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March 25, 2025Understanding and Avoiding Electrocution Risks
Comprehensive training and a robust safety culture are key to preventing electrocution risks in manufacturing settings.
Electrical hazards are one of the most dangerous and often overlooked risks in manufacturing. Many workers assume that factory and production-controlled environments, established protocols, and modern equipment eliminate the possibility of electrocution from high-voltage equipment. However, data proves otherwise.
The manufacturing industry is among the top five industries with the highest number of electrical fatalities. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 74% of workplace electrical fatalities occur in non-electrical occupations, indicating that workers outside of traditional electrical roles face significant risks. Additionally, 28% of all workplace electrical fatalities take place on industrial premises, reinforcing the need for heightened safety awareness -
March 25, 2025Can A Mask Detect Respiratory Health?
A prototype smart mask can check for asthma, COPD, and post-COVID infections.
It is generally accepted that your wearable can help you with health concerns. And there have been instances of a smart watch alerting a wearer to an abnormal heart beat that lead to life-saving procedures.
Well now professor of medical engineering at Caltech, Wei Gao, has developed a prototype for a smart mask that can monitor respiratory health.
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It can check for a range of conditions including asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and post-COVID-19 infections.
It does this by monitoring physical changes such as temperature, humidity, or rate of breathing.
To test the masks, the breath of patients with asthma or COPD were monitored for nitrite, a biomarker for inflammation in both conditions. The results showed that -
March 25, 2025Addressing Hidden Risk in Your Worker Training
Any worker on a company’s property or job site must be sufficiently trained, including contractors and other temporary employees.
Worker safety is a top priority for organizations across all industries, especially considering how dangerous some day-to-day tasks can be. Accidents and human error on the job can lead to serious injury and even death.
Among the many risks supply chain organizations face in today’s dynamic environment, workers are the most unpredictable factor. That’s why all effective risk management strategies begin with worker training.
However, worker training cannot begin and end with an organization’s direct employees. Any worker on a company’s property or job site must be sufficiently trained, including contractors and other temporary employees. These workers often have the same complex responsibilities as permanent staff—requiring an equal understanding of company policies, equipment, -
March 17, 2025Not all work risks are created equal. That’s why it’s important to have additional plans in place to protect those working in confined spaces.
Benjamin Franklin famously once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” but nowhere is this statement clearer—or riskier—than when it comes to worker safety. The more employers can prepare and plan their workers’ safety now, the more successful their safety programs will be down the road. The more updates that employers can make on their existing safety plans and protocols, the more peace of mind they—and their workers—will have when work is being performed.
This applies to working safely in confined spaces. It also applies to the most significant hazard that threatens workers in confined spaces: the lack of preparation and awareness of important occupational procedures and protocols. This encompasses all industries in which its people are required -
March 17, 2025Exoskeletons can reduce injuries and boost productivity—but choosing the right one is critical. Discover key questions safety pros must ask before investing.
Exoskeletons and exosuits, or exos for short, are revolutionizing the workplace. No longer relegated to science fiction or clunky lab prototypes, modern occupational exoskeleton designs boast a strong scientific foundation and real-world performance capabilities. These advancements translate to tangible benefits including reduced injury rates, decreased employee turnover, and increased productivity. With a growing number of models entering the market each year, safety professionals face a crucial question: How do I choose the right exoskeleton for my workforce to effectively address our specific needs?
This article explores key questions to ask vendors before purchasing and implementing exoskeletons. We will focus on back exos, the most prevalent type, as they address the most common workplace needs, but many of these -
March 17, 2025Our latest Industry Insight explores the limitations of compliance-driven safety and provides actionable strategies to help facility managers create safer, more resilient workplaces.
Workplace safety has long been driven by compliance—ensuring organizations meet OSHA regulations and industry standards to avoid fines and liabilities. While compliance is essential, it doesn’t automatically create a safe, sustainable workplace. A true safety-first culture goes beyond regulations, embedding safety into daily operations and decision-making at every level.
For facility managers, safety professionals, and business leaders, transitioning from a compliance-based mindset to a proactive safety culture is key to reducing incidents, increasing employee engagement, and improving overall operational efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore why compliance alone is not enough and provide actionable strategies to create a workplace where safety isn’t just a requirement—it’s a core value. -
March 03, 2025OSHA Changes, Confined Spaces and the Future of Safety Training: What You’re Reading in February
A look back at February’s most popular content, as determined by you.
Whew! February felt like January, the sequel.
The past few weeks were a figurative and literal trudge through the snow, but I’m starting to see some small seeds of change. The snow is melting, the sun has peered through the clouds a few times and I’m starting to feel changes take root.
I’ve always found that when you’re toiling in the weeds, that it’s a lot of faith and trust: in yourself, in the process, in patience. When it seems like nothing is happening—or perhaps that something should have happened by now—you usually have to wait a few weeks longer.
I can see that in our metrics for February, too. You’re checking to see what’s going on in the our nation’s capital because you want to know -
March 03, 2025OSHA’s Final PPE Rule for Construction: What Contractors Need to Know
Making sure that your workforce has proper fitting PPE will avoid OSHA violations for the new rule, says Matthew Cox of Smith Currie Oles LLP.
OSHA’s final rule took effect regarding the standard for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. (See U.S. Dept. of Labor Release No. 24-2453-NAT, incorporating 29 CFR § 1926.28 though 29CFR 1926.95(c)).
PPE, which includes hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets, hearing protection, respirators, coveralls, vests, harnesses, and full body suits, is now required to be made available in proper sizes by companies in the construction industry to their workforces. (See 29 CFR § 1926.95 (Criteria for personal protective equipment); see also https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment/construction). -
March 03, 2025Top 7 trends in health and safety for the Middle East in 2025
From upgrades to breakthroughs, 2025 is set to bring new innovations for health and safety across the Middle East and Africa. Discover the trends, tech, and transformations defining the future.
From sustainability to smart PPE, discover the top trends shaping workplace health and safety across the Middle East and Africa in 2025. Credit: patcharee pornsipak/istock
In brief:
Focus shifts: IOSH and NEBOSH prioritise sustainability, leadership and mental health.
Tech innovation: Intersec 2025 highlighted wearables, AI analytics, hydrogen safety and digital twins.
Key insights from NEBOSH Day: Leadership, governance and sustainability as central themes.
In detail:
2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for health and safety in the Middle East and Africa.
With technological advancements, regulatory developments and evolving risks in high-hazard -
March 03, 2025New Guidance to Prevent MSD Injuries
The National Safety Council says resource provides research-backed strategies to address musculoskeletal disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, remain the most common workplace injury of the 2.6 million workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The cost of these injuries is $18 billion a year for U.S. businesses in the private sector, said the National Safety Council.
To address this critical safety challenge, the group released a new resource on February 25, The Importance of Musculoskeletal Disorder and Related Injury Surveillance: An Organizational Approach.
"MSDs are entirely preventable, and prevention starts with understanding where and how these injuries occur,” said Katherine Mendoza, senior director of workplace safety
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