Combustible Dust: A Hazard Lying in Wait
This article looks at combustible dust hazards: what is combustible dust; how it’s created; what causes these hazard incidents; the standards that address them; and how to assess and control them.
Read Safety+Health
Automation Has a Positive Impact on Workplace Safety, Global Workers Say
A recent survey of more than 9,000 workers from nine countries, conducted by the MIT Industrial Performance Center, suggests automation significantly improves workplace safety. According to the report, nearly half of respondents (44.9 percent) reported positive expectations regarding how new technologies could make their jobs safer.
Read OH&S
New California Law Requires Naloxone in Workplace First Aid Kits
Naloxone hydrochloride or another Food and Drug Administration-approved opioid-reversal medication must be part of all workplace first aid kits in California by July 2027.
Read Safety+Health
NSC Reveals Data Behind OSHA’s ‘Top10’
OSHA announced on September 17th its annual “top 10” list of most cited standards during the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando. Two days after this announcement, the NSC revealed injury, illness, and fatality data behind the most violated safety and health standards.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
Considerations for Choosing Head Protection: OSHA Compliance, Hazard Assessments, and Technology Advancements
This in-depth article from Occupational Health & Safety covers what you should know about head protection types, classes, accessories, and more.
Read OH&S
OSHA Publishes Proposed Rule on Indoor/Outdoor Heat
OSHA is seeking comments on a proposed rule aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses. According to a notice of proposed rulemaking published August 30th, employers would have to formulate and implement a heat-related illness and injury prevention plan for each worksite, which would need to be in writing if the employer has more than 10 employees.
Read Safety+Health
California Indoor Heat Standard Goes Into Effect
California’s new Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard has become effective, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced July 24th. The indoor heat standard applies to most indoor workplaces, such as manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and warehouses.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
Safe and Sound Week Begins Next Week, August 12-18
OSHA’s annual Safe + Sound Week takes place next week. Join businesses around the country in showing your commitment to workplace safety and health. This year Safe + Sound Week will focus on Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
Sign Up for Safe + Sound Week
House Bill Aimed at Strengthening Worker Protections
Legislation recently introduced by House Democrats would increase fines for workplace safety and child labor violations.
Read Safety+Health
ANSI/ISEA Updates Voluntary Standard on Preventing Dropped Objects
Recent changes to an American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI/ISEA) consensus standard are intended to enhance worker and facility protections from dropped objects on jobsites.
Read Safety+Health
Expanding Worker Safety Through Alliances
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) announced on July 16th that they have signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with three safety organizations to advance worker safety and health. The Society extended an existing alliance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and created new strategic partnerships with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
Read EHS Today
Sign Up for Safe + Sound Week 2024
It’s time to sign up for Safe + Sound Week! Safe + Sound Week is August 12-18, 2024. Join businesses around the country in showing your commitment to workplace safety and health. This year Safe + Sound Week will focus on Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
Multiple Changes for OSHA in Latest Regulatory Agenda
A handful of potential OSHA standards have advanced in the rulemaking process, according to the Department of Labor’s Spring 2024 regulatory agenda released July 5th. Two of those potential standards have moved to the final rule stage from the proposed rule stage. One is intended to clarify fit requirements for personal protective equipment in construction. The other is aimed at updating the standard on powered industrial trucks to the 2018 version of the ANSI PIT standard from the 1969 version.
Read Safety+Health
SCOTUS Overturns Chevron Deference: What Does It Mean for OSHA?
The Supreme Court has struck down a 40-year precedent that will likely affect how OSHA and other federal agencies regulate safety and health. In the high court’s decision on Loper Bright Enterprises, et al, v. Raimondo, issued June 28, Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s five other conservative justices overturned the Chevron deference. That precedent stemmed from the 1984 case Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council where the Supreme Court ruled that courts should defer to an agency’s interpretations of its own statutes as long as they’re reasonable and if Congress hasn’t addressed the particular issue clearly.
Read Safety+Health
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Proposed Rule to Protect Indoor, Outdoor Workers from Extreme Heat
The U.S. Department of Labor has released a proposed rule with the goal of protecting millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat. The proposed rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat. Among other things, the plan would require employers to evaluate heat risks and – when heat increases risks to workers – implement requirements for drinking water, rest breaks and control of indoor heat.
Read OSHA Press Release
The Importance of Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet’s (SDS) 16 sections contain important, even lifesaving, information on chemicals used in the workplace. Yet employers and workers can get tripped up when trying to comprehend the details. In 2012, OSHA revised its standard on hazard communication (1910.1200) to includes the requirement that SDSs follow the current 16-section format.
Read Safety+Health
Drama Over Table-Saw Safety
Robby Brumberg takes a look at the current debate over whether all table saws should be legally required to include advanced safety mechanisms. Though this debate has been ongoing for decades, it has recently intensified. The core issue is whether companies should be mandated by law to incorporate technology, like SawStop’s rapid blade-stopping feature introduced in 2004, into their machines.
Read HBS Dealer
California Employers Face New Indoor Heat Safety Rules
The California Occupational Safety and Health has created indoor heat rules for businesses. The agency’s indoor heat guidelines are up for approval June 20th by the workplace regulatory agency’s Standards Board. From there, the state agency guidelines head to the Office of Administrative Law. After those steps, the Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standards will go into effect, which is expected to happen this summer.
Prepare for Safe + Sound Week!
Start preparing for Safe + Sound Week, which takes place this year August 12-18. Visit the Plan & Promote Your Participation webpage for activity ideas and to download graphics and materials.
This year’s focus area is Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). JHA resources will be posted leading up to Safe + Sound Week. Sign-up begins in July.
What Distributors Need to Know About PPE & Safety Equipment
Distributors play a critical role in ensuring over 125 million U.S. workers have access to PPE and safety equipment that’s comfortable, provides the right protection, and meets relevant industry standards. This article provides a need-to-know overview of what’s going on in head protection, cut-resistant gloves, first aid kits, dropped object prevention, and heat stress.
Read MDM
A Safer Warehouse Starts with an Engaged Workforce
As the material handling industry focuses on the importance of forklift safety each June, on National Forklift Safety Day, attention often turns toward the latest technologies that can help maintain and strengthen a healthy safety culture, giving forklift operators the tools, training, feedback and confidence they need to do their jobs more proficiently.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Proposed Heat Rule Moves Closer to Publication
OSHA’s proposed standard on protecting workers from excessive heat is undergoing a final review, according to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website. The proposal was sent to OIRA on June 11. It’s unclear how long the office will take to complete the review – one of the final steps in the regulatory process.
Read Safety+Health
NSC Leads 28th Observance of National Safety Month
Each June the National Safety Council (NSC) leads National Safety Month, an annual observance to raise awareness of the leading causes of preventable injury and death. As part of the monthlong observance, each week of June is focused on a specific safety issue. This year the topics include:
- Week 1: Safety Engagement
- Week 2: Roadway Safety
- Week 3: Risk Reduction
- Week 4: Slips, Trips and Falls
Read NSC Press Release
OSHA Revises Its Mission Statement
OSHA has unveiled a new mission statement that “more fully reflects the agency’s purpose and the work we do to serve that purpose.”
Read Safety+Health
Interim Guidance for Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process
OSHA recently issued a memorandum titled Interim Guidance for Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process. This memorandum describes interim guidance for implementing the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process final rule (“Walkaround rule”), which was published on April 1, 2024, and will become effective on May 31, 2024.
For additional information about the final rule, please also see OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule webpage and frequently asked questions.
DOL Plans to Restructure Workplace Safety, Health Regional Operations Strategically to Protect Workers
This week the Department of Labor announced strategic changes to the structure of its Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regional operations. The changes include the creation of a new OSHA regional office in Birmingham, Alabama, overseeing agency operations in the state, and those in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee as well as the Florida Panhandle.
Read DOL Press Release
DOL’s National Online Dialogue on Enhancing Workplace Preparedness
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recently launched a national online dialogue entitled “Moving Forward: Enhancing Workplace Safety & Health Preparedness in Essential Industries.”
This online conversation aims to gather information on the workplace health and safety experiences of stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to learn about effective policies and practices used in essential industries during various phases of the pandemic. The ideas will inform DOL’s efforts to support industries and workers during future national emergencies.
Ideas and comments deadline is May 13, 2024.
Ergonomic Findings at Distribution Center Offers Blueprint for Improvement
In a report issued last month from NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) regarding its findings on the ergonomic and musculoskeletal evaluation of a logistics facility in Georgia, the agency made recommendations to reduce risks for musculoskeletal disorders which can be used as a blueprint for any type of facility.
Read EHS Today
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Set to Go Into Effect June 18
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published a final rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will go into effect June 18th and requires employers with 15 or more employees to extend “reasonable accommodations” to workers experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless those accommodations will cause the employer undue hardship.
Read Safety+Health
OSHA Releases 2023 Workplace Injury, Illness Data
OSHA has unveiled comprehensive workplace injury and illness statistics for 2023. This release marks the inaugural dataset under the newly established Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses regulation that took effect in July of last year.
Read OH&S
DOL Issues Final Rule Expanding Worker Representation During OSHA Inspections
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule that expands the rights of employees regarding representation during OSHA inspections. According to a release dated March 29, this development clarifies that workers now have the authority to designate either a fellow employee or an external individual to accompany OSHA compliance officers during evaluations of their work environments.
Read OH&S
Window Safety Week Set for April 7-13
This year’s Window Safety Week is for April 7-13. The annual initiative, established in 1997 by the Window Safety Task Force in partnership with the National Safety Council, is aimed at raising awareness of actions homeowners can take to prioritize window safety and fall prevention year-round. Task force Co-Chair Angela Dickson said, “…the task force urges those in the industry to share window safety tips [developed by the task group] to keep children safe – post tips on your website and share via social media to help spread the word.”
Read Safety+Health
Back to Basics: Are You Ready for a Workplace Fire?
Back to Basics is a weekly feature at EHS Daily Advisor that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, they examine workplace fire preparedness such as ensuring clear exit routes and having emergency action and fire prevention plans in place as required by OSHA.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
California Worker Safety Board Approves Indoor Heat Rules, But Another State Agency Raises Objections
A California work safety board has approved standards that would require companies to protect employees from excessive indoor heat, particularly in warehouses. The rules still need to overcome opposition by another state agency.
Read Insurance Journal
NSC Ramps Up Fight Against Workplace Overdoses
The National Safety Council has launched a new set of initiatives targeting opioid overdoses in the workplace. Overdoses account for nearly 10% of workplace fatalities and are the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States.
Read Safety+Health
NSC Calls White House Initiative a ‘Meaningful Step’ Toward Ending Opioid Epidemic
The White House is calling on stakeholders across all sectors to “commit to save lives” by increasing training on – and access to – lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications. The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is a call to action for organizations and businesses nationwide to “help ensure all communities are ready to use this lifesaving tool to reduce opioid deaths.”
Read Safety+Health
Free Resources for Workplace Eye Wellness Month
For Workplace Eye Wellness Month – observed every March – the advocacy group Prevent Blindness is offering free resources. The use of eye safety equipment can protect against flying shards, wood splinters, metal shaving, chemicals and other hazards.
Read Safety+Health
A Guide to the New OSHA Electronic Reporting Rule
As of January 1, 2024, specific employers in high-hazard industries are required to submit injury and illness information under a new OSHA electronic reporting rule. This article discusses who must follow the new OSHA recordkeeping requirements and how to navigate this critical development with specific steps on what you should do next.
Report Addresses Mental Health Issues in Construction
A new report, Construction Working Minds Whitepaper 2024, was recently released in an effort to raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges faced by construction workers. “It offers evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches to address workers’ mental health challenges and will help advance development of effective programs and initiatives to support workers’ well-being and reduce tragedies like addiction, overdose, and suicide,” said Cal Beyer, one of the report’s co-authors.
Read EHS Today
DOL’s Legal Team & OSHA Step Up Enforcement for Repeat & Willful Violations
In her 2023 Enforcement Report, Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda revealed enhanced coordination with OSHA to hold employers and supervisors accountable for repeat and willful violations, especially those that lead to worker fatalities. OSHA violations – especially repeat, willful, and failure to abate – can and do lead to criminal penalties and enforcement.
Read JD Supra
Only a Few Days Left to Submit Injury and Illness Data to OSHA
Reminder to employers: If you’re required to submit to OSHA a yearly summary of injury and illnesses data, you must send your 2023 data by March 2, 2024. Because of revised recordkeeping rules that went into effect on Jan. 1st, the agency requires establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries to submit data from Forms 300 and 301 – in addition to Form 300A.
Read Safety+Health
OSHA Issues a ‘Hazard Huddle’ Challenge
OSHA has launched a challenge aimed at boosting worker participation in implementing hazard controls and job hazard analyses. As part of the annual Safe+Sound campaign promoted by OSHA, NIOSH, the National Safety Council and other safety organizations, the Hazard Huddle Challenge encourages managers to have discussions with workers about workplace safety hazards.
Read Safety+Health
Workers Memorial Day Events – April 22-25, 2024
OSHA and MSHA will be hosting multiple events in honor of Workers Memorial Day April 22-25, 2024, not only to remember and recognize the lives that have been impacted by occupational incidents, illnesses, and diseases, but also to educate all about the importance of workplace safety and health in preventing future tragedies. Events will be held in-person and virtually.
To attend these events, please register here. For more information, please visit the Workers Memorial Day Events webpage.
California Nears Approving Nation’s Toughest Lead Exposure Rules
The nation’s toughest rules for on-the-job lead exposure are set for a vote from California workplace safety regulators. If the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approves the requirements on February 15th — one for construction, one for general industry — the California business mandates would likely take effect July 1, 2024.
Read Bloomberg Law
OSHA Final Rule on Worker Walkaround Representation Under White House Review
OSHA’s rule on worker walkaround representation is undergoing a final review, according to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website. The rule would allow workers to designate someone who doesn’t work for their employer – including a labor union member – to represent them during the “walkaround” part of an OSHA inspection.
Read Safety+Health
Safety Best Practices to Implement in the Year Ahead
The first step towards improving your EHS program is to assess the state of your EHS culture. Then, you can work towards developing a site-specific safety plan by first determining your hazards to establish how best to protect your employees.
Read EHS Today
Reminder to Employers: It’s Time to Post and/or Submit OSHA Injury Records
This is the first year that OSHA’s expanded injury and illness reporting requirements take effect for employers in certain “high-hazard” industries. By March 2, 2024, covered employers will be required to submit “OSHA 300” Logs and “OSHA 301” Incident Reports to OSHA (in addition to the reporting of annual “OSHA 300A” Summaries, which is already required).
Read JD Supra
OSHA to Employers: Post Form 300A by February 1st
OSHA is reminding employers of their Form 300A posting requirement that begins Feb. 1. Form 300A, a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses, must be displayed “in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted” until April 30.
Read Safety+Health
Back to Basics: Head Protection
Workplace head injuries are a major safety concern, and the hard hat has been the traditional head protection for workers on construction and other work sites. OSHA has two standards covering head protection: 29 CFR 1910.135 and 29 CFR 1926.100.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
Companies Making Progress in Addressing MSD Disorders
In 2021 the National Safety Council created the MSDSolutions Lab to address musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. To help monitor progress, NSC developed the MSD Solutions Index, an annual benchmarking survey, and recently released the inaugural findings in its MSD Solutions Index Pledge Community Report.
Read EHS Today
California Employers Must Comply with Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements by July 1, 2024
A new California law taking place on workplace violence requires employers to develop and implement written plans and interactive training to prevent and respond to on-the-job threats of violence by July 1, 2024.
Read JD Supra
Crafting Effective Wellness Plans for Employees Using AI
By incorporating AI-powered solutions, companies can tailor wellness plans to cater to the diverse needs of their workforce, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment. This holistic approach ensures that employees are equipped to navigate the challenges of the modern workplace, promoting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
Read OH&S
OSHA Adjusts Civil Penalty Amounts for 2024
OHSA announced on January 11th that it has made changes to its civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2024. OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $15,625 to $16,131 per violation.
Read EHS Today
New OSHA Rule for Injury and Illness Reporting Affects Up to 52,000 Employers
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, OSHA amended its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation to require employers meeting certain size and industry criteria to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA that employers are already required to keep at their workplace premises.
Read JD Supra
EPA to Review Five More Toxic Chemicals for Risk Evaluation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a 12-month review process to prioritize five toxic chemicals for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Read Safety+Health
Building a Robust PPE Program
Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals are tasked with evaluating and addressing workplace hazards, aiming to mitigate them within their organization. When all other controls prove insufficient, personal protective equipment (PPE) becomes the final line of defense.
Read OH&S
How to Prepare Your Organization for an External Safety Audit
Preparation is key to a successful external safety audit. In addition, a deep understanding of audit requirements and a strong commitment to safety, along with clear communication and a unified interdepartmental approach, will help organizations meet compliance standards while building a safer work environment for their workforce.
Read OH&S
A Collaborative Approach to Substance Abuse Policies
Human organization performance (HOP) safety principles plays a pivotal role in the development and implementation of effective substance abuse policies within workplaces. This article explores the nuances of substance abuse policies in the modern workplace, emphasizing the importance of a balanced and employee-centric approach.
Read EHS Today
BLS: On-the-Job Deaths Jump Nearly 6% in 2022
A total of 5,486 workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2022 – a 5.7% increase from the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data released December 19. It’s the sixth time in seven years that workplace deaths surpassed 5,000 on the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Read Safety+Health
New OSHA Injury Tracking Application
The updated OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) is now available from osha.gov/injuryreporting. This page provides requirements and guidance about electronically submitting your establishment’s injury and illness data from the OSHA Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injury and Illnesses; OSHA Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injury and Illnesses; and OSHA Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report.
Employers should visit the ITA Coverage Application to determine whether they are required to submit this data. Data collection for calendar year 2023 will begin January 2, 2024, and must be submitted by March 2, 2024.
OSHA Switches from Hard Hats to Safety Helmets
On December 11, OSHA announced that the agency is replacing traditional hard hats used by its employees with more modern safety helmets to protect them better when they are on inspection cites. The agency recommends safety helmets for the construction industry and oil and gas industry; in high-temperature, specialized work and low-risk environments; performing tasks involving electrical work and working from heights; and when required by regulations or industry standards.
Read EHS Today
Elevating Mental Health Parity: Current Strides Towards Equitable Workplace Wellness
One in five American adults experience mental illness every year, and according to the most recent federal data, more than 46 million people in America experienced a substance use disorder in 2022. At the same time, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. One thing is immeasurably clear: individuals must have access to the care they need, and healthier and more supportive workplaces and communities.
Read OH&S
Dropping the Ball: The Most Common Fire Safety Mistakes by Business Owners
Business owners make a plethora of mistakes that puts their company at increased risk of starting a fire in their workplace. Not addressing these issues can put managers and their employees at risk and fixing them often does not require extensive effort. This article looks at the most common fire safety mistakes business owners make and how to prevent them.
Read OH&S
OSHA Will Continue to Target Hazardous Noise in Mid-Atlantic Region
OSHA Region 3 has extended its Regional Emphasis Program (REP) focused on industries with high levels of workplace noise. Under the REP, OSHA will inspect certain manufacturing workplaces in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The renewed REP adds three industries: Sawmills and Wood Preservation; Other Wood Manufacturing; and Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products.
Read Safety+Health
Building a Better Tomorrow: Managing the Construction Industry’s Opioid Crisis
The construction industry is taking a holistic approach to opioids, from injury prevention to treatment and recovery. The numbers for the construction industry paint a more concerning picture, with the construction and extraction occupation group and construction industry group having the highest drug overdose death rates in the country. According to the American Addiction Centers, construction workers represent about 25% of fatal opioid overdoses among all workers, and construction workers are twice as likely to have a substance abuse disorder compared with the general population of adults.
Read Builder/People
EHS Technology: It’s All in the Data
The latest EHS tech innovations not only are keeping workers safer but are also showing a solid ROI. While much of the technology has been focused on identifying risk, future applications will be more proactive about predicting risk.
Read EHS Today
White House Drug Control Policy Office Releases Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit
The White House wants to help employers support workers who are dealing with substance misuse – as well as those in recovery. As part of the effort, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has released a toolkit.
Read Safety+Health
OSHA/NIOSH Small Business Handbook Features Self- Inspection Checklists
OSHA has a variety of resources to help small businesses keep their employees safe on the job. One of the most popular is the Small Business Safety and Health Handbook, available in English and Spanish. OSHA worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to comprehensively update this publication in 2021.
Read more at WMA
OSHA Proposal on Worker Walkaround Representation Draws Partisan Comments
A pair of lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle, along with a coalition of organizations, expressed opposing viewpoints in comments on OSHA’s proposed rule on worker walkaround representation. The proposed rule, which had a comment deadline of November 13, 2024, would allow workers to designate someone who doesn’t work for their employer to represent them during an OSHA “walkaround” inspection.
Read Safety+Health
Journal Spotlights NIOSH’s Work on Occupational Hearing Loss Prevention
A special issue of the journal, Seminars in Hearing, highlights the efforts of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to prevent on-the-job hearing loss. NIOSH estimates that 22 million workers face exposure to hazardous noise each year, and around 10 million are exposed to solvents that contribute to hearing loss.
Read Safety+Health
An Engaged and Digitally Enabled Workforce Saves Lives
The majority of business leaders and industry groups understand the need to go beyond compliance and advocate for strong safety cultures. In 2023 the National Safety Council (NSC) launched its “Work to Zero” initiative, a campaign to eliminate workplace fatalities by 2050 with effective technologies and stronger stakeholder partnerships.
Read OH&S
BLS: Nonfatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Rose in 2022
The number of reported workplace injuries and illnesses in the U.S. private sector increased in 2022, data released November 8 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Workers in private industry experienced an estimated 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses last year. That’s up slightly more than the 2.6 million in 2021.
Read Safety+Health
New Research Addresses Performance Gap Between Safety Goals and Achievements
A recent report by Sphera highlights a persistent gap between the safety goals companies set and their actual achievement despite access to advanced technologies offering real-time data.
Read OH&S
NIOSH Advice on Supporting an Aging Workforce
As older workers remain in the workforce, employers are devising ways to best accommodate these workers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) has a division called The Center for Productive Aging and Work, which is part of its Total Worker Health Program. The center operates as a hub that conducts original research, fosters collaborations, and offers expert guidance to support an aging workforce.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Reveals Top 10 Safety Violations at NSC Safety Congress & Expo
Last week, OSHA announced its most frequently cited workplace safety standards for 2023. Fall Protection – General Requirements remains at the top of the list for the 13th year in a row, followed by Hazard Communication, and Ladders.
OSHA Proposal to Update Hazcom Standard Under White House Review
An update to OSHA’s standard on hazard communication is undergoing a final review, according to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website. OSHA is seeking to align the hazcom standard (1910.1200) to the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, also known as GHS.
Read Safety+Health
Injury and Illness Rates in Warehouses Are Too High, OIG Tells OSHA
In a recent Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit, the results of which were released September 27, 2023, the agency analyzed injury, illness, complaint and inspection data from October 2016 through 2021; interviewed OSHA personnel; and reviewed OSHA guidance and standards. Based on the results of the audit, the OIG concluded that OSHA hasn’t “effectively addressed” elevated injury and illness rates in the warehousing industry.
Read Safety+Health
House Hearing Explores Concerns Related to Driverless Trucks
Speaking during a September 13 hearing before the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, the American Trucking Association’s President and CEO, Chris Spear, called on Congress to establish firm federal oversight to avoid a “patchwork” of state and local regulations that could “stifle the innovation” of automation “before it even has a chance to prove its worth.”
Read Safety+Health
Guide for an Effective Warehouse Layout Design to Reduce the Risk of Accidents and Boost Productivity
This article sheds light on how an effective warehouse layout can significantly reduce the risk of accidents while also boosting productivity. Understanding what the contributing factors are is the first step towards creating a safer and more efficient workspace.
Read OH&S
Bill Aimed at Readying Workplaces to Respond to Opioid Overdoses
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House would direct OSHA to create employer guidance on acquiring opioid overdose reversal medication and training workers on its use. The bill, Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act, was introduced on September 12, 2023.
Read Safety+Health
Upstream Solutions: Diving into Cognitive and Confirmation Bias to Reveal Hidden Workplace Hazards
This article looks at the role of safety technology in tackling cognitive and confirmation biases, uncovering often overlooked workplace risks and fostering a proactive approach to ensuring a safer work environment.
Read OH&S
Developing Your Forklift Inspection Safety Checklist
There are several steps that forklift operators must take in order to stay safe and in compliance with OSHA regulations. While forklift inspection checklists may vary, there are several questions set forth in this article that should be included in all checklists.
Read Manufacturing.net
Department of Labor Announces Proposed Changes to Clarify Regulations on Authorized Employee Representation During Workplace Inspections
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise regulations regarding who can be authorized by employees to act as their representative to accompany OSHA compliance officers during physical workplace inspections.
OSHA Reopens Comment Period on Possible Heat Standard
OSHA says it’s allowing more time for stakeholders to comment on a proposed rule aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat exposure in indoor and outdoor settings. The agency recently initiated a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act panel review, the next step before a proposed standard is published. The new deadline for comment is December 23, 2023.
Read Safety+Health
Supporting Worker Mental Health: New Videos from OSHA
Three new videos from OSHA are aimed at helping employers support their workers’ mental health. Each short video is available with Spanish captioning: Start the Conversation, Tips to Improving Work Relationships, and Build Your Mental Health Toolkit.
Read Safety+Health
OSHA Calls Out Building Material Dealers
The OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations which took effect July 13, 2023, lists home centers, hardware store, and other building material dealers as “high injury rate retail establishments” and provides procedures for conducting partial safety inspections. The NEP remains in effect for three years.
Read LBM Journal
Using Technology to Improve Workplace Safety Training
Companies often turn to technology solutions to fill in the gaps and ensure they’re providing accessible and continuous safety training to diverse groups of employees completing a wide-range of safety critical activities. This article covers six important trends regarding the use of technology to improve workplace safety training.
Read OH&S
New OSHA Heat Hazard Alert
OSHA has published a new hazard alert on Extreme Heat available in both English and Spanish.
Additional information and resources are available on OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention webpage
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week Set to Kick Off
OSHA will join businesses nationwide next week to recognize the successes of workplace safety and health programs during Safe + Sound Week, August 7-13, 2023. This is a nationwide event for workplaces to recognize and improve their safety and health programs and it’s an excellent opportunity for employers and workers to come together and demonstrate their commitment to workplace safety and health.
Read more about Safe + Sound Week
‘Dire Threat’: Lawmakers Call for an OSHA Heat Standard
A coalition of 112 members of Congress lawmakers is pressing OSHA for the “fastest possible implementation” of a standard on protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, and encouraging OSHA to “mobilize all of the resources of the Department of Labor and the Biden Administration that are necessary.”
Read Safety+Health
OSHA Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, Final Rule Amended
OSHA’s Final Rule will be published on July 21, 2023, and become effective on January 1, 2024, amending its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation that requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA.
Read OSHA Press Release
OSHA Launches National Emphasis Program on Warehouse Safety
OSHA has begun a National Emphasis Program that targets hazards in warehouses, distribution warehouses and “high risk” retail establishments. Inspections under the initiative will focus on common workplace hazards, including powered industrial trucks, material handling/storage, walking-working surfaces, exists, and fire protection.
Read Safety+Health
Safe + Sound Week 2023 – Registration Now Open
Registration for Safe + Sound Week 2023 is now open at osha.gov/safeandsoundweek. Pledge to improve workplace safety and health by participating this year.
Download flyer for more information
Workers Say Electric Forklifts Need Noise – Researchers are Responding
Prompted by workers’ safety concerns about the quietness of electric forklifts, British researchers are working to develop an audible alert. The workers are employed by building materials supplier, Travis Perkins, which commissioned the project with researchers from the University of Salford.
Read Safety+Health
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in Effect
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act went into effect June 27, and guarantees expanded protections for workers experiencing pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. All employers with at least 15 employees are required to extend reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.
Read Safety+Health
Looking Back at National Safety Month: Strategies for Reducing Workplace Accident and Ensuring Employee Well-Being
Overall, the goal of recognizing June as National Safety Month is to reduce workplace accidents, improve well-being, and encourage a safety-centric culture. While National Safety Month can serve as a reliable prompt for updating and maintaining critical safety protocols, safety is important year-round.
Read OH&S
Safety Agencies Set to Propose Automatic Breaking Requirements for Large Trucks
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration want to require automatic emergency breaking systems on heavy trucks. On June 22, the agencies announced their intent to publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register.
Read Safety+Health
OSHA’s New Leading Indicators Research
To improve safety and health management programs, and establish safety as a core value in American workplaces, OSHA is creating a new Leading Indicators Resource for employers. This resource will cater primarily to small and medium-sized employers, equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate leading indicators into their safety and health program.
For additional leading indicators information, please visit the following links:
6 Benefits of Digitizing Safety Data Sheets
Within the EHS industry, many professionals still spend most of their time digging through spreadsheets, binders, and emails crowded with outdated safety data sheets (SDSs). Stop spending precious time searching for outdated SDSs, and develop a centralized system that ensures your team has the most up-to-date information accessible at their fingertips.
Read EHS Today
Lockout/Tagout Update Now “Long Term” Action in Latest Regulatory Agenda
A planned update to OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout standard (1910.147) has been pushed to “long-term actions” under the Department of Labor’s Spring 2023 regulatory agenda.
Read Safety + Health
Workplaces in West, Midwest United States Recognized for Being Free of Injuries, Illnesses in 2022
A total of 35 employers, all in the OSHA Region VIII Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association Inc., among six states are being recognized for not having any injuries or illnesses at work places last year. The employers, known as “Zeroes Heroes,” are part of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
Read OH&S
How Effective is Your Forklift Safety Training?
Implementing an integrated and individualized approach to a safety training plan can help bring a consistent focus to safety management. To identify gaps in your forklift safety training, ask these eight questions to evaluate your current program.
Read EHS Today
DOL Urges Employers to Have a Plan to Protect Outdoor Workers from Hazards Associated with Poor Air Quality
As Canadian wildfires continue to produce unhealthy air pollution in parts of the country, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that OSHA is offering employers important information to help protect outdoor workers from exposure to wildfire health hazards.
Read OSHA Press Release
‘Mental Health at Work’: DOL Launches PSA
In an effort to promote conversations – and combat stigma – around mental health at work, the Department of Labor has published a public service announcement that features real-life stories from workers and employers, perspectives from mental health experts, and comments from acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.
Read Safety+Health
The Key to Safety During Lockout/Tagout
To create a de-energized work condition, a qualified person must follow a multi-step process that includes physically locking out of the system with a signed tag, testing for absence of voltage and testing the voltmeter in a live system to confirm it works. One critical element of protection during Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures is the use of arc-rated flame resistant (AR/FR) clothing.
Read OH&S
Challenging OSHA Violations at Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is Worth the Effort
It is important than ever that employers understand the serious long-term, non-monetary consequences of settling or accepting OSHA citations. One danger of settling OSHA citations is later being cited for repeat, willful or failure to abate violations and be put on the road to significant additional costs and enforcement activity.
Read Lexology
Encouraging Mental Health Awareness: How to Support New Employees from Day One
By implementing strategies to promote mental health awareness from the very beginning, employers can help mitigate some of the stress and worries with starting a new job. This can allow the employee to be more productive by spending their working hours concentrating on learning rather than worrying about potential judgement.
Read OH&S
Pilot Program Confirms Need for Mental Health Resources
A pilot program focused on mental health issues in the residential construction industry recently confirmed the need for a more deliberate and permanent effort to reduce the stigma of discussing mental health within the industry.
Read Window + Door
Back to Basics: OSHA 300 Log
If you’ve ever questioned what to record on your OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, this article covers what you need to know. One of the first things that OSHA looks at when they come to inspect your workplace is the OSHA Form 300.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
OSHA to Hold Public Meeting June 15 to Discuss Modernizing, Improving, Expanding its Voluntary Protection Programs
OSHA will hold a stakeholder meeting on June 15, 2023 in Washington, D.C. to discuss modernizing, improving and expanding its Voluntary Protection Programs. The discussion will include comments and suggestions from the public on recommendations and potential avenues for action.
Read OSHA Press Release
Safety Professionals Rely on Tech to Meet Growing Demands
The idea of achieving total workplace safety is in the process of transitioning from a worthy goal to strenuously aim for, to becoming a standard that all organizations will be expected to meet. This is putting pressure on safety professionals to maximize the value of safety technology as highlighted in EHS Today’s 2023 Guide to Safety Technology report.
Read EHS Today
New Checklists Added to the Small Business Handbook
Self-inspection checklists for ergonomics, infection control plans, young workers, and workplace violence have been added to the OSHA/NIOSH Small Business Safety and Health Handbook. The new checklists are part of a collection of general duty checklists that small businesses can use as a starting point to identify workplace hazards and take action to make their businesses safer for their workers.
Recovery-Friendly Workplaces Can Help Combat the Nation’s Opioid Crisis: Report
The opioid epidemic has had a wide-ranging impact on U.S. workers, but employers who support recovery can help, state a new policy report from the University of Southern California – Brookings Schaefer Initiative for Health Policy’s research on the impact of the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Read Safety+Health
U.S. Department of Labor Announces National Emphasis Program to Reduce, Prevent Workplace Falls, a Leading Cause of Workplace Fatalities
The U.S. Department of Labor announced on May 1, 2023, that OSHA has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, a leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the violation the agency cites most frequently in construction industry inspections.
Read OSHA Press Release
Back to Basics: Vehicle Fleet Safety
Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), along with recommendations from the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers clues to an effective fleet vehicle safety management program for your company’s cars.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
U.S. Department of Labor to Honor Workers Whose Jobs Claimed Their Lives, As Nation Marks Worker Memorial Day
On April 28, 1970, the nation first observed Workers Memorial Day at a time when an estimated 38 people died on the job in the U.S. each day. More than half a century later, this annual tribute endures as do the determined efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA and MSHA to help protect the lives of workers.
Read OSHA Press Release
OSHA’s Revised Rule on Injury and Illness Data Submission Undergoing Final Review
OSHA’s changes to which workplaces are required to submit annual injury and illness data are undergoing final review, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs dashboard.
Read Safety+Health
Improving Workplace Safety and OSHA Compliance
With proper buy-in and accountability, the same systems that ensure product quality in manufacturing can be applied to workplace safety and OSHA compliance.
Read Manufacturing.net
Tips for Giving Effective Training in High-Noise Environments
This article covers factors that constitute a high-noise environment, the impact of noise on communication and learning, and the tips and strategies for effective training and communication in high-noise settings.
Read OH&S
Warehouse Safety: Focus on Augmentation Before Automation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 3 million employer-reported injuries in the workplace in 2021. Warehousing had the highest increases in cases that caused workers to miss work, increasing 23%. Wearable technology and hands-free barcode scanning can help improve warehouse safety.
Read EHS Today
OSHA to Expand the Use of Instance-by-Instance Penalties
A new OSHA policy has gone into effect expanding penalties for instance-by-instance (IBI) citations. The move has the potential to significantly increase the monetary penalty amounts associated with certain violations and signals OSHA’s stated commitment to increase enforcement in 2023 and beyond.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Releases 2022 Injury and Illness Data
OSHA has published 2022 injury and illness data based on reports by more than 300,000 establishments. The Injury Tracking Application data is part of OSHA’s electronic recordkeeping requirements for certain employers who are required to submit OSHA Form 300A information.
Read OSHA Press Release
Choosing the Right Protective Workwear for Your Manufacturing Facility
The right protective workwear comes in handy for keeping workers safe from potential contamination and hazards in their everyday operations. This article covers the different types of protective clothing and the factors to consider when selecting them.
Read OH&S
OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program
In advance of National Small Business week (April 30 – May 6, 2023) and as part of its ongoing efforts to promote compliance assistance resources, OSHA has created a drop-in article about its On-Site Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses. The article provides an overview of the program and its benefits.
Read more about OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program
Biden’s FY 2024 Budget Looks to Increase OSHA Enforcement
The White House is seeking a 17% funding increase for OSHA under the Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2024 budget request. Released March 9, 2023, the proposal includes increases of 16.3% for federal enforcement.
Read Safety + Health
March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month is observed every March. Citing data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Prevent Blindness claims 90% of the thousands of work-related eye injuries sustained each year could be prevented if workers wore proper eye protection.
Read Safety + Health
Last Minute Checklist for Electronic Reporting of OSHA Form 300A
The deadline to electronically submit information from OSHA’s Form 300A for the year 2022 is due March 2, 2023. OSHA Form 300A is a summary of all the injuries and illnesses that took place in a workplace during the previous year. To help you stay compliant, this article has compiled a checklist that explains what you need to submit by the March 2nd deadline.
Read EHS Today
Essential Facilities Management Guidelines: 6 Ways to Improve Workplace Safety and Efficiency
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5190 fatal work injuries in 2021, up 8.9% from 2020, and 2,607,900 recorded cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the private sector. Workplace safety should be a priority for every type of business. This article looks at some techniques you can use to improve efficiency and workplace safety.
Read OH&S
Survey Seeks the State of Safety at Manufacturing and Warehousing Facilities
A recent survey of manufacturing and warehouse employees shows that 75% receive less than 30 minutes of safety training a week, while 20% receive no weekly training. The survey was conducted by the online survey platform Centiment on behalf of Ansell, a health and safety protection solutions provider.
Read Safety + Health
Why You Should Use Videos for Safety Training
Video-based safety training has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it offers a more interactive and dynamic way to educate employees on workplace safety. This article explores the benefits of using videos for safety training and provides insights into creating effective video-based safety training programs.
Read OH&S
OSHA Workplace Stress Webpage and Resources
OSHA’s Workplace Stress Safety and Health Topics Page provides resources to help employers support the mental health and well-being of their workforce. The webpage includes resources for both senior managers and front line supervisors – including “Getting Started” guides and checklists – as well as three workplace posters offering tips on how employers and workers can work together to address stress and mental health in the workplace.
The Workplace Stress page compliments OSHA’s existing pages on Worker Fatigue and Preventing Suicides.
Trucker Access To Parking and Rest Facilities Part of Supply Chain Bill
Measures for expanded access to parking and rest facilities are included in recently proposed bipartisan legislation aimed at revamping the interstate trucking supply chain system.
Read Safety+Health
How To Manage the Health and Safety of Your Remote Workers
This article looks at the key strategies managers should consider when managing the health and safety of their remote employees, such as creating policies, providing support services, setting up effective communication channels, developing trust between team members, and using technology to monitor employee well-being.
Read OH&S
U.S. Department of Labor Revises OSHA’s Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program
On January 27, 2023, OSHA issued a revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. The purpose of the revised emphasis program is to continue OSHA inspections of facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts likely to cause fire, flash fire, deflagration, and explosion hazards.
Read OSHA Press Release
New OSHA Enforcement Guidance Targets Employers Who Prioritize Profit Over Safety
In one of two memos published January 26, 2023, OSHA outlines an expansion of scenarios for when it may issue “instance-by-instance citations.” In the other memo, the agency advises regional and area offices of the current policy allowing them to issue citations for each violation, instead of grouping violations.
Read Safety+Health
How to Properly Store and Label Hazardous Substances
In this article, Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) explains how to correctly store and label hazardous substances in the workplace, in addition to meeting regulatory safety standards, and outlines the safety procedures and regulations you should implement to keep all those on site safe.
Read OH&S
Improving Workplace Safety Through Warehouse Automation
Robots can help reduce ergonomic risks and environmental hazards in the warehouse. In addition, automated order fulfillment solutions, when appropriate to the situation, help enable warehouses to run efficiently and in the process, create workplaces that attract and satisfy employees.
Read EHS Today
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties for 2023
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced changes to OSHA civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2023.
Read OSHA Press Release
A Look at the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace outlining the foundational role that workplaces should play in promoting the health and well-being of workers and the neighboring communities.
Read OH&S
OSHA Reminds Certain Employers to Submit Required 2022 Injury and Illness Data by March 2, 2023
OSHA has issued a reminder to employers that the agency is collecting calendar year 2022 Form 300A data. Employers must submit the form electronically by March 2, 2023.
Read OSHA Press Release
Better Ways to Improve Worker Health and Safety in Small to Midsize Businesses
SME’s can take advantage of tax incentives, subsidies and grant programs to improve their workplace to reduce occupational injury and illness and lower operating costs.
Read OH&S
A Look at OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program
Started in 2010, OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) is a program for employers and companies that exhibit what OSHA calls an “indifference to the OSH Act obligations.” Once employers are placed in the program, they may be subject to additional inspections which are made available for public view.
Read OH&S
9% Increase in Work Fatalities in 2021 is a Call to Action Says Labor Secretary
On Friday the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries which reflects a one-year increase of nearly 9% in fatal work injuries.
Read EHS Today
NIOSH Resource on Protecting Temporary Workers: Best Practices for Host Employers
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Services Sector, in partnership with several other organizations, have released a new set of best practices, Protecting Temporary Workers: Best Practices for Host Employers, to help host employers better protect the safety and health of temporary workers.
Download the NIOSH Toolkit_Flyer (member login required)
Back to Basics: Eye and Face Protection
Eye and face protection is essential for many workers as part of their personal protection equipment (PPE). This article looks at OSHA’s requirements for eye and face protection which must be provided, when necessary, to protect workers from chemical, environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants and hazards.
Read EHS Daily Advisor
5 Ways Automated Maintenance Can Improve Workplace Safety
Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) can enhance safety in the maintenance field.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Seasonal Influenza Safety and Health Topics Page Updates
OSHA is pleased to announce the availability of an updated Seasonal Influenza Safety and Health Topics Page (SHTP). The updated SHTP reflects the new 2022-2023 flu vaccine recommendations and includes a new ‘Quick Facts’ section which contains links to pertinent prevention information. The resources highlighted in this SHTP provide information on prevention and control measures for protecting workers against flu and other respiratory illness.
Read OSHA’s updated SHTP
3 Important Safety Considerations to Keep Staff with Epileptic Seizures Safe in the Workplace
There are many different types of epilepsy, and all employers can make reasonable adjustments to accommodate people with this condition. To keep employees with epilepsy safe, understand the nature of their condition; identify triggers and work to eliminate them; and do your best to reduce stress in the workplace.
Read OH&S
Strong Link Between Driver Behavior and Crashes
Truck driver behavior is a key predictor of whether any driver will be involved in a road accident in the future, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the nonprofit research arm of American Trucking Associations (ATA). The new ATRI report provides an update to its Predicting Truck Crash Involvement research.
Read EHS Today
BLS: Nonfatal Workplace Injuries Increased in 2021, But Illnesses Dropped Significantly
The number of reported workplace injuries in the U.S. private sector increased in 2021, but a decline in respiratory illnesses – including COVID-19 – helped drive down the combined number of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, data released Nov. 7 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.
Read Safety + Health
OSHA: Monkeypox Virus Fact Sheet
OSHA has issued a Monkeypox Virus Fact Sheet that highlights specific workplace hazards associated with Monkeypox, describes symptoms and transmission routes, and provides measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of exposure to the disease.
Download Fact Sheet
3 Ways to Minimize OSHA Recordables
This article reviews the differences between recordable, reportable, and non-recordable OSHA events. It also explains to employers how to reduce the number of recordable incidents and how to mitigate potentially life-threatening on-site injuries.
Read EHS Today
3 Ways Safety Professionals Can Benefit from Better Communication
With the increasing volume, frequency and uncertainty of threats facing businesses and their employees today, safety leaders need robust and reliable means of communication. There are three benefits of building effective communication into organizational preparedness plans: increasing employee engagement; optimizing emergency response; and improving business resiliency.
Read EHS Today
Handle Emergencies on Your Worksite Before They Happen
If a disaster strikes and impacts your business or worksite, it’s important for teams to know how to respond. Whether it’s a fire, power outage, hurricane or another type of disaster, having an emergency response plan can help protect and save lives.
Read OH&S
Survey Asks Industrial Workers About Their Mental Health and Support from Employers
Workers in manufacturing, warehousing, construction and transportation industries need better support for their mental and emotional needs, results from a recent survey suggest. 47% of respondents said they feel stressed in their current job and almost 1 out of 4 respondents in warehousing and transportation jobs said their work has had a negative effect on their mental health.
Read Safety+Health
World Health Organization Reports Finding on Mental Health at Work
Recently the World Health Organization released a report, WHO Guidelines on Mental Health at Work, that offers research as well as recommendations on how to deal with the issue of mental health at work. The organization notes that an estimated 15% of working-age adults have a mental disorder at any given time.
Read EHS Today
First Aid in the Workplace: Are You Prepared?
Ensuring that employees have basic knowledge of first aid and how to respond in an emergency is key to promoting a safe workplace. In this article, learn more about OSHA’s first aid requirements, basic first aid procedures, and how to build well-equipped first aid kits for the workplace.
Mental Health in the Workforce: How to Support Your Employees
Monday, October 10 marked World Mental Health Day. Mental health conditions may affect nearly one in five people, according to the Department of Labor. In recent years, the conversation on worker mental health has been brought more and more to the company table. If you’re an employer, there are a few ways that you can support your employees.
Read OH&S
OSHA Training Institute Education Center Selection
OSHA has announced the addition of a new organization to its OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center network – the Construction Education Foundation in Denver, Colorado – and renewed its 25 existing education centers. OTI Education Centers are non-profit organizations that offer training courses on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health topics to workers and employers across the country. The centers also help administer OSHA’s Outreach Training Program.
Read OSHA Press Release
OSHA Guidelines for Warehouse Pedestrian Safety
According to OSHA, warehouses are one of the most hazardous places of employment. Warehouse workers are exposed to hazards like falls, falling objects, and forklifts. But there are measures you can take to keep pedestrians safe.
Read OH&S
Help Reduce the Stigma Around Workers’ Mental Health
Mental health challenges have tested many workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now experts say employers need to make employees’ mental health as high of a priority as physical health. A big step in that process: confronting the stigma that often accompanies mental health disorders.
Read Safety+Health
Five Reasons Not to Ignore the Monkeypox Virus
The declaration of a public health emergency in the U.S. means that companies should also increase their awareness and preparations for the monkeypox virus. Companies should now build a plan that details how they will respond to the virus and what tactics they will implement to mitigate its impact. From a strategic and tactical perspective, ignoring the virus is no longer a viable business option.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Expands Severe Violator Program
The Department of Labor is updating the criteria for OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), expanding it to include violations of all hazards and standards across all industries. OSHA estimates SVEP – which concentrates inspections on employers who have several willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate vilations – currently includes about 500 employers, but according to Doug Paker, OSHA Assistant Secretary, the changes to the program would add 80 to 100 employers to the list each year.
Read Construction Dive
Fall Protection Again Tops OSHA’s ‘Top 10’ List of Most Frequently Cited Standards
For the 12th straight fiscal year, Fall Protection – General Requirements is OSHA’s most frequently cited standard, the agency and Safety+Health announced Tuesday during the 2022 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. The standards that comprise the Top 10 remained unchanged from FY 2021, with some movement within their ranking.
Read Safety+Health
How to Develop an Ergonomics Program for Remote Workers
It’s important for employees to have a well-designed workspace to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, sprains, and other ergonomics-related injuries. And for a growing number of workers, that includes their home office setup. Often, remote workers lack access to adjustable office equipment or knowledge of how to optimize their home environment to achieve an ideal ergonomic setup.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Awards Over $1.9 Million in Grants for Workplace Training on Infectious Diseases
OSHA has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations for workplace training on infectious diseases as part of its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The grant will fund education and training programs aimed at helping employers and workers recognize infectious disease hazards – including coronavirus – and identify preventive measures.
Read Safety + Health
Alliance on Workplace Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Signed by OSHA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Last week, OSHA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) officially joined efforts to increase awareness on suicide prevention and mental health in the workplace. They have signed a two-year alliance and, according to a news release, will work together on “information and products on workplace mental health and suicide prevention awareness.”
Read OH&S
Suicide Prevention Month: ‘Employers Can Play an Important Role’
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and OSHA is urging employers to actively promote available resources to all workers. The month includes National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 4-10) and Construction Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 5-9).
Read Safety + Health
Cancer is the Top Driver of Employer Health Care Costs
An unsettling statistic has come from the Business Group on Health’s 2023 Large Employers’ Health Care Strategy and Plan Design Survey released August 23rd. Cancer has overtaken musculoskeletal conditions as a top driver of large companies’ health care costs. In the survey, 13% of employers said they have seen more late-stage cancers and another 44% anticipate seeing such an increase in the future.
Read EHS Today
Workers Want Mental Health Support from Employers: Survey
Results from a recent survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association show that more than 4 out of 5 U.S. workers say mental health support from a potential employer would be a key consideration when seeking future job opportunities.
Read Safety + Health
OSHA Launches Initiative to Reduce Worker Injury and Illness in Warehousing, Storage and Distribution Yards
OSHA recently launched a regional initiative in three Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia in an effort to protect workers and reduce injuries and illnesses in the warehousing, storage, and distribution yards’ industries. OSHA’s Regional Emphasis Program for Warehousing Operation focuses on industry employers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and D.C.
Read OSHA Press Release
It’s Safe + Sound Week 2022; See Who Else Has Signed Up to Participate
It’s Safe + Sound Week! You can view the list of public events taking place this week under “Nationwide Events” on the Safe + Sound Week Map, or you can see what public events are available by clicking on the different states. These events are activities that are free and open to everyone.
OSHA Updates Investigations Manual for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under Whistleblower Statutes
OSHA recently revised its Whistleblower Investigations Manual. The updated manual supersedes the January 2016 version and is the first complete overhaul since 2011. The investigations manual outlines procedures, legal concepts and other information related to handling retaliation complaints under the various whistleblower statutes that OSHA enforces.
Read OSHA Press Release
CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidelines
Last Thursday the CDC updated its COVID-19 guideline recommendations for community settings. These included recommendations on what to do if you were exposed, are waiting for test results or test positive. People who have been exposed to COVID-19 should “wear a high quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5,” as opposed to quarantining. And when waiting for test results, if you have symptoms, the CDC recommends to isolate.
Read OH&S
Senate Proposes Budget Increases for OSHA and Other Safety Agencies
The Senate is calling for a 11.1% funding increase for OSHA in fiscal year 2023, under a recently released series of 12 appropriations bills that includes other federal safety agencies.
Read Safety + Health
Announcing OSHA Technical Manual – Noise Chapter Revision
OSHA has published a newly updated OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) Noise Chapter: OSHA Instruction TED 01-00-015, Section 3, Chapter 5, “Noise”. The chapter provides technical information to OSHA compliance staff, safety and health professionals, and the public when performing noise inspections or evaluating noise hazards.
Understanding OSHA’s NFPA 70E Standard: Compliance and Best Practices for Electrical Safety
OSHA is known as the enforcement arm of workplace safety, but in the case of electrical safety, it plays a different role. OSHA tells us what we need to know and NFPA 70E – the National Fire Protection Agency’s Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace – tells us how to do it. To navigate such requirements and standards, an organization must first ensure its workers are qualified to complete safe electrical work using the latest NFRPA 70E standard as its guide.
Read Manufacturing.net
Surgeon General and CDC Launch ‘Online Dialogue’ on Workers and Long COVID
In an effort to learn more about long COVID in workplaces, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, along with the Department of Labor and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is asking the public to weigh in via a national online crowdsourced dialogue.
Read Safety + Health
EEOC Revises COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Employers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) revised its informal guidance regarding COVID-19 and related matters in the workplace. In doing so, the EEOC made several revisions concerning employer testing protocols, items to consider for vaccine mandates, among other revisions to FAQs.
Read JD Supra
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Launches New 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
On July 16, a new lifeline for suicide and mental health crisis support was launched. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will help people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress with emotional support. The support is available 24/7.
Read OH&S
Meeting ESG Goals is Proving to be Difficult
While companies have made specific commitments to environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, it’s turning out to be harder than anticipated to meet those goals. According to the Global Corporate Sustainability Survey 2022, a survey of 400 C-Suite executives in the U.S., Europe and Asia, the gap between their aspirations and the ability to execute on them is significant.
Read EHS Today
Effective Incident Investigations – Experts Offer Advice
When an injury, incident or near miss occurs, finding out why is an important first step. That’s where a robust investigation process can make a big difference. “Investigating a worksite incident…provides employers and workers with the opportunity to identify hazards in their operations and shortcomings in their safety and health programs,” says OSHA.
Read Safety + Health
Safe + Sound Week 2022 – Registration Now Open
Safe + Sound Week registration is now open. Join thousands of businesses who are recognizing their commitment to workplace safety and health.
Visit OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week webpage to sign up to participate, and for ideas for planning and promoting your event.
EPA Final Rule Includes TSCA Amendments Covering Hazard Communication, Significant New Use Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule intended to ensure workers “have clear and consistent information about the risks they may face from toxic substances.” The rule is set to go into effect September 6.
Read Safety + Health
10 Key Elements for a Workplace Heat Safety Program
OSHA is focusing on heat safety in the workplace and will be conducting more worksite audits under its National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards. To make sure your workplace is prepared to keep employees safe while working in the heat, learn about the 10 key elements for a workplace heat safety program.
Read EHS Today
OSHA Extends Emphasis Program on COVID-19
Citing data that shows hospitalizations “may increase significantly in the coming weeks,” OSHA has extended its revised National Emphasis Program on COVID-19 until further notice.
Read Safety + Health
Department of Labor Reminds Southeast Employers to Protect Workers Against Heat Illness’ Serious Dangers
As temperatures and the risk of heat illness rise in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, OSHA reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in hot weather – indoors and out.
Read DOL News Release
OSHA Seeks to Revise Rules on Workplace Lead Exposure
OSHA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction. Comments are due August 29. OSHA adopted its standards on lead exposure for general industry and construction in 1978 and 1992, respectively.
Read Safety + Health
What Companies Need to Know About OSHA’s New Heat Illness Rules
To protect workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries, OSHA announced a new National Emphasis Program on April 12, 2022. This article looks at what this means for your business and what your next steps should be.
Read OH&S
House Seeks $100 Million Budget Increase for OSHA, Draft Bill Shows
The House is seeking approximately $712 million for OSHA’s fiscal year 2023 – a roughly $100 million increase from FY 2022, according to a draft of its appropriations bill released June 22.
Read Safety + Health
7 Ways to Keep Workers Safe
The ultimate goal of employer-led health and safety initiatives is to incorporate safety into every aspect of a business. In this article, read about 7 effective safety initiatives to implement at your workplace.
Read EHS Today
ILO Designates Occupational Safety and Health as a Fundamental Right at Work
Delegates of the International Labor Organization recently adopted a resolution that adds a “safe and healthy working environment” to the United Nations agency’s framework on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Read Safety + Health
OSHA’s Updated Heat Illness Prevention Webpage
OSHA has updated its Heat Illness Prevention webpage. The webpage contains important information about heat stress, employer responsibilities, and valuable information all employees should know about heat illness. It also includes a printable fact sheet and heat stress poster for distribution and a link to important NIOSHA guidance on heat injury prevention.
Visit OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Webpage
June14 is National Forklift Safety Day
Forklift safety and operator training will be in the spotlight June 14 as part of the nineth annual Forklift Safety Day, organized by the Industrial Truck Association.
Read Safety + Health
NSC and Others Pledge to Reduce Workplace Injuries
June is National Safety Month. This year, the National Safety Council (NSC) and more than 15 other organizations are pledging to improve worker safety. These organizations have signed a pledge to reduce musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries by 25% by 2025.
Read OH&S
Too Many Companies Lack Mental Health Resources
Research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation has revealed that tens of millions of U. S. workers are experiencing mental health issues and are less productive because of it, inundating organizations with a vast array of new challenges.
Read EHS Today
ANSI/ISEA Standard on Workplace First Aid Kits Gets Update
To determine if additional first aid supplies are needed on a jobsite, consider the uniqueness of the work environment and the types of potential injuries. That’s a suggestion within the recently revised American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association standard Z308.1, which OSHA cites as a recommended, nonmandatory source of guidance for minimum first aid kit requirements.
Read Safety + Health
NSC Encourages New Policies Following New Data on Overdose Death
The National Safety Council is encouraging employers to provide workers with mental health and substance use recovery support in light of new data from the CDC. According to research and noted by the NSC, “70% of people struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) are employed.”
Read OH&S
Suicide Prevention: New Resource from OSHA
In an effrot to prevent suicides, OSHA has published a new resource that features tips on how to identify and respond to warning signs. The agency states, “Suicide is a leading cause of death among working-age adults in the United States.”
Read Safety + Health
To Submit or Not to Submit: OSHA is Asking the Question
On March 28, OSHA announced a proposed rule to amend its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation. The proposed amendment will require certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA. If the proposed rule is finalized, OSHA intends to make some of the data obtained from these annual electronic submissions available to the public on a searchable online database.
Read JD Supra
Safe + Sound: Find and Fix Workplace Hazards
There are a variety of ways to identify hazards in your workplace, including reviewing records such as the OSHA 300 Log of Work-Related Injury and Illnesses. Visit the Safe + Sound webpage to learn how to find and fix hazards in your workplace and download resources, such as the Hazard Identification Worksheet – Hazard Information.
Annual Death on the Job Report Part of Workers’ Memorial Week
“Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect” is an annual report published by the AFL-CIO during the week of Workers’ Memorial Day which is observed April 28 to honor people who have lost their lives on the job. The report highlights state and federal data on work-related death, injuries and illnesses, as well as on worker protections.
Read Safety + Health
CDC Announces Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics
Last week the CDC announced the launch of a new forecasting center for public health threats. The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) will provide data to CDC partners to help make timely decisions on outbreaks and health threats. CFA also plans on providing data to the general public.
Read more at OH&S
National Small Business Week Virtual Summit – DOL Exhibit Featuring Small Business Resources
The Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week Virtual Summit is May 2-5, 2022. This annual event highlights the contributions of small businesses to the U.S. economy and points these businesses to resources to help them grow and comply with regulatory requirements. During the week, the Department of Labor (DOL) will have a virtual booth to highlight small business resources such as OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program and the OSHA/NIOSH Small Business Safety and Health Handbook.
Register Here
FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of New COVID-19 Breathe Sample Test
Last week the FDA authorized the emergency use of a new test to detect COVID-19 with a breathe sample. According to a press release, named InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer, the test can provide results in three minutes.
Read more at OH&S
OSHA Launches First Ever National Emphasis Program to Protect Workers from Indoor and Outdoor Heat Hazards
For the first time OSHA as launched a National Emphasis Program to protect millions of workers from heat illness and injuries. Through the program, OSHA will conduct heat-related workplace inspections before workers suffer preventable injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Read News Release at OSHA
SIF Prevention: Two Frameworks for Success
Understanding what leads to a serious injury or fatality has been the center of a new series of white papers from the Campbell Institute, a global center of environment, health and safety excellence at the National Safety Council. The Institute stated in a recent press release that it has worked not only to define SIF prevention methods but also create blueprints for potential prevention programs.
Read more at OH&S
How Effective is Your Safety Program?
While it is essential to have a safety program, it’s critical to transform culture from contentment to involvement. Several factors influence the need for manufacturing organizations to incorporate a safety program within their facilities. Individuals that exhibit an involvement mindset, understand the impact safety has on the well-being of the workforce.
Read EHS Today
OSHA’s New Warehousing Webpage
OSHA has published a new Safety and Health Topics page for the warehousing industry that provides information about applicable OSHA standards and enforcement initiatives, addressing specific workplace hazards (e.g., powered industrial trucks, musculoskeletal disorders, materials handling equipment), and provides links to reference materials.
Go to OSHA’s New Warehousing Page
Eye Protection: Going Beyond the Regulations
According to OSHA, thousands of employees are blinded each year due to workplace eye injuries. One crucial step you can take to protect employees is communicating the importance of safety in a meaningful way. Go beyond the rules and focus on how safety is viewed in your workplace.
Read OH&S
‘Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?’: DOL Launches PSA Campaign
Promoting mental health in the workplace is the goal of a new public education campaign from the Department of Labor. Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do? is a public service announcement campaign that “highlights how everyone in a workplace setting – whether you’re a CEO, manager, co-worker or an employee who voluntarily identifies as having a mental health condition – can promote workplace well-being.
Read more at Safety + Health
OSHA Initiates Enforcement Program to Identify Employers Failing to Submit Injury, Illness Data
OSHA is initiating an enforcement program that identifies employers who failed to submit Form 300A data through the agency’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA). Annual electronic submissions are required by establishments with 250 or more employees currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees classified in specific industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses.
Read OSHA Trade Release
Announcing Safe + Sound Week 2022
Mark your calendars! Safe + Sound Week will take place from August 15-21, 2022. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Registration for Safe + Sound Week opens in early July.
Read more at OSHA
On Safety: OSHA’s SHARP and VPP
Although it’s regarded as an enforcement agency, OSHA gives equal footing to compliance assistance and cooperative programs. Two of the agencies exemplary cooperative programs are the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) – administered by the state consultation programs – and the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), overseen at the federal level.
Read Safety + Health
OSHA to Amend Occupational Injury, Illness Recordkeeping Regulation
OSHA announced on Monday that it is proposing amendments to its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation. The proposed rule would require certain high-hazard industries to electronically submit additional information from their Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, as well as their Injury and Illness Incident Report.
Read EHS Today
OSHA’s COVID-19 Workplace Enforcement: What Happens Next
After the Supreme Court’s stay of the emergency temporary standard (ETS) regarding COVID-19 in January, OSHA has limited options for enforcement. The main standard that OSHA will now possibly use to enforce COVID-19 safety protocols is the General Duty Clause.
Read EHS Daily
Clean Air in Buildings Challenge: Federal Agencies Partner on Best Practices Guide
In an effort to further reduce transmission of COVID-19, the Biden administration is call on building owners and operators – as well as all organizations – to assess their indoor air quality and improve ventilation and filtration. The White House fact sheet, issued March 17, outlines the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge.
Read Safety + Health
How Can the Job Hazard Analysis Process Be More Effective? CPWR Explores
Complacency, ineffective communication from management, lack of input and buy-in from workers, and isolation of upper management from jobs are some of the common issues that make the Job Hazard Analysis process ineffective, according to a recent study from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research.
Read Safety + Health
DOL Announces $3.2 Million in Grants for Workplace Safety
OSHA has announced the availability of $3.2 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 for Susan Harwood Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Disease, including COVID-19 grants. The grants are to fund training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent work-related infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
Read OH&S
New Regional Emphasis Program to Protect Workers from Hazardous Noise Levels
To address the workplace hazards and educate employers and employees on the effects of hazardous noise levels, OSHA is implementing a new Regional Emphasis Program that hopes to target inspections of general industry and construction industry workplaces at high risk of noise exposures to raise awareness among Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska employers of noise hazards and required safety measures.
Read OH&S
More People Had an Illness-Related Work Absence in January
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that in January 2022, about 3.6 million people didn’t work because of an illness, injury or medical problem or appointment. The BLS notes that the number of workers who are absent or cut back hours regularly spikes from December through March, when cold and flu season peaks.
Read EHS Today
WHO, ILO Offer Guidance for ‘Healthy, Happy, Productive’ Telework
As telework grows more common, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) are encouraging employers to develop programs to make the practice “healthy and safe.”
Read Safety + Health
CDC Could Update Mask Guidance This Week
Last week, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky hinted that the agency could be reviewing and updating their mask guidance and shifting focus to hospitalizations “as an additional important barometer.” Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 update, “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again if things worsen.”
Read OH&S
The Importance of Wearing Eye Protection
Each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers suffer eye injuries that require medical treatment, making these injuries the most common type reported on jobsites. Eye injuries can lead to lifelong visual impairment and upward of $300 million a year in lost production time, medical expenses, and workers’ compensation costs.
Read Safety + Health
Hearing Loss Prevention: What You Should Consider
OSHA has set clear rules regarding noise in the workplace. If these sounds pass a certain threshold, managers should implement what’s known as a hearing conservation program to protect staff from permanent hearing loss.
Read EHS Today
NLBMDA Alert: DOL Proposing Rule Update for Powered Industrial Trucks
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) reports that the Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The move includes updates to standards for fork trucks, tractors, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized industrial trucks.
Read HBS Dealer
Reminder: Covered Employers Must Post OSHA Injury and Illness Data
Employers that are covered by OSHA’s record-keeping rule must post a summary of 2021 work-related injuries and illnesses in a noticeable place from Feb. 1 to April 30. Certain establishments must also electronically submit Form 300A by March 2. Here are some last-minute compliance tips for employers to review.
Read SHRM
Life After OSHA Withdraws Vaccine Mandate
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to stay OSHA’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) mandating vaccines and/or testing for private employers with 100 or more employees, OSHA withdrew its ETS on January 25 leaving open the prospect that it may still attempt to finalize and implement a permanent vaccine and testing mandate.
Read OH&S
Safe + Sound Week 2021: A Major Accomplishment
OSHA reports that Safe + Sound Week 2021 was a major accomplishment with 5,306 businesses from 49 states, 5 territories and 72 countries participating, a 54% increase from 2020 and the most number of participants to date.
Time to Move from Wellness to Well-Being
While some companies have launched wellness programs mainly to lower healthcare costs, a new focus on well-being aims to embrace the ‘whole’ employee. Well-being encompasses a larger perspective on what makes an employee healthy.
Read EHS Today
OSHA’s Current Regulatory Agenda
The Department of Labor recently issued its regulatory agenda for Fall 2021. The latest agenda lists seven OSHA actions in the final rule stage, meaning they should be published at some point in 2022. These actions include four Whistleblower regulations and an update to the standard on walking-working surfaces; and the ETS on COVID vaccination, testing, and masking which will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. The agenda also includes 15 potential standards in the proposed rule stage and several potential standards of interest in the pre-rule stage.
Read NSC’s Safety+Health
What to Expect Now that OSHA Has Withdrawn its Vaccine-or-Testing ETS
OSHA has withdrawn its emergency temporary standard (ETS), which would have required large businesses to ensure employees are vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Nonetheless, the agency is moving forward with its proposal to issue a permanent standard.
Read SHRM
OSHA Regulations and Emergency Temporary Standards: Your Questions Answered
OSHA’s recent emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 have drawn attention to – and caused confusion about – how both emergency and traditional OSHA standards work. In October, attendees of a Safety+Health webinar focused on the latest rules, enforcement trends and initiatives from OSHA asked a number of questions. Here, S+H answers some of them..
Read NSC’s Safety+Health
Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties for 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced adjustments to OSHA’s civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2022. The final rule was effective January 15, 2022, and the increased penalty levels apply to any penalties assessed after January 15.
For more information visit the Press Release, the memorandum, and the OSHA Penalties page
Window and Door Companies Weigh in on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Vaccine Mandate
Some companies and organizations in the glass and fenestration industry may have breathed a collective sigh of relief last week when the Supreme Court ruled to block OSHA’s employer vaccine-or-test mandate. But regardless of the ruling, many companies will continue to encourage employees to receive the COVID vaccine.
Read DWM
OSHA Reminds Specific Employers to Submit Required 2021 Injury, Illness Data by March 2, 2022
OSHA issued a press release last week reminding employers that the agency began collecting calendar year 2021 Form 300A data on January 2, 2022. Employers must submit the form electronically by March 2, 2022.
Read OSHA Press Release
Justices Seem Divided on OSHA’s Authority to Issue Vaccine-or-Testing ETS
Opponents of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine-or-testing for private employers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to quickly halt the directive during recent oral arguments, but the Justices had yet to issue an order as of Jan. 10 when many of the requirements under OSHA’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) took effect. Employers should note, however, that the directive for unvaccinated workers to undergo weekly testing has been delayed to Feb. 9.
Read SHRM
OSHA at 50 – 50 Years of Workplace Safety and Health
In its first half century, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has helped transform workplaces in ways that have significantly reduced workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Learn more about OSHA’s five decades of progress and its efforts to continue fulfilling the promise of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
View history at OSHA
Supreme Court to Review Vaccine Mandates
Chief Justice John Roberts announced that the Supreme Court will hold a hearing on January 7 to review elements of numerous legal challenges that have been brought against two of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates: OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that requires employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their employees are vaccinated or are masked and tested weekly for COVID-19; and a similar mandate issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) impacting 76,000 healthcare facilities that employ more than 10.3 million workers.
Read EHS Today
New Compliance Deadlines under the OSHA ETS to Employers with 100 or More Employees
Developments immediately before the holiday break have many employers scrambling as the OSHA ETS has seemingly come back to life.
Read more at The National Law Review
BLS: On-the-job deaths at lowest level in seven years
A total of 4,764 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2020 – a 10.7% decrease from the year before and the lowest number of fatalities since 4,585 were recorded in 2013, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Read more at Safety + Health
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The PPE You’re Overlooking
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential in many workplace environments. But what body parts are you not covering – that you should – when preparing to handle glass? According to data that Nathaniel Winklemann, a certified safety professional and corporate safety director at Hartung Glass, has gathered, the primary body parts that should be protected but aren’t are the lower legs.
Read more at DWM
Senate Approves Resolution to Repeal OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS
On December 8, the Senate passed a Congressional Review Act resolution in an attempt to repeal OSHA’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and masking. The resolution will need to pass in the House and be signed by President Joe Biden to take effect, or Congress would have to override a likely presidential veto.
Read more at Safety + Health
Vaccine Mandates On Hold
The Biden administration’s broad campaign of COVID-19 vaccination mandates is faced with multiple blows brought by court actions, resistance from some federal legislators and state governors, and the President’s own decision to stall the Federal employee mandate. EHS Today analyzes where things stand right now as the legal landscape continues to shift daily.
Read more at EHS Today
4 Benefits of Digitizing Lockout Tagout
Lockout tagout (LOTO) is viewed by many frontline workers as burdensome, inconvenient or production slowing, but it is critical to any energy control program. It is also one of the most important OSHA standards and is one of OSHA’s top ten most frequently cited standards following inspections of worksites.
Read more at EHS Today
Global Health Officials Express Concerns about COVID-19 Omicron Variant
The World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a Variant of Concern and named it “Omicron.” The WHO said this decision is based on evidence that the Omicron variant has multiple mutations that could have an impact on how easily it spreads and the severity of illness it causes.
Read more at OH&S
New Workplace Mental Health Ally Certificate Aims to Destigmatize Mental Health
Helping employees deal with the pandemic caused many companies to enhance their current mental health programs, or create new ones. In doing so, it became apparent that talking about mental health was still difficult for many people. To address the stigma that exists, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), partnered with Psych Hub to create the Workplace Mental Health Ally Certificate.
Read more at EHS Today
NAW Survey: 87% of Distributors Support Legal Challenge to Vaccine Mandate
Following its joining of a multi-trade association lawsuit against OSHA for its COVID-19 employer-based vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), the National Association of Wholesale-Distributors (NAW) released a survey of distributors of all sizes regarding the impact of the OSHA ETS. The survey finds an overwhelming majority support the legal challenge and warn of significant job loss.
Read more at NAW
OSHA’s Standard on Walking-Working Surfaces
According to OSHA, falls consistently rank as one of the common causes of serious work-related injuries and fatalities. OSHA standard on walking-working surfaces for general industry (1910 Subpart D) was developed to help prevent dangerous falls from height or slips and trips on the same level.
Read more at Safety+Health
Court Vigorously Condemns OSHA ETS
A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court has not only reaffirmed its temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the OSHA emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination and testing but has also asserted that those opposing it are likely to prevail in overturning it.
Read more at EHS Today
Court Stays Employer Vaccine Mandate
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday stayed OSHA’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) that would require employers to set a mandate for employee vaccination. Despite this stoppage and continued legal challenge, attorneys advise employers to work towards compliance anyway.
Read more at Construction Dive
OSHA Issues ETS Regarding Vaccine Requirements & COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Last Friday OSHA published in the Federal Register its new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) pertaining to workforce vaccination requirements and other COVID-19-related safety protocols. The ETS is effective immediately. Find out the initial takeaways for employers identified by labor and employment attorneys at Butler Snow, LLC.
Read more at JD Supra
Senate Confirms New Head of OSHA
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Doug Parker to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Parker will serve as the 13th assistant secretary of labor, and he will take over for acting OSHA administrator Jim Frederick.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Begins Work on Rule to Protect Workers From Dangerous Heat
OSHA is requesting stakeholder input as it moves toward creating a rule to protect workers from extreme heat exposure in indoor and outdoor settings. Specifically, OSHA is interested in obtaining additional information about “the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness.”
Read more at Safety + Health
Mindful Approaches to Workplace Wellness
Employers are ramping up mental health awareness programs as they cope with pandemic-related stress. As EHS Today research shows, more companies are incorporating stress-reduction practices, such as mindfulness and yoga, into their corporate health programs to address employee wellness.
Read more at EHS Today
NLBMDA Meets with Biden Administration on Vaccine Mandate Concerns
Last Friday the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) met with officials from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of Labor (DOL) and Small Business Administration to express its concerns regarding the Biden administration’s proposed Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory vaccination and testing requirements for private employers. The DOL recently submitted a draft version of the ETS to the OMB for regulatory review.
Read more at NLBMDA
Study Finds More than One-Half of Workers Exposed to Noise Do Not Use Hearing Protection While on the Job
A new NIOSH study, published online October 1 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, estimates that more than one-half of noise-exposed workers did not use hearing protection “always” or “usually” when exposed to hazardous occupational noise.
Read more at OH&S
OSHA Acting Head Gives Update on Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing
OSHA is working “expeditiously” on an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination and testing, acting agency administrator Jim Frederick said during an October 7 webinar hosted by the National Safety Council. Though Frederick didn’t provide a timeframe for the ETS issuance, he did say that they are currently “considering the scope and the terms of the potential ETS as described” by President Biden.
Read more at Safety + Health
Human and Organizational Performance
Proponents of HOP (human and organizational performance) say it offers employers, leaders, and safety pros a more realistic comprehension of how workers operate, as well as the recognition that errors happen and mistakes are sometimes unavoidable, the expertise to respond to errors and an understanding of why systems that include defenses against mistakes are needed.
Read more at Safety + Health
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Installers Are Among the Hardest Hit
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and according to experts, perhaps no field should embrace the call more than construction. According to the CDC, with 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers, construction has among the greatest suicide rate of any industry- a rate that experts say is over four times higher than the national average and five times higher than all other forms of construction-related deaths combined.
Read more at DWM
Back to Basics: Safety Reminders that Go Beyond COVID-19
Going back to the basics of workplace safety can ensure that employees adhere to mandatory safety standards and remain healthy on the job. Find out the four fundamental safety areas that employers can focus on in addition to continuing to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
Read more at OH&S
OSHA to Develop Heat Standard
The White House announced on Monday that OSHA plans to create a federal standard to help prevent a growing and largely under-reported hazard on construction sites: heat-related illness. The advance notice of proposed rulemaking, set to be released next month, is the first step in the process for developing a workplace heat standard.
Read more at Construction Dive
U.S. Requires Vaccine-or-Test Mandate for Private Employers
Private businesses in the U.S. that employ more than 100 employees will soon have to ensure their workers are fully-vaccinated or test weekly for COVID-19. According to the White House, the mandate will come in the form of an emergency temporary standard, or ETS, by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Read more at EHS Today
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will now be known as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. it will still continue to be made available for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for individuals 12-15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
Read Full Press Release at FDA
Download Your Safe + Sound Week Certificate and Challenge Coin
OSHA is seeking feedback from participants in Safe + Sound Week and asking participants to fill out information on the “Recognize Your Participation” webpage of the OSHA website. Then download your certificate and challenge coin!
Senate Democrats Push DOL, OSHA for Action on a Heat Stress Standard
A group of Senate Democrats is urging the Department of Labor and OSHA to move forward on a federal standard to protect workers exposed to excessive heat. In their letter, dated August 3, to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, data is cited from the Bureau of Labor Statistics linking exposure to excessive environmental heat to 815 deaths and and 70,000 serious injuries among U.S. workers between 1992 and 2017.
Read More at Safety + Health
OSHA Updates Guidance on Preventing Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
On August 13 OSHA issued updated guidance to help employers protect workers from the coronavirus. The guidance reflects developments in science and data, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated COVID-19 guidance issued July 27.
Read More at OSHA
How Businesses Can Avoid Post-Pandemic HR-Related Liabilities
As the economy fully reopens and businesses continue to navigate an evolving workplace landscape, leaders should remain diligent about complying with the myriad employment-related laws and regulations. Find out some steps that business leaders can take to help avoid post-pandemic liabilities.
Read More at Forbes
Safe + Sound Week is Here!
Join thousands of businesses this week across the country and the world in recognizing the importance of safety and health programs. See what public events and trainings are happening in your state and nationwide.
Excelling at Safety Means Making Worker Well-Being a Priority on the Job Site
The truth is that health and well-being are important for all workers, regardless of their industry. Many companies need to start taking a proactive approach in managing and protecting the well-being of its workforce and aligning strategies found in the NIOSH Total Worker Health (TWH) approach to make a perfect business sense.
Read More at OH&S
Small Business Safety and Health Handbook Updated
OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have collaborated to issue an updated workplace safety and health handbook for small businesses. The Small Business Safety and Health Handbook highlights the benefits of implementing an effective safety and health program, provides self-inspection checklists for employers to identify workplace hazards, and reviews workplace safety and health resources for small businesses.
CDC Reverses Face Mask Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that fully vaccinated people once again wear a face mask in public in areas with substantial or high transmission of COVID-19.
Read More at EHS Today
Oregon Says New Emergency Rule on Heat Stress Offers ‘Greater Clarity’
Oregon OSHA has adopted an emergency rule that strengthens employer requirements for protecting workers from the effects of high and extreme heat.
Read More at Safety + Health
As COVID Subsides, Companies Say They’re Nearing Normal
With COVID-19 subsiding and in what could be described as a controlled remission, door and window companies report that they’re approaching a full return to business as usual.
Read More at DWM
House Budget Bill Would Boost OSHA Enforcement Efforts
Washington – The House Appropriations Committee is proposing a nearly $45 million increase to OSHA’s enforcement budget for fiscal year 2022, according to a committee report released July 14. The proposed OSHA budget in the appropriations bill also includes an almost $16 million increase in compliance assistance over FY 2021, a nearly $11 million increase in whistleblower enforcement and an approximate $10.5 million increase in the safety standards budget.
Read More at Safety + Health Magazine
Participate in Safe + Sound Week
Safe + Sound Week is August 9-15, 2021. This is a nationwide event to recognize the adoption of programs to improve workplace safety and health. Implementing a safety and health program can improve your business’s safety and health performance, save money, and improve competitiveness.
OSHA Revises its National Emphasis Program, Updates Interim Enforcement Response Plan for COVID-19
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19. The agency launched the NEP on March 12, 2021, to focus on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus, and on employers that engage in retaliation against employees who complain about unsafe and unhealthful conditions or exercise other rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Register for Safe + Sound Week in Early July
Registration will go live on OSHA’s Safe + Sound webpage during the first week of July. All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety are welcome to participate.
Read More at OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week
Safe + Sound Week 2021 Scheduled for August 9-15
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and a coalition of safety organizations, including the National Safety Council, are joining forces for the fifth annual Safe + Sound Week, August 9-15. Registration is slated to open in July.
Read more at OSHA
OSHA Considerations for Employers in Year Two of the COVID-19 Pandemic
OSHA pronounced on June 10th that all employers should review and implement the all-industries guidance, and healthcare employers should take steps now to implement the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). In this article, OH&S discusses both items, together with other OSHA matters for employers to consider in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More at OH&S
8 Best Practices Inspired by New OSHA Safety Guidance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its long-awaited emergency temporary standard (ETS) and accompanying guidance, “Protecting Workers,” on June 10, 2021. The ETS applies to covered healthcare employers, while the guidance articulates best practices for all employers in providing a “safe and healthful workplace.”
Read More at EHS Daily Advisor
OSHA Relaxes COVID Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Workplaces
OSHA is easing its COVID-19 recommendations for fully vaccinated workplaces, but the agency is still advising employers to take steps to protect any unvaccinated workers. On June 10, OSHA announced updated guidance which states that unless required by law, “most employers no longer need to take steps to protect their workers from COVID-19 exposure in any workplace, or well-defined portions of a workplace, where all employees are fully vaccinated.”
Read More at EHS Daily Advisor
These Little Known Health Insurance Options May Save Small Employers Big Money
The quality and variety of a company’s health insurance benefits remain among the top priorities for employees when considering a job in 2021, according to numerous studies, including recent ones from Hartford and Metlife. In this article from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Gene Marks writes the problem for small employers is being able to provide these benefits affordably and competitively, particularly in a tight labor market.
Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer
10 Ways to Get Your Safety and Health Program Started
Implementing a complete safety and health program takes time. OSHA’s “10 Ways to Get Your Program Started Graphics” provides simple steps you can take to get your workplace safety and health program started, and to move your business forward to prevent injuries and illnesses. Download the images and share them on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtWork.
Check on Safety – Take the Challenge
Learn how to keep workers safe by finding and fixing hazards in your workplace. Take the Check on Safety Challenge! Complete the items on the checklist, earn your challenge coin, then share the results in your workplace or on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtWork and #CheckOnSafety.
DOES CDC’s COVID Course Change Threaten ETS?
The COVID-19 guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) holding that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks or socially distance in most settings has created confusion among the public, employers, and federal and state regulators. Since the issuance of the new CDC mask guidance, questions have arisen once again about whether the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) are needed.
Read more at EHS Today
EEOC Greenlights Coronavirus Vaccine Requirements, Incentives – With Some Limits
Federal equal employment opportunity laws do not prohibit policies requiring that all employees who physically enter a workplace receive a COVID-19 vaccination, so long as such policies comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as well as other applicable laws, according to technical assistance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated May 28.
Read more at Construction Dive
Employees Report Their Mental Health is Improving
To end Mental Health Awareness Month on a positive note, in a May 2021 study of 2,000 employed adults in the U.S., entitled “Travelers Mental Wellness Checkup,” a large percentage, 73%, described their mental health as being good or excellent. This was up from 67% in the early months of the pandemic.
Read more at EHS Today
First-Ever Mental Health Action Day
Last Thursday, May 20, 2021, was the first-ever Mental Health Action Day. NAHB partnered with MTV and over 1,000 leading brands, nonprofits, government agencies and cultural leaders to put a spotlight on mental health action, with an emphasis on moving from awareness to action.
Read more at Mental Health Action Day
OSHA Shifts Position on Recordability of Adverse Reactions from COVID-19 Vaccines
In a dramatic shift in its enforcement position with respect to the recordability of adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on May 21, 2021, published a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) establishing that employers do not need to record adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines on their OSHA 300 Logs, at least through May of 2022. The enforcement position applies regardless of whether an employer requires, recommends, or incentivizes employees to receive the vaccine.
Read more at JD Supra
Organizations Urge for Clarification on CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
The new CDC guidance is creating a lot of confusion for organizations, leaving them wondering how to go about moving forward with COVID-19 protection protocols in the workplace. Nine organizations sent a letter to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor hoping to clarify what exactly the new CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people means for all workplaces.
Read more at OH&S
New Mental Health Cost Calculator Shows Why Investing in Mental Health is Good for Business
Over 40% of Americans report increases in mental health distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving employers with their own crisis, resulting in increased absenteeism, negative impacts on productivity and profits, and an increase in healthcare costs. Encouragingly, employers that support mental health see a return of $4 for every dollar invested in mental health treatment, according to new research released May 13 from the National Safety Council and NORC at the University of Chicago.
Read more at NSC
The Next Frontier of Workplace Safety
In order to keep workers safe and reduce penalties for noncompliance, organizations must adopt innovative technologies, such as video sensors and advanced analytics, and automate functions for employee health and safety monitoring. In doing so, organizations can liberate themselves from relying on inefficient, manual processes or posted reminders to better enforce mandates and ensure employee safety at all times.
Read more at EHS Today
Safety News Roundup for Mental Health Month
May has been designated as Mental Health Month. This year it hits differently. EHS Today provides a roundup of recent articles about how to help workers stay strong and resilient, how to broach this important topic and recommendations for resources.
Read more at EHS Today
COVID-19’s Full Effect on Workers Will Likely Remain Unknown, AFL-CIO’s ‘Death on the Job’ Report Claims
The full extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the nation’s workforce will likely remain unclear because of the lack of a comprehensive national system to gather such information, according to the AFL-CIO’s Annual Report on the state of safety and health protections for U.S. workers.
Read more at Safety + Health
OSHA Moves Closer to Issuing Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19
OSHA on April 26 submitted for review to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a draft of an emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19 – one of the final steps before the ETS can be published in the Federal Register. After publication of the ETS, OSHA would begin working on a permanent standard that would go into effect within six months.
Read more at Safety + Health
CDC Updates COVID-19 Mask Guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask in small outdoor gatherings. The CDC still recommends that unvaccinated people wear a mask and maintain social distance with others.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Guidance for Employers Considering Vaccine Requirements
On April 20, 2021 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released three new FAQs for employers who recommend or require employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines. McDermott previously reported that employers can require employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment, though employers should consider several factors before making a decision to require employee vaccinations. The new OSHA guidance highlights additional considerations when requiring employee vaccinations.
Read more at National Law Review
Combustible Dust and OSHA Inspections
While no OSHA standard directly addresses combustible dust, this has not hindered OSHA inspections and enforcement actions under the General Duty Clause and reference to standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). There are proactive steps that employers can take before, during and after OSHA inspects a facility where combustible dust may be present to help reach and maintain compliance.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Issues News FAQ’s on Recording Illnesses Caused by COVID Vaccines
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on recording illnesses caused by required and recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
Read FAQs at OSHA
The Dangers of Opioids in the Workplace
The Biden administration released its first set of drug policy priorities after overdose deaths hit record numbers during the pandemic. The priorities provide a guide to ensure that the federal government promotes evidence-based public health and public safety interventions.
Read more at OH&S
Portrait of a Pandemic: COVID-19 Timeline
EHS Today charts how workplace safety has evolved since the global pandemic began.
Read more at EHS Today
The Role of Technology in a Post-Pandemic World
EHS Today takes a look back at how technology has helped worker health and safety during COIVD-19 and imagines its role in the future.
Read more at EHS Today
How to Respond to OSHA’s COVID Enforcement
Employers now find themselves in the crosshairs of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) amped up enforcement of its COVID-19 guidelines and need to take immediate action to avoid the potential flood of citations and penalties expected to result.
Read more at EHS Today
Gartner HR Survey Finds 48% of Organizations Won’t Track Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Status
A Gartner, Inc. survey of 227 of HR leaders on March 16 revealed that nearly half (48%) of large global organizations will not track the vaccination status of their employees. Only 8% of survey respondents reported that they will require employees to show proof of vaccination.
Read more at Gartner
OSHA Schedules 2021 National Safety Stand-Down
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set its annual National Safety Stand-Down event to prevent falls for May 3-7. It marks the eighth year that OSHA has held the event, which encourages employers to talk to employees about fall prevention and fall hazards.
Read more at OSHA
OSHA Reveals Top 10 Violations for Fiscal Year 2020
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its preliminary top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2020. Although multiple standards swapped positions, the top 10 violations from FY 2019 to FY 2020 did not change.
NSC Survey: 90% of Employers Say ‘Impairment’ at Work Means More than Just Substances
A survey just released by the National Safety Council (NSC) shows 90 percent of employers are concerned about mental health and chronic stress impacting fitness for duty – in addition to persistent concerns around legal and illicit substance misuse.
Biden Signs OSHA Workplace Executive Order
President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue revised guidance and possibly emergency temporary workplace standards pertaining to
COVID-19. The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) reported that there are no immediate requirements for its members but plans to closely watch for changes.
Read more at HBSDealer
OSHA Raises Penalty Maximums, Establishes New Debt Collection Procedures
The U.S. Department of Labor announced adjustments to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021.
Read more at Construction Dive
A Proactive Healthcare Approach to Manufacturing
On-site clinics have become more than a health benefit; they also lead to positive health outcomes and help decrease medical expenses for the company and employee.
Read more at EHS Today
Improve Loading Dock Safety by Clearly Communicating Danger
Motion sensors and dock controls can help prevent accidents at one of the most hazardous areas of a facility – the loading dock.
Read more at EHS Today
U.S. Department of Labor Implements Inspection Program to Target Workplaces with Highest Injury and Illness Rates
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is updating its inspection program that directs agency enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses.
Create Safe and Healthy Warehouse Environments through Data-Driven Technology
Third-party logistics providers are implementing new technologies, from advanced sensors to artificial intelligence and machine learning, to prevent injuries and reinforce safety protocols.
Read more at EHS Today
Ergonomic Considerations for Fall Harnesses When Working at Height
Workers who spend a great deal of time working at height depend on their fall protection PPE harnesses. They want their gear to be comfortable and lightweight, not hot and heavy. This article explores some of the things that can make fall protection harnesses more comfortable, lighter weight and easily incorporated with other PPE.
Read more at OH&S
NAHB Continues to Keep Workers Safe and On the Job Site During the Pandemic
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has been working to keep America’s home builders and trades partners safe and on the job. That effort is now being redoubled as the country faces a worrying spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the virus.
You’ve Been Cited by OSHA: Now What?
If OSHA decides that a violation warrants a citation and notification of penalty, there are several steps contractors should take. There are only 15 days to decide whether to contest a citation and proposed penalty or simply pay it and move on.
Read more at Construction Dive
4 Best Practices for Ensuring EHS Training Sticks with Employees
EHS managers can drive better retention of important training concepts among their workforces – here’s now.
Read more at EHS Daily Advisor
How to Keep Drugs Out of the Workplace
Recent reports show that drug and alcohol abuse has skyrocketed and remains a significant occupational safety challenge for employers. Add to that the changing state laws regarding marijuana use, and it’s clear that employers need to act now to update their organizations’ drug policies.
Read more at EHS Today
World Health Organization Makes Employee Burnout a Diagnosable Condition
Employee burnout stemming from unremitting workplace stress has been officially determined to be a diagnosable condition by the World Health Organization (WHO). In WHO’s definition, burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Machine-Guard Violations Overturned
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission recently voted unanimously to vacate two machine-guard citations lodged against employers by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and substantially reduced the penalty imposed in a third case, holding that unsafe employee behavior should have been weighed more heavily.
Read more at EHS Today
Psychological Safety: Inclusion in Action
Manufacturers are focusing on the importance of building and supporting workplace environments where employees feel psychologically safe.
Read more from the National Safety Council
Positive Drug Tests for U.S. Workers at 16-Year High
U.S. workers in 2019 tested positive for illicit drugs at the highest rate in 16 years, according to an annual analysis by lab services provider
Quest Diagnostics.
Read more at Safety+Health
AIHA Announces New Resources for Company Owners, Leaders on Construction Worker Health Hazards
New resources from AIHA are designed to educate construction company owners and leaders on worker health hazards, including exposure to heat, excessive noise and air contaminants.
Read more at Safety+Health
Combating the Opioid Epidemic: How to Manage Well-Being in High-Stress Environments
Because of the high injury rate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says workers in the construction industry are among the groups with the highest rates of opioid abuse and overdose deaths.
Read more at Psychology Today
Suicide Prevention in Construction More Important Now than Ever
The first thing construction employers should do to alleviate stress on workers – especially now – is to be compassionate, according to Greg Sizemore, Chairperson of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Read more at Construction Dive
Proper PPE and Worker Safety Go Hand-in-Hand
Hand injuries are among the most common workplace injuries, and they’re also some of the most preventable.
Read more at EHS Today
Depression Risk Is Soaring for Workers, How Can Human Resources Help?
Employers must make mental health their “absolute top priority,” leading experts say.
Read more at Human Resource Executive
OSHA Whistleblower Complaints Sharply on the Rise over COVID-19 Safety Concerns
While enforcement and whistleblower functions operate separately under the OSHA umbrella, cross-referrals often result from employee-initiated whistleblower claims.
Read more at JD Supra
OSHA Makes New Safe + Sound Week Materials Available to Employers
As part of Safe + Sound Week, August 10-16, OSHA is providing employers with new resources, including a customized banner, social media frames, logos, a participant badge and more. In addition, a new document explains how to participate in Safe + Sound Week and recognize safety successes.
Are Your Ready for the New Wood Dust Requirements?
New requirements in NFPA 652 “Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust” take effect in September and require immediate action.
Read more at Woodworking Network
OSHA Attacked for Lack of Emergency Rules
Unions sue federal agency as states embrace emergency rules approach.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Reminds Employers of Duty to Protect Employees from Heat Exposure
The arrival of the hot summer season brings the risks and dangers of heat exposure for many employees throughout the United States. OSHA has issued a reminder to employers of their duty to protect employees, along with some guidance on ways to recognize and mitigate the risks of heat exposure.
Read more at JD Supra
OSHA Issues New Guidance as Non-Essential Businesses Reopen & Employees Return to Work
The new Guidance on Returning to Work (Reopening Guidance) is the most comprehensive update from OSHA since it released its Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 at the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more at JD Supra
Judge Rules OSHA Can Release Employer Injury Records
Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in The Center for Investigative Reporting v. Department of Labor that employers’ injury and illness records, submitted to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), are not confidential and can be released if requested through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Read more at The National Law Review
SkillPath Develops Resources for Virtual Instructor-Led OSHA Trainings
The virtual resources help learners meet compliance requirements for OSHA general industry regulations.
Read more at Remodeling
3 Tips to Improve Your Internal Lockout/Tagout Program
Training, technology and process are all key to successful LOTO at your facility.
Read more at Plant Services
Key Takeaways from OSHA’s New FAQs about Face Coverings in the Workplace
OSHA just published a series of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the use of cloth face coverings, surgical masks and respirators in the workplace.
Read more at JD Supra
Top EHS Practices: Key Components to a Full-Service Safety Program
Some regulations have numerous training and employee information requirements, while others have none. Are you covering everything? And what does it take to go above what’s required?
Read more at OH&S
How VR Can Make the Workplace Measurably Safer
Immersive safety training can realistically simulate workplace scenarios.
Read more at EHS Today
Bridging the Gap to Safety Excellence
Safety leaders need to plug the gap between current safety performance and excellent safety performance.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA Launches COVID-19 Website for Construction Industry
This guidance supplements the general, interim guidance for all workers and employers of workers with potential occupational exposures to SARS-CoV-2.
Read more from OSHA
Using Wireless Sensors to Maintain Social Distancing on the Factory Floor
As supply chains restart and stay-at-home rules ease, factories are starting to reopen. But production lines and factory floors look quite different from before the pandemic.
Read more at Smart Industry
OSHA Does an Abrupt Turn in Issuing New Guidance on Recording COVID-19
The new guidance reverses course on a prior guidance dated April 10, 2020, that relaxed the circumstances when most employers would need to record these illnesses.
Read more at JD Supra
Construction Safety Inspections by OSHA Plunge 84% in Pandemic
OSHA in-person checks of construction sites have fallen to about 16% of pre-coronavirus inspection levels, as the agency focuses on virus hazards in the health-care industry, agency data shows.
Read more at Bloomberg Law
OSHA Intensifies Coronavirus-Related Policies Following Criticism
OSHA stated that the newly-issued enforcement guidance to increase inspections “reflects changing circumstances in which many non-critical businesses have begun to reopen in areas of lower community spread.”
Read more at EHS Today
FAQ: Paperless Safety Audits: 5 Questions to Consider Before Going Digital
Paper-based safety audits can create inefficiencies and leave organizations vulnerable to undocumented or hidden safety concerns. This FAQ will help you understand how mobile, digital forms can help you become more productive and identify gaps in your safety program.
Download the white paper at EHS Today
Industrial Hygiene for the Non-Hygienist
If you work in an environment where potential dangers exist, regardless of your role and authority, it is your duty to be vigilant against the risks posed by chemical and physical hazards.
Read more at OH&S
How to Ensure Agility on Factory Floor During COVID-19
In difficult times, AI can help manufacturers increase operational efficiency and transparency across organizations with better monitoring, more precise and timely interventions and better quality control.
Read more at EHS Today
Long-Sought U.S. Labor Rule Change Raises Worker Safety Questions in Coronavirus Crisis
Some contract workers in America’s warehouses could find it harder to demand equipment and other measures to protect them from the coronavirus under a new labor agency rule, according to workers’ advocates and unions.
Read more at Reuters
How to Leverage an Unexpected Plant Shutdown to Improve Your Electrical Safety Procedures
When unexpected crises, like COVID-19, cause unexpected shutdowns, safety managers should capitalize on the opportunity to reevaluate safety procedures across the board.
Read more at OH&S
OSHA to Consider Employer’s Good Faith Efforts When Enforcing Safety Compliance During Coronavirus Pandemic
The agency acknowledges business disruptions as a result of COVID-19 may have limited the availability and access to safety training.
Read more at Remodeling
OSHA Publishes COVID-19 Worker Exposure Risk Chart
Taken from its guidelines on preparing workplaces for the coronavirus, OSHA’s worker exposure chart is a one-page chart on evaluating your workspace’s risk level to COVID-19.
Read more at OH&S
Thousands of OSHA Complaints Filed Against Companies for Virus Workplace Safety Concerns
Employees told regulators about failures to follow social distancing, lack of protective gear and other issues at scores of U.S. employers.
Read more at The Washington Post
Using the Industrial Internet of Things to Create a Safer Workplace
The Industrial Internet of Things allows safety managers to utilize modern, industrial hardware and technology.
Read more at OH&S
U.S. Department of Labor Reminds Employers They Cannot Retaliate Against Workers Reporting Unsafe Conditions During Coronavirus Pandemic
Acts of retaliation can include terminations, demotions, denials of overtime or promotion, or reductions in pay or hours.
Read more at OSHA
Paperless Safety Audits: 5 Questions to Consider Before Going Digital
Digital auditing modules can help organizations resolve many of the difficulties they encounter with paper-based forms.
Read more at EHS Today
OSHA’s Combustible Dust Program: Where Are We Today?
While there’s no standard to fine a company for a combustible dust problem, many other standards can be used to enforce combustible dust safety.
Read more at EHS Today
When Must Employee Illnesses Be Reported to OSHA?
Recent contingency planning for potential employee coronavirus cases has reminded occupational safety specialists that work-related illnesses generally must be recorded if the condition meets the applicable recording criteria of OSHA regulations.
Read more at EHS Today
Safe + Sound Week 2019 Recap
Infographic shows how awareness of safety in the workplace was raised.
Read more at U.S. Dept. of Labor
How OSHA Says Companies Should Deal with COVID-19 in the Workplace
The guidance outlines practical ways to address potential health risks from the coronavirus in the workplace.
Read more at DWM
Safer Workplaces Credited to Latest Robots
“Material handling is a dangerous profession. High employee turnover further complicates safety since a high percentage of the workforce is less experienced. [Robotic vision-guided vehicles] can offer a safer alternative,” says Jeff Christensen, VP of Product at Seegrid Corp.
Read more at EHS Today
Three Investments Manufacturing Companies Can Make to Protect the Bottom Line
Organizations are investing in their employees to set themselves up for the next decade, while protecting themselves from the current manufacturing downturn.
Read more from OH&S
Top EHS Practices: Key Components of a Full-Service Safety Program
White paper examines what you can do to mitigate risk and safeguard employees on a daily basis.
Read more at EHS Today
Top EHS Practices: Key Components of a Full-Service Safety Program
White paper examines what you can do to mitigate risk and safeguard employees on a daily basis.
Read more at EHS Today
Is Employee Burnout a Threat to Workplace Safety?
Some studies suggest that burnt-out employees have less awareness of their surroundings and struggle to maintain workplace safety practices, resulting in the misuse of heavy machinery, delayed emergency response, poor driving, employee fighting and issues caused by falling behind on work-related tasks.
Read More at MHL News.
Double Hearing Protection: What Is Double Hearing Protection, And When Is It Needed?
For general industry applications such as utility, manufacturing and service-sector work, adhering to the OSHA standards can typically be achieved by using a single hearing protection device – earmuffs or earplugs.
Read More at Safety and Health Magazine.
Safety in Numbers
The 2019 National Safety Survey reveals the challenges EHS leaders face keeping their workers and workplaces safe.
Read more at EHS Today
EHS Today’s Upcoming Safety Webinar Lineup
SLC 2019: Elevate Your World-Class Safety Culture
Tuesday, October 1st
Allowing Safety Reporting to Improve Your Safety Culture
Wednesday, October 2nd
Taking your Health & Safety Program Beyond Compliance
Thursday, October 3rd
Taking Care of My FR – Can I Mess it Up?
Tuesday, October 8th
OSHA Inspections: Understanding Your Rights and Navigating the Process to Minimize Your Citation Risk
Thursday, October 10th
Managing OSHA in the Trump Era
Tuesday, October 15th
Read more and register for these webinars here.
OSHA to Handle Retaliation Complaints Under Taxpayer First Act
The Taxpayer First Act protects employees who provide tax-related employer information to the IRS. OSHA’s Whistleblower Program has been extended to include worker retaliation complaints under the Taxpayer First Act (TFA).
Read more at EHS Today
Allowing Safety Reporting to Improve Your Safety Culture Webinar
Achieving and maintaining a culture of accurate injury reporting in the workplace can be challenging. A case study of success will be reviewed including a discussion of things you can do to help, or hurt, this effort. Also, OSHA recently updated the Recordkeeping Rule and this session will cover the updated requirements and guidance from OSHA related to electronic injury reporting.
Date: Wednesday, October 2nd
Time: 2 PM ET/11 AM PT
Duration: 1 hour
Sponsored by: Skillsoft
2019 Amputation Stand-Down (Live Webinar)
The Amputation Prevention Stand-Down is scheduled for September 4 to October 4. During this event, employers and workers will take time during their workday to focus on how to prevent amputations. A public kick-off event for the Stand-Down will take place on September 4 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Participants can also register for the live webinar here.
Lawsuit Against OSHA’s Improve Tracking of Injuries Rule Continues
The ongoing lawsuit filed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and several other parties, may be close to an ending if the defendant, who just motioned to have the case dismissed on lack of jurisdiction, has anything to do with it.
Read more at DWM
It’s Safe + Sound Week!
We know that while you are participating in Safe + Sound Week 2019 (August 12-18) you are also reviewing your safety and health programs.
Are you launching a new initiative? Refreshing an existing program? Updating a training?
We have put together some resources to help you improve your existing or new program. Some of the new materials include:
Read More at OSHA
Keeping Your Employees Safe on the Job
Workplaces are hazardous places, and keeping your employees safe is not only the law, it could cost you if you don’t. Citations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can carry maximum fines ranging from $13,260 per serious violation up to $132,598 per violation for willful and repeat violations, according to the 2019 OSHA penalties that took effect Jan. 23.
Violations most often cited last year were in fall protection in construction work, according to a preliminary OSHA list, but a newcomer on the list was eye/face protection in the same field.
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Protect Privacy of Workers
(January 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, DC – To protect worker privacy, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule that eliminates the requirement for establishments with 250 or more employees to electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) to OSHA each year. These establishments are still required to electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).
OSHA Enforcement Policy for Respiratory Hazards Not Covered by Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
OSHA has issued a memorandum that clarifies its existing policy for developing citations under section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (also known as the general duty clause) for respiratory hazards from exposure to an air contaminant that is not covered by an OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).
The following elements must be established for OSHA to prove a violation of the general duty clause:
- The employer failed to keep the workplace free of a hazard to which employees of that employer were exposed;
- The hazard was recognized;
- The hazard was causing or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and,
- There was a feasible and useful method to correct the hazard.
The memorandum states that unless the case file evidence proves all four of the above elements, the OSHA Area Office should issue a hazard alert letter (HAL) instead of a citation. If there is sufficient […]
Staying Safe During Equipment Maintenance
Lockout/tagout, known as LOTO, is the concept of controlling hazardous energy, usually in order to service or perform maintenance on machinery. Planning the work, identifying all energy sources to be controlled and the means for verifying disconnection, training employees and supervisors on the procedures to follow to ensure they work safely, and providing the necessary devices and equipment—locks, tags, etc.—should be addressed in the employer’s written LOTO plan for carrying out the work.
Appendix A of OSHA’s 1910.147 lockout standard offers a simple lockout procedure that the agency says could benefit employers as they develop their procedures, so that they’ll meet the standard’s requirements.
Should sexual harassment be an OSHA issue?
SAN FRANCISCO — While workplace sexual harassment is prohibited by sex nondiscrimination laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stakeholders last week discussed the possibility of the U.S. Department of Labor getting involved — specifically, its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). During a panel discussion at the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section annual conference, experts considered potential OSHA involvement in that issue as well as violence and assault.
Which hazards top OSHA’s 10 most-cited safety violations list?
Some things never change, and that can be said for almost all of the entries on OSHA’s 2018 top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations list. In fact, eight of the most violated standards by all industries were on last year’s list, and the top four — fall protection, hazard communication, scaffolds and respiratory protection — have been on the list since the agency started compiling it in 2015.
October OSHA News in Brief – New Interpretation on Drug Testing and Safety Incentives, Targeting Employers Using Form 300A Data, and Limiting Inspection Warrants
These are three related developments on the OSHA front in October that have implications for employers according to a recent article in JD Supra. The first has to do with OSHA issuing guidance and interpretations which are meant to “clarify” its positions regarding the drug testing and safety incentive rules. The second recent development concerns the requirement that certain employers submit injury and illness reporting data electronically. And the third October development involved a court case that prevented OSHA from getting an inspection warrant it was seeking.
Don’t Let Injuries and Illnesses Haunt Your Workplace!
Take action to scare up hazards and find the best ways to control them.
- Conduct safety walk-arounds to systematically identify and address workplace hazards. Check out the Safe + Sound Campaign resources, Walk-Arounds for Safety Officers and Safety Walk-Arounds for Managers, for tips on making yours effective.
- Hone your observation skills to identify and assess hazards in your workplace. Watch the Campbell Institute’s webinar, Visual Literacy: How ‘Learning to See’ Benefits Occupational Safety.
- Engage your workers and promote safety with challenges, contests, and competitions to find and fix hazards in your workplace.
Get to the Head of the Class in Workplace Safety!
It’s back to school time, but did you know that the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers offer trainings year-round? The Safe + Sound Campaign resource, Safety and Health Program Course Offerings, highlights training opportunities that can help support the development of your safety and health program and makes it easy to find an Education Center near you.
It’s Safe + Sound Week
Safe + Sound Week is here! WMA is proud to be a partner of this important campaign. Led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the nationwide event runs Aug. 13-19 to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs, including management leadership, worker participation and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces. Participating in Safe + Sound Week provides an opportunity to proactively identify and manage hazards in your workplace before they cause injuries and illnesses. Safe workplaces are sound businesses, and successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before injuries or illnesses occur.
Visit the Safe + Sound Campaign website to learn about the key components of a successful safety and health program, ideas for getting started, and resources to help you along the way.
Federal OSHA and Cal/OSHA: Comparing Standards
When considering the effectiveness of workplace safety regulations, some debate whether strong standards alone are sufficient to protect workers or whether strong standards are of little value without equally strong enforcement. These questions often come up when comparing federal OSHA and Cal/OSHA, and, at least in the area of standard-setting, Cal/OSHA is significantly stricter than its federal counterpart.
Under federal law, OSHA may approve state plans—that is, give a state the authority to implement and enforce standards OSHA issues under the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Currently, 28 states have approved state plans. A state plan may duplicate the federal standards without alteration. Alternatively, a state plan may include standards that are more stringent than the federal counterparts. Under no circumstances may a state plan include provisions that, in the opinion of OSHA, are less stringent than the federal counterpart provisions.
WMA SUPPORTS OSHA’S NATIONWIDE EVENT – SAFE & SOUND WEEK
World Millwork Alliance is pleased to support Safe + Sound Week, August 13-19, 2018, a nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs in workplaces. We encourage members to sign up to participate in Safe + Sound Week and undertake activities that promote management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards. To sign up to receive updates, get activity ideas, access free planning and promotional tools, and to see who else is participating in Safe + Sound Week, visit www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek.
OSHA Injury and Illness Records: Next Round of Electronic Submissions Due July 1
In 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) amended its recordkeeping rule to require that certain establishments electronically submit their illness and injury records annually, beginning in 2017. For the first year, covered establishments were only required to submit their OSHA Form 300A. The next round of submissions is due on July 1, 2018 and, in addition to the OSHA 300As, would have included the submission of OSHA 300 Logs and OSHA 301 Incident Reports for certain covered establishments. OSHA, however, is not accepting OSHA 300 Logs and OSHA 301 Incident Reports on its portal at this time. Therefore, OSHA has effectively changed the requirement for 2018: covered establishments need only submit their OSHA 300A forms by the July 1, 2018 due date.
Read More at JD Supra > https://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=3cc6b07f-f98a-4b11-b8e7-d45ff683c440
Workplace Deaths Are Rising. Trump-Era Budget Cuts Could Make It Worse
In an alarming development in the world of workplace safety, the latest statistics reveal that the number of accidental deaths on the job in America is on the rise, reversing the longer-term trend toward fewer fatal incidents. The number of deaths hit a total of 5,190 in 2016, up from 4,836 in 2015, according to an April 2018 report by the AFL-CIO. That’s about 14 deaths each day from preventable worker accidents. It’s also the third year in a row that the number has inched up, and the highest death rate since 2010, the labor federation reported.
Read More at In These Times > http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/21223/Donad-Trump-OSHA-worker-safety-deaths-deregulation
OSHA’s enforcement efforts coming up short, advocacy group claims
Two months after Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta touted OSHA’s increased number of inspections, the National Employment Law Project has released new data showing that the agency is coming up short in one measure. In a data brief issued June 11, NELP states that enforcement units in OSHA’s Enforcement Weighting System, which places values on certain types of inspections to measure enforcement activity, are lagging behind their fiscal year 2017 pace in the first five months of FY 2018.
Read More at Safety and Health Magazine > http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17146-oshas-enforcement-efforts-coming-up-short-advocacy-group-claims
Equipment Safety: Common sense practices for the factory floor
Window and Door staff writer, Norah Dick, offers 5 “easy-to-implement” safety tips for the plant floor and discusses about how machinery and tools for the residential window and door industry, if maintained and used correctly, can be an asset for employee safety by their ability to complete tasks that are “arduous or repetitive.” Machinery can also protect workers from sharp glass edges and assist workers from an ergonomic perspective.
Read More at Window and Door > https://windowanddoor.com/article/may-2018/equipment-safety
Safety Check: OSHA’s Most Frequent Violations and How You Can Address Them
Safety consultant explores the top ten OSHA violations for 2017 and identifies some things that pallet and lumber companies can do to avoid these problems. If you want a safer workplace, and to avoid fines at the same time, knowing the top ten most cited safety violations can be a great first step to a better, safer facility.
Read More at Pallet Enterprise > http://www.palletenterprise.com/view_article/5106/Safety-Check:-OSHA’s-Most-Frequent-Violations-and-How-You-Can-Address-Them-
OSHA Fines Florida Roofer Nearly $200K
Jacksonville-based contractor accused of failing to provide fall protection in two instances last year.
Read More at REMODELING
Tips for Safety Conversations Between Supervisors and Employees
Is it possible to overemphasize the importance of safety conversations between frontline supervisors and the workers who report to them? Perhaps it would be if such conversations were a common occurrence. But according to one source recently cited by OSHA, these exchanges are remarkably rare. In its pamphlet Better Safety Conversations, OSHA cites data developed by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzer for their book Crucial Conversations, Skills for Talking When the Stakes Are High.
Read More at Safety.BLR.com
How to Comply with OSHA Digital Records Rules without the Anxiety
OSHA requires e-reporting of all workplace injuries and illnesses, but not every manufacturer is set up to easily comply. Luckily, there’s an app for that. When there’s a health or safety problem, reporting it as quickly as possible is one of the first steps companies should take. Yet, despite technological advances, old-fashioned paper and pen forms mailed off to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is still much more common than you might expect.
Read More at Industry Week
OSHA Announces Delayed Enforcement of Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standard
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirmed that it will begin enforcing certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry, construction, and shipyards on May 11, 2018. Read more at OSHA
OSHA regulations aren’t changing much under Trump, but manufacturers may have a different kind of relationship with the agency
The Trump administration has promised to roll back regulations that it says are handcuffing businesses and stifling the economy, and it has shown particular interest in bolstering the manufacturing industry.
Safety management systems and OSHA compliance – What are the benefits of a cloud-based safety management system?
The traditional means of record-keeping have become antiquated. Yet, organizations are slow to implement digital transformation tools such as cloud-based technologies, especially when it comes to safety. Many employers are resistant to cloud-based tools because of the possible learning curve for employees and concerns about the security of the data stored on the platform. However, they need to understand that “the standard way of doing things” often leaves their employees vulnerable, can severely hurt brand reputation and can result in noncompliance with OSHA standards.
Read More at Safety and Health Magazine
Watchdog group sues OSHA over safety records
The advocacy organization Public Citizen is suing the Trump administration, claiming the Department of Labor (DOL) and OSHA are illegally withholding records about workplace injuries and illnesses.
Under OSHA’s electronic injury and illness record-keeping rule, which was finalized in May 2016, employers with 250 or more employees and employers in some high-risk industries with 20 or more workers were required to electrically submit their 2016 300A summary report to OSHA by December 31, 2017. The rule provides that OSHA will make the data public to encourage employers to prevent injuries and illnesses and to advance research into workplace safety. Now, though, states Public Citizen in a press release, “OSHA is trying to weaken the rule by eliminating some of its provisions, and OSHA has not made the summary injury and illness data public.”
Read More at SafetyBLR.com
Jobsite Injuries, Accidents, and Fatalities: Down But Not Out
More than one out of five fatalities in private industry–991 of 4,696 total deaths–is on a construction site, according to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.
Read more at BUILDER
NAHB Launches New Safety Program
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently launched Safety 365, a new member and public awareness campaign designed to ensure that building industry professionals have the information and resources to help keep construction workers safe and help minimize accidents, injuries and deaths. The initiative is designed to make construction safety a priority, every day, 365 days a year.
Former OSHA Head Predicts Shift From Enforcement to Compliance Assistance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration likely will move away from Obama-era heightened enforcement to a new philosophy of offering preventative measures to increase worker safety, a former leader of the agency says.
FedEx executive Scott Mugno, a veteran of the company whose stints include senior lawyer, is expected to take the helm as assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. His nomination is pending before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Ed Foulke, who held the top OSHA job under the George W. Bush administration from 2006 to 2008, says there will likely be a shift in philosophy under the Trump administration away from Obama-era enforcement priorities.
OSHA’s Silica Rule Upheld by Appeals Court
Several construction industry organizations are back to square one with their challenge of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final crystalline silica standard after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the standard on December 22, 2017.
Don’t become part of the statistic — reduce new hire injuries
Today, many employers struggle to maintain sufficient staff and are always on the lookout to find qualified people. This shortage may cause employers to do the minimum safety orientation requirements, which often result in new hire injury.
OSHA to Accept 2017 Electronic Injury Forms Until December 31st, 2017
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will continue accepting 2016 OSHA Form 300A data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) until midnight on December 31, 2017.
Study: Design and Technology Can Improve Construction Safety
A new study from Dodge Data & Analytics reveals the engagement with and impact of two critical trends for improving construction safety-technologies used on jobsites, and the practice of Prevention through Design (PtD).
ICC Launches New Resources to Promote Building Safety
The International Code Council (ICC) has introduced the Value of the Code Official Toolkit, a new online resource to help builders, government officials, and other industry professionals promote awareness and educate the industry about the importance of building safety and code standards, and the role that the codes and code officials who inspect structures play in the community.
OSHA Extends Compliance Date for Electronically Submitting Injury, Illness Reports
To allow affected employers additional time to become familiar with a new electronic reporting system launched on August 1, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extended the date by which employers must electronically report injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) to December 15, 2017.
FedEx Ground’s Veep of Safety Scott Mugno Tapped by Trump to Lead OSHA
President Donald Trump has nominated Scott Mungo, vice president of safety, sustainability and vehicle maintenance for FedEx Ground to be assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
Read More at EHS Today
Building a Culture of Quality and Safety
Maintaining a safe environment is one of the major concerns on construction sites, but a safety-focused state of mind is often unrealistic for employees without reminders in place.
Read more at DWM
OSHA’S silica rule now fully enforced
After 30 days of compliance assistance for it’s revised silica rule, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now fully enforcing the measure’s finalized provisions. The agency has released interim enforcement guidelines for the rule, counseling construction companies and regional administrators on its set requirements while the final compliance directive moves through the process.
Silica Rule Enforcement Begins
The occupational safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began enforcement of its final crystalline sillica standard on Saturday, September 23, 2017 after a three month delay.
The silica rule, which has been in the works since 2013, is intended to limit workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for workers to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. It also requires employers to implement engineering controls, offer medical exams and develop control plans related to the issue.
Wood Dust
Wood Dust becomes a potential health problem when wood particles from processes such as sanding and cutting become airborne. Breathing these particles may cause allergic respiratory symptoms, mucosal and non-allergic respiratory symptoms, and cancers. The extent of these hazards and the associated wood types have not been clearly established.
Making Safety Part of a Company’s DNA
Written safety policies do not ensure a culture of safety at a company. Although putting a foundation of safety policies and best practices in writing is essential to a successful safety management system, a collection of policies alone cannot create an environment where employees feel safe and instinctively make safe choices.
Creating a culture of safety takes time and begins with real commitment from all levels of management—not just a Safety First sign as you enter the building or verbal commitment to safety by the CEO or facility manager, but an active commitment that leadership demonstrates every day in the decisions they make and the actions they take. Frontline supervisors set the tone because they have to make quick decisions throughout the day, including corrective action when a hazard is identified. Their first priority is safety.
Read More at OHS Online
A safe workplace is sound business
OSHA has recently updated the Guidelines for Safety and Health Programs it first released 30 years ago, to reflect changes in the economy, workplaces, and evolving safety and health issues. The new Recommended Practices have been well received by a wide variety of stakeholders and are designed to be used in a wide variety of small and medium-sized business settings. The Recommended Practices present a step-by-step approach to implementing a safety and health program, built around seven core elements that make up a successful program.
Read more at OSHA
What you need to know about OSHA’s new silica rule
After a few legal fits and starts, as well as extra time for review and input, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s new silica standard for construction is scheduled to go into effect about a month from now, on Sept. 23rd. What that means is contractors who engage in activities that create silica dust — that is, respirable crystalline silica — such as by cutting, grinding or blasting materials like concrete, stone and brick, must meet a stricter standard for how much of that dust workers inhale. The same goes for employers of tradespeople working around such activities.
Read More at Construction Dive
New OSHA Guidelines Under Review
A new rule issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has caused concern for some employers in regard to drug testing policies. The electronic reporting rule prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for reporting an injury or illness.
The rule, which took effect Jan. 1, initially called for certain employers to electronically submit their 2016 Form 300A to OSHA by July 1. Data from the Form 300A—an annual summary of workplace injuries and illnesses—subsequently would be posted on an OSHA website for public viewing. But a week before July 1, OSHA said the deadline would be extended to Dec. 1 to enable the new administration to review the electronic reporting requirements prior to their implementation.
Read More at Builder
Small Businesses Find Big Value in OSHA Consultation Service
Want to take your safety and health program to the next level? OSHA might be the answer. Last year, the agency offered free consultation services to some 28,000 businesses. The On-Site Consultation Program has long been one of OSHA’s most recognized successes. Consultation, which provides free, confidential assistance to small businesses, is not associated with enforcement.
Read More at Safety.BLR
Aluminum Manufacturer Faces $1.9M in OSHA Penalties
An aluminum manufacturing company that produces products used in the residential and commercial fenestration industries is facing nearly $2 million in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Last week, Aluminum Shapes LLC of Delair, N.J., was hit with 51 safety and health violations and proposed penalties of $1,922,895 in the wake of an OSHA inspection that began in January 2017. It’s the latest in a long streak of OSHA citations for the company. Since 2011, the agency has inspected the facility eight times, issuing $516,753 in penalties for 60 violations.
Read More at DWM
Osha Launches App to Electronically Submit Injury and Illness Data on August 1
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will launch on Aug. 1, 2017, the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The Web-based form allows employers to electronically submit required injury and illness data from their completed 2016 OSHA Form 300A. The application will be accessible from the ITA webpage.
Read More at OSHA
Report That Trump Will Gut OSHA Rules May Be Premature, Says LeClairRyan Attorney
A recent New York Times article, “Under Trump, Worker Protections Are Viewed With New Skepticism,” suggests that the Trump administration will significantly relax the government’s approach to occupational safety. But chemical, manufacturing, construction, and other industry executives and advisors should not assume that they’ll soon get a free ride on regulatory issues, warns veteran labor and employment attorney Joseph P. Paranac, Jr. in a just-published blogpost in the online edition of business publication Occupational Health & Safety.
Read More at PR Newswire >
US LABOR DEPARTMENT’S OSHA PROPOSES TO DELAY COMPLIANCE DATE FOR ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTING INJURY, ILLNESS REPORTS
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today proposed a delay in the electronic reporting compliance date of the rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, from July 1, 2017 to Dec. 1, 2017. The proposed delay will allow OSHA an opportunity to further review and consider the rule.
Read More at US. Department of Labor >
OSHA announces inaugural ‘Safe + Sound Week’
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has designated June 12-18, 2017 as “Safe + Sound Week,” a new nationwide effort that calls on organizations of all sizes in a wide range of industries to raise awareness of the value and importance of workplace safety and health programs.
Joining OSHA to sponsor the effort are the National Safety Council, American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Society of Safety Engineers and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In addition, 85 trade associations, industry and professional groups are partnering with the Safe + Sound Week initiative.
Read More at OSHA >
OSHA suspends rule requiring firms report injury and illness data electronically
The Labor Department on Wednesday suspended an Obama-era rule requiring that companies electronically report their injury and illness records, a move that effectively keeps these records from being publicly disclosed for the immediate future.
Several business groups, including the Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America and the National Association of Home Builders, had challenged the 2016 Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule in court and lobbied the administration to jettison it on the grounds that it could unfairly damage the reputation of some of their members.
Read More in The Washington Post >
Former OSHA Deputy Publicizes Workplace Citations
If you’re wondering where those strongly worded press releases announcing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations have gone since January 20, you’re not alone. In the wake of President Trump’s inauguration, OSHA hasn’t issued a single press release about a severe violation — in fact, the last one was posted on January 18. However, one man is taking it on himself to get the word out about workplace safety citations. Jordan Barab, a former deputy assistant secretary at OSHA, is publishing information about violations on his blog, Confined Spaces.
Read More at DWM >
Trump repeals ‘blacklisting rule’
President Trump repealed the so-called “blacklisting rule” Monday that required federal contractors to disclose labor violations. The Obama-era rule was intended to prevent the government from contracting with businesses responsible for wage theft or workplace safety violations at any point within the last three years. But business groups feared it gave unions the upper hand at the bargaining table.
Read More in The Hill >
Senate Votes to Revoke OSHA Recordkeeping Rule
The Senate voted 50-48 Wednesday to overturn the Volks rule, which authorized the agency to extend its enforcement authority of recordkeeping violations from six months to five years, according to The Hill. The House passed the measure earlier this month. The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.
Read More at Construction Dive >