Workplace Solutions

Tumwater, WA — Spurred by “the real impacts of climate change,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has issued an emergency rule that increases protections for workers exposed to extreme heat and published a hazard alert on heat illness.

When done correctly, incentive programs can boost workplace safety, experts say.

Safety+Health asked PPE manufacturers about the trends they’re seeing, the customer concerns they’re hearing and what’s on the horizon.

What is the leading cause of arc flash, and what procedural changes can be adopted to eliminate the threat?

Identifying and correcting hazards in the workplace helps ensure workers safely return home to their families. OSHA, via its Safe + Sound campaign, says employers can do many things to encourage workers to find and fix hazards.

Aside from being the control center of the vehicle, a truck cab serves as an office for paperwork and phone calls, a break area to rest and eat, a shelter from inclement weather and extreme temperatures, and a storage area for supplies and equipment. As wide-ranging as this multifunctional space is, even more so are the hazards that can be inside and around the cab, cautions KeepTruckingSafe.org.

OSHA requires a direct-reading portable gas detector to test the atmosphere in a confined space before my workers enter. Why is a direct-reading monitor needed instead of an alarm-only monitor?

What’s the difference between fall restraint and fall arrest, and why is it important?

Piscataway, NJ — A recent study of volunteer firefighters shows that their bodies have higher levels of “forever chemicals” than those of people in the general public, and the amount of these potentially harmful substances likely rises with time and exposures.

Washington — NIOSH has issued criteria and interim guidance to help manufacturers produce and design masks intended to protect workers from COVID-19.