With the extreme cold and number of power outages across the nation, now is a good time to remind workers about the dangers of using fuel-burning generators without sufficient ventilation. Every year, workers die from CO poisoning, usually while using fuel-burning equipment, tools, compressors and pumps, gas-powered forklifts and other devices in buildings or semi-enclosed […]
OSHA issued a proposed rule on Feb. 5 updating the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The proposed rule is meant to increase worker protections and reduce chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries by improving information provided on labels and in […]
Safety professionals know about procedures – you eat, breathe and probably dream about them – but as English poet Geoffrey Chaucer once said, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” In other words, a person can get so caught up in procedures that they overlook an important component or aspect of that procedure, which could eventually lead to trouble. […]
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 […]
