changes. Yesterday we looked at the various dangers linked to cell phone use, including distracted driving (while talking, dialing, or texting), hearing […]
The decision to close your workplace in an emergency should be an integral part of emergency planning and not a spur-of-the-moment afterthought. You should have a detailed plan for closing your facility, including: What circumstances will lead to a closing Who makes the decision How the decision is communicated What to do about employee compensation […]
Safety and health policies that reflect commitment, define expectations, and articulate consequences can make a huge difference in protecting workers. We’ll tell you what it takes to make that happen. Simply defined, an occupational safety and health policy is a plan that details how an organization will manage OSH issues. A good policy is one […]
Do your employees know the proper way to respond to workplace emergencies that involve hazardous materials? Be sure to address this critical issue in safety training. Emergencies involving hazardous materials are among the worst workplace incidents to deal with because the risks are great and accidents can affect both your workers’ physical safety and health. […]
If OSHA accedes to Congressional demands and passes a dust standard for general industry, what would you need to do? A look into HR 5522 suggests an answer: Yesterday’s Advisor detailed the dustup that’s been raging in Washington over the issue of combustible dust. This dust, which can be generated in a number of industrial […]
Working from home is becoming increasingly popular in some businesses. But it’s also becoming increasingly clear that this practice can expose employers to greater risk of liability for employee injuries. Employees love telecommuting, or telework, for the comfort and flexibility. Employers love it because of the lower overhead expenses. And everybody loves it because it […]
A Minnesota law that prohibits utilities from meeting state electricity demand with power from new plants that contribute to statewide carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions was found in violation of the Constitution’s dormant Commerce Clause because the law places an undue burden on interstate commerce.