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A THREAT FOR ALL DRIVERS

Drowsy driving & worker safety

Truckers and bus drivers aren’t the only workers at risk for driving while fatigued

January 25, 2015

Tom Musick

One Comment

Truck and bus drivers are not the only workers whose safety and health is threatened by drowsy driving, experts say. Many non-professional drivers in oil and gas, home health care, sales, shift work and other areas also could be put at risk. What can employers do to help?

ASKING AGAIN

CSB renews call for combustible dust standard

January 15, 2015

The Chemical Safety Board has reiterated its call for OSHA to promulgate a comprehensive combustible dust standard.

A DANGEROUS PROFESSION

Keeping linemen safe

Utility workers often face life-threatening hazards to get the job done

December 21, 2014

Tom Musick

14 Comments

Utility linemen face a variety of on-the-job hazards. From high-voltage contact and confined spaces to working at height and exposure to inclement weather, what’s being done to promote a culture of safety within the industry?

IMPORTANCE OF DATA ACCURACY

State of Safety 2015

December 21, 2014

Kyle W. Morrison

2 Comments

Safety professionals, government agencies and researchers rely on injury and illness data to understand how workers are getting hurt, and to determine where to direct prevention efforts. But is that data accurate?

FALLS UP; OVERALL INJURIES DOWN

BLS releases third report on 2013 injury data; same-level falls up

December 16, 2014

The rate of fall injuries leading to days away from work increased in 2013, according to data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

HOUSE, SENATE PASS OSHA BUDGET AGREEMENT

House, Senate pass budget agreement giving slight bump to OSHA

December 15, 2014

A weekend session of Congress resulted in passage of a $1.1 trillion budget agreement that will provide stable funding to OSHA and other federal safety agencies.

PART TWO: OSHA RECORDKEEPING

More data, more problems?

A forthcoming rule may increase the amount and timeliness of injury data available to OSHA and the public. But stakeholders have concerns.

November 23, 2014

Kyle W. Morrison

No Comments

As OSHA prepares to issue a final rule that would significantly increase the amount of injury data it collects from employers – and release it to the public – stakeholder concerns continue. Among them: How OSHA will ensure the privacy of injured workers, and could the data unintentionally cast some employers in a bad light? (Part two of a two-part article.)

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OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION

'Fracking' and worker safety

U.S. oil boom is in full swing, as are questions about hazards

November 23, 2014

Tom Musick

No Comments

Technological advances have led to a steep increase in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the oil and gas industry. As fracking ramps up, questions have arisen about what is being done to protect workers from both short- and long-term hazards.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Returning to work

Successful programs can help lower employer costs, including workers' compensation

September 28, 2014

Kyle W. Morrison

3 Comments

Workers' compensation costs are increasing nationwide, but experts say those costs – as well as fears on the part of injured workers – can be reduced with a well-designed return-to-work program.

CHEMICAL FACILITY SAFETY

Inherently Safer Design

The concept gains attention as chemical facility incidents continue to occur

September 28, 2014

Tom Musick

No Comments

After investigating a series of recent fires, explosions and toxic leaks at chemical plants, the Chemical Safety Board has emphasized the need for Inherently Safer Design. What does the term mean, and how can employers use the principles of ISD to create safer workplaces?