An OSHA citation against Walmart involving a warehouse employee struck by falling product was vacated by the Occupational Safety and Health Commission because of a misinterpretation of the definition of “tier.” The citation – which was for failing to safely block product stacked in tiers – was initially upheld by an administrative law judge, but […]
Just one week before the holiday, the CDC recommended the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is with the people in your household. In case you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, we’re also highlighting a cooking safety hazard, courtesy of William Shatner. More than one million COVID-19 cases were reported in the […]
A meter reader who claimed a job-related dog bite caused severe “dog phobia” had a “bark bigger than her bite,” according to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Linda Jordan was working when a dog viciously bit her right forearm, which she said was so traumatic she fainted at the sight of dogs […]
The first, important step to creating a solid worker safety program is with a thorough risk assessment of the workplace. But what many people don’t know is that risk assessments are not a one-time project. Does your workplace stay the same over the years, with the same staff and conditions? No, not often. It changes […]
Fatigue and insufficient safety training led to the fatal collision between a U.S. Navy destroyer and a Philippine container ship. The June 17, 2017, collision between USS Fitzgerald and ACX Crystal was caused by fatigue and a lack of training among the Fitzgerald’s crew, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Seven Fitzgerald crew members […]
A malfunctioning hydrogen sulfide alarm system may have led to the deaths of a worker and his wife who were overcome by the deadly gas. Testing of the alarm system following the tragic incident suggests it may not have been performing as expected, according to a factual update report provided by the U.S. Chemical Safety […]
Virginia is the first state in the nation to adopt workplace safety standards to address the coronavirus. The state‘s Safety and Health Codes Board adopted the emergency temporary standard on infectious disease prevention – drafted under the direction of Governor Ralph Northam – by a 9-2 vote July 15. Virginia is mandating PPE, sanitation, social […]
OSHA published its final rule July 13, revising the beryllium standard for general industry. Changes made in the final rule are meant to clarify the standard and simplify compliance. The deadline for compliance with the final standard – which will affect about 50,500 workers – is Sept. 14, but OSHA has been enforcing most of […]
Workers employed by two McDonald’s franchises in Chicago now have more protection against the coronavirus thanks to a court order forcing the restaurants to comply with state mask and social distancing requirements. The June 24 court order was the result of a class action lawsuit brought against several franchise owners by employees concerned for their […]
