Safety+Health

After a seemingly inactive period regarding new standards, OSHA appears to have gathered some regulatory momentum. Since the August publication of a proposed rule on crystalline silica exposure, the agency has been steadily pushing other rules.

Calling current permissible exposure limits “antiquated” and “dangerously out of date,” OSHA administrator David Michaels unveiled two web-based resources he said will help companies keep workers safer around chemicals.

This year’s presentation of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations includes some comparisons with data from previous years.

In his latest column and podcast Richard Hawk offers tips on dealing with discouragement and encouraging others to make a positive difference.

From recycling and renewable energy to community investment and ethical sourcing, sustainability efforts have become a significant part of many company strategies.

National Safety Council President and CEO Janet Froetscher announced her resignation in October. As she prepared to leave NSC to take on new challenges as CEO of Special Olympics, Froetscher reflected on her five years at NSC, including what she learned and how she will continue her personal Journey to Safety Excellence.

When Congress failed to agree on funding levels for fiscal year 2014, which began Oct. 1, the first federal government shutdown in nearly 20 years led to furloughs for thousands of employees, as well as cutbacks of numerous government services.

After a prolonged legal battle, new limits on truck driver hours of service are now in effect. But some industry stakeholders, labor unions and transportation safety advocates continue to disagree on whether the new regulations will increase driver safety and health and how the trucking industry will be affected.

Should workers who violate safety regulations face fines? Several Canadian provinces have implemented penalty systems that allow workers and front-line supervisors to be cited. Should OSHA do the same, or does the responsibility for a safe workplace rest solely with the employer?

Today’s changing workforce presents new variables that have the potential to undermine safety performance if not properly understood.