To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, the only constant at work is change, and workers often have to figure out new ways to do things in order to adapt. If that’s not done with safety in mind, however, it can lead to injury or even death. For example, when a piece of equipment isn’t rated […]
The owner of a Richmond, Indiana plastics recycling plant is at fault for a massive ongoing fire and toxic smoke that’s polluting the area, according to city officials. Seth Smith, the plant’s owner, was ordered by Richmond officials to repair or demolish and vacate the unsafe plant in 2019, CNN states. At least one building […]
While tragic shootings at workplaces and schools continue to be a problem in the U.S., it is unlikely that OSHA will begin rulemaking for a general industry workplace violence rule in the near future. The agency is moving forward on its workplace violence standard in the healthcare and social services industries, but there has been […]
The National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents – a week-long event to raise awareness on the hazard sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – is just around the corner. Companies are encouraged to pause work during the week of April 17-21 when and where they are able to provide a […]
A study on outdoor workers and heat illness found that the number of days workers were at or above heat thresholds varied by both regional location and the time of year. Researchers sought to find the relationship between time and location in regard to exposure to extreme heat for those who work outdoors, such as […]
Cal/OSHA has published its proposed indoor heat illness prevention standard, which means the California Standards Board has one year to take action. Following publication of the proposed indoor heat illness prevention standard, there is a 45-day comment period that ends May 18, 2023, with a Standards Board meeting. California already has a heat illness prevention […]
A new study finds that modern coal miners are more likely than their predecessors to die from coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. The study, conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the University of Illinois, Chicago, reveals that modern coal miners have become more […]
A towing vessel’s captain mistaken estimate of a crane’s height caused $1.5 to $2 million in damage and offers a safety lesson for workers in any industry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the probable cause of the incident was the captain’s incorrect estimate of the crane boom height and his decision to […]
Outdoor workers in Washington may be getting increased protections from extreme heat under a proposed update to the state’s permanent heat rules. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed the proposed update, which could see the rule’s trigger temperature lowered, on March 21 along with a request for public input. Currently, the […]
