Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
It’s September and the kids are back to school, but the summer heat persists. We just went through the hottest summer since records began in 1940, and the current heat wave has forced school closings and early dismissals throughout the Midwest and the Northeast. Given these sweltering conditions, this week’s EHSDA Song of the Week […]
Waldorf Nelson originally started his career in construction in 2002 as a structural ironworker with Local Union 263 in the DFW. He stayed there for 14 years, and after seeing several senseless injuries over time, the safety career path began to grab his attention. He was approached to take on the safety manager role while […]
On August 4, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cautioned employers to protect workers from heat illness. The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for parts of the state. “Cal/OSHA will be visiting worksites in agriculture, construction, landscaping, and warehousing industries to make sure employers are taking the […]
Wildfire smoke exposure and heat-related illnesses like heat stroke are recognized occupational health hazards. Are you doing all you can to protect your employees from these summertime risks? While there are no federal standards for heat illness prevention or wildfire smoke exposure, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a rulemaking to establish a […]
On May 12, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) warned the state’s employers to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. High temperatures are forecast this week for several areas across the state, including Modesto, Palm Springs, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The agency cautioned employers to closely observe employees working in hotter conditions for […]
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), along with 37 other organizations, 35 individuals, and the Maryland Heat Illness Prevention Coalition (MHIPC), urged Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) in a letter to withdraw its draft heat stress standard. MOSH published its proposed standard October 7. The proposed state rule “is completely inadequate and will not […]
With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Related Hazards being effective as of April 8, 2022, employers are advised to take note of the program’s instructions to avoid “largely preventable” heat-related illnesses. “Despite widespread under-reporting, 43 workers died from heat illness in 2019, and at least […]
Construction work is labor intensive and most often it is done in non-climate-controlled spaces. Studies show that 50% to 70% of most outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments. With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, construction workers face threats of extreme heat and heat-related illnesses and injuries on […]
On July 21, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced the launch of a heat awareness campaign called “Operation Beat the Heat.” Operation Beat the Heat is a coordinated education, outreach, and enforcement effort to protect migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) national emphasis program […]
On July 7, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Atlanta regional office warned employers in the Southeast of the dangers of working in hot weather, both indoors and outdoors. The agency explained that incorporating water, rest, and shade into the workday can make the difference between ending it safely or suffering serious injuries or […]