Five Common Ergonomics Mistakes
Ergonomics (also known as human factors engineering) is defined as the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. OSHA, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC/NIOSH) both have dedicated pages of information regarding the role of ergonomics in the workplace. It also has a role in prevention of workplace injuries and disabilities. The American Psychological Association (APA) also published a widely distributed article regarding ergonomics and it’s role in long-term mental health and fitness.
For those not familiar with the study of ergonomics, any serious manager, foreman or supervisor needs to become at least somewhat aware of it’s tenets in order to provide a comfortable workplace. Ergonomics is a globally-recognized science with a body of validated research… Continue reading
OSHA 30 Online course an inexpensive way to build needed safety awareness
A Mentor Ohio company is paying the price big time for failing to follow and adequately train its employees on OSHA health and safety regulations. Metal Seal Precision, LTD is facing $56,700 in OSHA penalties due to multiple health and safety violations. And, after a plant fire that followed the OSHA penalties, the price is now a whole lot steeper.
Workplace safety is no laughing matter and there can be serious consequences for businesses who do not make safety, including regular OSHA safety training, a top priority. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires all employers to ensure worker safety through a combination of written safety policies and adequate OSHA-standard worker safety training, such as an OSHA 30 online… Continue reading
Infographic: Crisis Management Plan
We all know that we need to plan for the unexpected, but so often companies don’t do it. I think part of the reason for this is that managers don’t even know where to start. I recently read a blog post by Brenda Percy that laid out the basic pieces of a simple but effective crisis management plan. Although Brenda’s article is very clear, with her permission we prepared an infographic to complement it for 2 reasons. First, some people are simply visual learners and infographics are great for conveying the principles quickly and cleanly. Second, if you’ve read Brenda’s article already, this infographic is a way to help you remember the key… Continue reading
Answers to OSHA Pro’s Welding Safety Quiz
Test Your Welding Safety Knowledge – Answers
STOP! If you have not taken the quiz, Click Here
What is the most common injury to a welder?
Burns and eye injuries are the most common injuries to welders due to sparks landing on the skin or in the eyes. Infrared and ultraviolet radiation are also sources of eye injuries and burns. Infrared radiation can cause retinal burning and cataracts. IR is usually felt as heat. Ultraviolet radiation cannot be felt as heat, but can cause an eye burn known as “Welder’s Flash.” Welding arcs are very intense and can cause burns to skin and eyes with just a few minutes of exposure. Even brief exposure to… Continue reading
OSHA HAZWOPER Training Infographic
A while back I wrote a post about how OSHA’s HAZWOPER training requirements were still confusing after all these years. But if you’re anything like me, sometimes it’s easier to see the requirements graphically. So my staff has created an infographic to help you figure out just who needs what.
Here’s the infographic. Feel free to post on your site as needed.
OSHA HAZWOPER training infographic
The Importance of Fall Protection
Fall Protection Still Important in Safety Plans
Fall protection is an essential part of any workplace- particularly those workplaces that involve working from heights such as on scaffolding or aerial lifts. Many employers enact a fall protection or rescue plan for dealing with emergencies in such a situation.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) launched a dedicated fall prevention campaign in April of last year, dedicated towards providing the education and equipment necessary to ensure worker safety on-the-job. Falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities in the US, with more than 200 killed and 10,000 wounded annually. OSHA feels that, even with the risk of working in high places, these numbers are avoidable. While many employers… Continue reading
Worker Safety Jeopardized
Willful Disregard of OSHA Standards Costs Lives and Money
Risking Worker Safety is Never Worth Saving Money
Some companies simply refuse to comply with OSHA standards, whether to save money or make a statement. Unfortunately, this illegal activity often causes serious risks for workers, and worker safety is OSHA’s #1 priority. U.S. Minerals, LLC, a company that produces roofing granules, abrasive materials, and coal slag, has been cited with no less than 11 separate health and safety violations following an OSHA inspection in September of 2013.
This marks only the most recent set of citations, with worker safety in jeopardy at nearly every U.S. Minerals location. These recent citations stemmed from inspection of the company’s Harvey, La.… Continue reading
Need a Hand With OSHA’s Safety Regulations?
Choose Hand Safety. Your hands are the best way you can manipulate the environment around you. Picking up objects, holding utensils, using hand tools, none of this would be possible without flexible fingers and opposable thumbs. Since they’re so important to your day-to-day life (and if you don’t think so, you’ve clearly never had the pleasure of trying to open a bottle of ketchup with one hand in a cast), it’s important to protect your hands while on the job.
From Hand Tools to Protective Gloves- OSHA Regulations Provide A Helping Hand in the Workplace!
With just that goal in mind, the Center for Construction Research and Training is proud to unveil www.choosehandsafety.org, a worker safety website… Continue reading
Defiance in the Face of OSHA
Repeat Violators Risk More Severe Fines for Defiance
OSHA Makes the Rules for a Reason
Repeat citations are nothing to take lightly, especially when they involve workplace hazards and worker safety. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration exists to ensure that employers provide a safe, secure work environment and respect the rights of their workforce. While OSHA enforces its regulations with regular inspections and facilitating communication between its officials, employers, and employees; compliance is an exercise in trust, and all too often that trust is broken by unscrupulous companies.
Case in point: Gaspar, Inc. An Ohio-based boiler manufacturer, Gaspar, Inc. has been cited on multiple occasions for workplace safety violations- seemingly intentional. The initial violation was in reference to… Continue reading
Syracuse Safety Breach Prompts OSHA Citation
OSHA Citation Hits Paper Mill in New York
The Burrows Paper Corp of Little Falls, New York, faces OSHA’s ire this month as a slew of safety violations threatens to endanger workers. The company now faces an OSHA citation and $298,100 in proposed fines, the product of an investigation concentrated on their Syracuse office and citing major concerns for worker health and safety.
The resulting OSHA citation, with numerous violations found, could be damning for the company.
What drew OSHA’s attention to an otherwise-unremarkable paper manufacturer? Burrows Paper Corp had been reporting a higher-than-average incidence of worker illness and injury in 2009 and 2010, and through OSHA’s site-specific targeting program, an inspection was initiated. The results were shocking. The… Continue reading