Safety
Focus on Forklift Safety
Forklifts weigh more than three tons, and can reach a speed of 10 mph. These mechanical giants are great at assisting labor, yet can also be a source of danger. OSHA estimates that 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries involving forklifts occur annually. Further, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 96…
Read MoreOSHA’s 2017 Most Frequently Cited Violations
Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, revealed the list of Top 10 OSHA violations for 2017 (preliminary) at the National Safety Congress and Expo in Indiana on Sept. 26 in Indianapolis. The Top Citations of 2017: “One thing I’ve said before in the past on this is, this list doesn’t…
Read MoreHow Much Does a Workplace Accident Cost You?
Workplace injuries and accidents that cause employees to miss six or more days of work cost U.S. employers $59.9 billion in 2014, the most recent year for which statistically valid injury data are available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). How can a workplace accident affect your company? Let’s break it down by…
Read MoreReporting Near Misses
What is a near miss? A Near Miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage; in other words, a miss that was nonetheless very near. Though…
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Drivers Safe on the Road
Why does workplace motor vehicle safety matter? Millions of workers drive or ride in a vehicle as part of their jobs, and crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the United States. Who is at risk? All workers are at risk of crashes, whether they drive light or heavy vehicles, or whether driving…
Read MoreNational Safety Month Week 4: Don’t Just Sit There (Focusing on Ergonomics)
If you have back pain, you’re not alone. About 80% of the U.S. population will experience back pain issues at some point in their lives, and 31 million will experience low-back pain at any given time. Most of these cases are not caused by serious underlying conditions, but from actions like improper lifting technique. How…
Read MoreNational Safety Month: Prepare for Active Shooters
Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases go unreported. Government statistics show that fatal workplace shootings are increasing, and experts say revenge is often the motive. The most recent records by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show workplace homicides rose by 2 percent to…
Read MoreSafe + Sound Week 2017
This week is a nationwide event led by OSHA called “Safe + Sound Week.” What Is Safe + Sound Week? A nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces. Why…
Read MoreJune is National Safety Month – Week 1: Stand Up to Falls
Did you know that June is National Safety Month? Observed annually, National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities. The National Safety Council focuses on different, but equally important, topics each week. The first week’s topic is “Stand Up…
Read MorePreventing Hearing Damage From Occupational Noise Exposure
Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss, and one of the most common occupational illnesses in the United States. Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. Over the last 20 years, government agencies have consistently identified Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) as one of the top…
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