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At a municipal storage facility in Danville, Pennsylvania, a painting contractor was conducting abrasive blasting to remove paint from water tanks. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection showed that the workers were overexposed to airborne lead—and to other airborne contaminants as well. If the employer had paid attention to its lead compliance, it […]
OSHA is taking a close look at workplace violence in high-risk industries like healthcare and social services. Two employers that were inspected—and cited—for violence hazards agreed to implement changes to protect their employees from workplace violence hazards. Keep reading to learn what these employers have agreed to change and what Occupational Safety and Health Administration […]
In the early morning hours of November 15, 2014, a shift supervisor at DuPont’s chemical plant in La Porte, Texas, called 911 to report that he might have as many as five casualties as the result of a deadly chemical release. He offered no details about what chemical had been released, or when, and denied […]
Twenty-six-year-old Takita Mathieu worked as a leasing agent for Greenbriar Apartments in Houston, Texas. She was at work on February 19, 2015, when her ex-boyfriend, who had been harassing her by phone, walked into the leasing office and fatally shot her—and then shot himself in the head. Each year, there are nearly 400 stories like […]
When you have a predictable number of workers in a specific location for a predetermined length of time, figuring out how many toilets you have to provide, and your policy on restroom breaks and access (if you even need one), is probably straightforward. But what about mobile work crews? And what of construction and agriculture […]
It’s one of the most basic public health and sanitation measures: the toilet facility. It’s also one of the most basic human needs: the need to eliminate. Despite this, restroom availability and use have been a persistent sticking point between employers and their workers—one with implications for worker health and safety. As such, the availability […]
By Ana Ellington, Legal Editor An arc flash is an undesired electric discharge that travels through the air between conductors or from a conductor to a ground. The flash is immediate, but the result of these incidents can damage equipment and cause severe injury, including burns. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E […]