Thomas J. Bukowski

With limited time and resources, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is focusing its intervention efforts on the commercial motor carriers that pose the greatest risk to safety on U.S. roadways. At issue: What is the best way to determine which carriers have the greatest future crash risk and are most in need of intervention?

How many AEDs should a workplace have? What is the “proximity rule” regarding first aid? Meeting – and exceeding – OSHA’s requirements for first aid can help ensure workers are treated as quickly as possible in the event of an injury.

The federal government is seeking to require trucking companies to install electronic onboard recorders to track driver compliance with hours-of-service regulations. Critics of the mandate cite harassment concerns and the potential for device tampering, while at least one supporter calls it “the best thing to happen to this industry” in years.

NIOSH and other safety experts tout the benefits of Prevention through Design, a method used to integrate safety into every aspect of a process, product or facility during the design stage. So why hasn’t it become a common practice?

A safety professional’s credibility among the workers he or she protects can be undercut by stereotypes such as the “safety cop” who is “always getting in the way of productivity” or “only being there to hand out citations.” How can a safety professional turn around or avoid negative perceptions?

Workers who clean buildings are one of the most injury-prone worker groups, facing hazards such as chemical and environmental exposure; musculoskeletal disorders; and slips, trips and falls. What steps should supervisors and building management take to protect these workers from harm?