The busiest part of tropical storm season is just around the corner. Are your employees prepared to stay safe at work? Tropical storms can pose environmental health and safety hazards for employees. These hazards include things such as: carbon monoxide fumes from using generators in poorly ventilated areas, and lead, asbestos and mold growth exposure […]
When the temperature is above 100 degrees F, there’s no doubt an employer has to enact a “water, rest, shade” program for employees working outdoors. But what about somewhat lower, but still hot, temperatures? And how do humidity, direct sunlight and wind speed factor in? An outdoor temperature of 80 degrees doesn’t have the same […]
Timothy Barber, a 35-year-old worker assigned to the Genesee River Bridge Project in western New York, collapsed from heat exhaustion at the end of his shift July 7, 2020. Barber was treated for heat stress, but later died from hyperthermia. It was his second day on the job. OSHA investigators found Barber was doing light […]
New research reveals work-related injuries connected to extreme heat are greatly undercounted. High temperatures cause a great deal more workplace injuries than data from workers’ compensation claims and other official records show, according to the research. Researchers found that on days when temperatures were 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, the overall risk of workplace injuries, no matter […]
How does your heat stress prevention plan stack up against a state regulation which experts are calling the toughest in the nation? Emergency rules to protect Oregon workers from extreme heat have been adopted by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Division following the heat-related death of a farmworker June 26. On July 8, the […]
Here’s a challenging scenario: A scorching summer heatwave is causing problems for workers, even with precautions in place like a supply of cool water and plenty of rest breaks. The workers are drinking water and taking breaks, but the intense heat is affecting them not long after they return to work. What would you do […]
Summer has arrived in the U.S., and with it comes some blisteringly hot temperatures. That means workers are at risk, especially considering that many are out of shape after returning to work following the pandemic. Heat stress is always a concern during the summer months, and this year is no different. Actually, it may be […]
How many times have you heard someone say, “I’ve walked by that a thousand times and never noticed it?” It’s because they’re not actually seeing what has been there the whole time. As safety professionals, most of what we do relies on seeing. Our jobs are mostly about going and looking and seeing what’s there […]
As of April 21, OSHA inspectors have new enforcement guidance when performing inspections involving employee exposure to beryllium dust. This extensive new guidance – which applies to general industry, construction and shipyards – is meant to be an interim measure replacing enforcement guidance that was issued in December 2018. The guidance will be effective until a […]
