Safety

Companies that focus on leading indicators, such as near miss reporting, show improved organizational safety performance. How do you measure what did not occur? A near-miss incident on job sites traditionally is defined as one that leaves no injuries, no property or equipment damages and little or no evidence that it even occurred. As...
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A new study suggests that encouraging employees to partake in healthier behaviors may start with one step: fostering the belief that a healthier lifestyle is within reach. Is health and wellness within your reach? You better believe it. According to a survey from The Ohio State University, respondents who believed in their ability to...
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Without even realizing it, most leaders do and say things that cause employees to make decisions based on fear. Christine Comaford 
reveals some of the subtle, yet damaging mistakes we make and how to fix them. Most leaders know that command and control is dead and that fear doesn’t motivate employees. Quite the opposite...
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ISEA is developing a proposed voluntary personal protective equipment (PPE) conformity assessment standard to help suppliers and end users verify that a product meets performance standard requirements. At the 2013 International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Executive Summit in Orange County, Calif., ISEA President Dan Shipp outlined a new, voluntary PPE conformity assessment standard currently...
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Critics claim a severe lack of regulation was evident following a hearing by a committee of the Texas House on the West Fertilizer Co. explosion. read more
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Following the Rana Plaza building collapse, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder says it is time for horror and regret to translate into urgent action. The International Labour Organization (ILO) will send a high-level mission to Bangladesh in the coming days to offer its support and expedite action by all parties following the collapse of the...
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At the 2013 ISEA Executive Summit in Orange County, Calif., Gordon Graham discussed the importance of risk management and outlined the top 10 categories of risk that organizations face today. At the 2013 ISEA Executive Summit in Orange County, Calif., Gordon Graham discussed the importance of risk management and outlined the top 10 categories...
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At a program in Washington on April 29 marking Workers’ Memorial Day, OSHA announced a new initiative to protect temporary employees. In conjunction with the observation of Workers’ Memorial Day, OSHA sent a memorandum on April 29 an initiative to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards. Workers’ Memorial Day is an annual observance...
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A new International Labour Organization report finds that prevention is key to tackling the growing number of work-related diseases. The International Labour Organization is calling for an “urgent and vigorous” global campaign to tackle the growing number of work-related diseases, which claim an estimated 2 million lives per year. read more
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The American Industrial Hygiene Association recognized the observation of Workers’ Memorial Day and the National Day of Mourning on April 28, in remembrance of workers who have died, been injured or disabled, or made sick due to unsafe workplaces. In the United States, April 28 is the anniversary of the establishment of the Occupational...
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President Barack Obama traveled to Waco, Tex. on April 25 to offer his condolences at a memorial service for the families of the people who were killed or injured at the deadly explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. in West, Tex. Thousands gathered for a memorial service at Baylor University in Waco, Tex., to...
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On Workers’ Memorial Day, citizens across the globe pause to commemorate those who lost their lives while on the job. April 28 marks the 25th anniversary of Workers’ Memorial Day in the United States. This worldwide day of reflection was designated to honor the workers who died of occupational injuries or illnesses. In 2011,...
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Leaders from ASSE and AIHA urge Congress to consider whether NIOSH should remain within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or be relocated elsewhere to better ensure its effectiveness. Should NIOSH remain under the umbrella of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or should the agency relocate within the federal...
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The number of Massachusetts workers who died on the job may have declined in 2012, but the latest “Dying for Work in Massachusetts” report asserts that more remains to be done to protect workers from preventable occupational deaths, illnesses and injuries. The number of Massachusetts workers who died on the job may have declined...
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An insurance company reveals some common misconceptions about slips and falls believed by facility managers, cleaning professionals and the general public. According to the Montgomery Insurance Company, a 150-year-old insurance company based in Charlotte, N.C., several myths and misunderstandings surround the issue of slip and fall accidents. These misconceptions include the following: Shiny floors are...
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UPM, which has three business groups – energy and pulp, paper and engineered materials – has a new attitude about safety and it’s paying off. UPM, with its 22,000 employees at production plants in 17 countries, has achieved success with a workplace safety initiative that was launched at the beginning of 2012. In the...
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Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries remembers 66 workers who died in 2012 from injuries or illnesses related to the workplace. A young fisherman, a veteran truck driver, a bridge painter and an office manager working at her desk – these are among the 66 people who will be honored this year at the...
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From cigarette smoke to lead to asbestos and more, be sure to banish these indoor environmental hazards from your home and workplace. What better way to celebrate Earth Day this year than to banish the top 10 indoor environmental hazards from your home? The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)’s top 10...
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A 2010 America’s Safest Companies winner shares seven principles for performance excellence in manufacturing. Lockheed Martin Missiles And Fire Control was named one of EHS Today’s America’s Safest Companies in 2010 for, among other reasons, making safety just as much a priority as quality and cost. Now, the global security and aerospace company offers...
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Achieving balance between work and your personal life can make you feel richer than any salary increase. Many American workers overwhelmed by stressful, hectic work schedules are searching for way to achieve both happiness and professional satisfaction. According to Gary Kunath, an entrepreneur, speaker and former CEO who works with some of the world’s...
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A catastrophic explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant has caused multiple injuries and fatalities. On April 17, a massive fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Plant in the town of West, Texas, killed multiple workers, injured more than 160 people and destroyed nearby residences and businesses. read more
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A researcher explains why size matters when it comes to nanotechnology safety. Nanoparticles – engineered materials that measure one-billionth of a meter or smaller – can be found in hundreds of consumer products, including food, lotions, cosmetics and more. But according to one expert, some of the research conducted to determine the health and...
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A settlement between EPA, the U.S. Department of Justice and Tyson Foods Inc. requires the company to conduct third-party audits to reduce threat of accidental chemical releases, purchase emergency equipment for first responders and pay a large fine. EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a Clean Air Act (CAA) settlement with...
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The Obama Administration proposed a Fiscal Year 2014 (FY 2014) budget of $8.153 billion for EPA, $296 million below the EPA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Despite cuts proposed by the Obama administration, “EPA’s FY 2014 budget reflects our firm commitment to keeping American communities across our country healthy and clean, while also taking...
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In this final installment in EHS Today’s special workplace violence series, Brent O’Bryan shares 10 action steps employers can take to address workplace violence. During his presentation at an April 9 workplace violence seminar in Cleveland, Brent O’Bryan, SPHR, vice president of learning and development at Allied Barton Security Services, outlined 10 clear action...
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Domestic violence isn’t just a personal problem – it bleeds into the workplace, too. In the third installment of this workplace violence series, a legal expert explains why domestic violence is a threat to the American workplace. Domestic violence isn’t just a personal problem – it bleeds into the workplace, too. In the third...
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The U.S. Department of Labor has released the fiscal year 2014 budget request, which includes support for job training, veterans and safer workplaces but cuts $53 million from NIOSH’s 2013 appropriation. Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris April 10 released the U.S. Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2014 budget request, saying, “The Department...
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In the second part of this workplace violence series, an expert outlines six common mistakes employers make when disciplining or terminating employees. If an employee is in any way susceptible to becoming violent in the workplace, a company is never more vulnerable than after this worker has been terminated or disciplined. During an April...
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The April 7 explosion at Bartlett Milling Co.’s Statesville, N.C. facility illustrates the need for a combustible dust standard from OSHA, says the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. “Repeat” and possibly even “willful” violations potentially are in store for Bartlett Milling Co., following an explosion at its Statesville, N.C. facility. While no...
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The American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Thought Leaders Project highlights the contributions of industrial hygienists who protect worker health around the world. The second Thought Leaders video from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), features Susan Ripple, MS, CIH. Ripple is the senior manager of the Dow Chemical Co.’s Industrial Hygiene Expertise Center, where she...
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Watch for these warning signs to protect your business from workplace violence. In an April 9 workplace violence seminar hosted by Allied Barton Security Services in Cleveland, Brent O’Bryan offered an overview of workplace violence categories and potential warning signs. read more
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The theme for the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 5-11, is “Safe Workplaces for All.” In 2011, 4,609 people died from on-the-job injuries. The Laser Institute of America (LIA) will join with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and OSHA Alliance partners http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances...
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A lack of escalator safety maintenance caused a Bellevue Square escalator accident that injured seven people. The Washington Department of Labor and Industries has opened an inquiry into the maintenance company. The holiday season turned tragic for seven shoppers at a Belleview, Washington mall on Dec. 6, 2012, when an escalator malfunctioned. The Washington...
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Building and cleaning professionals are at the forefront of making facilities more sustainable. Here are seven tips from Sustainability Dashboard Tools LLC to help building/cleaning professionals in virtually all types of facilities not only become more sustainable, but help reduce operating costs and a building’s overall environmental impact as well:
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Researchers highlight the injury risk surgeons face from needles and sharp objects and recommend increased awareness, reporting and prevention to better protect surgeons’ health and safety. Injuries from needles and sharp objects top the list of occupational hazards for surgeons, according to researchers from the University of Michigan Health System. These injuries could expose...
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EPA claims its proposed standards for cars and gasoline will cost relatively little but will slash air pollution and provide extensive health benefits. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed wat its calling “sensible” standards for cars and gasoline that significantly will reduce pollution and prevent thousands of premature deaths and illnesses, while also...
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The American Industrial Hygiene Association has released a white paper that provides the recommended skills and capabilities for “silica-competent persons.” A key component in preventing overexposure to silica and subsequent disease is to have at least one individual on the job site who is capable of recognizing and evaluating situations where overexposure may be...
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A study of Brazilian bank employees examines the link between job stress and hazardous alcohol consumption. Calling alcohol consumption “a major occupational health concern,” researchers who studied Brazilian bank workers uncovered a potential link between job stress and hazardous drinking. Researchers from the State University of Feira de Santana surveyed 1,696 (1,080) employees of...
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A new OSHA resource helps emergency responders safely respond to combustible dust fires. OSHA has released a new resource, Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust, to provide emergency responders with a framework for responding to combustible dust fires. read more
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A Tacoma couple received jail time and will have to reimburse the state more than $200,000 after they both filed fraudulent workers’ compensation claims in 2009. Jaime Beroth, 63, and her husband Lawrence Beroth, 67, pled guilty to one count each of second-degree theft in Pierce County Superior Court. Both Beroths claimed they were...
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This expert suggests using a cease and desist letter to neutralize workplace bullies. Workplace bullying has become a hot-button topic over the past few years, with statistics suggesting that up to 35 percent of the work force have fallen victim to this alarming trend. Some suggest that bullying victims simply are people who “can’t...
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