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September 21, 2023Grants totaling $12.7 million were given to 100 non-profit organizations to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards.
The U.S. Department of Labor, on Setpt. 19, announced that OHSA has awarded approximately $12.7 million in grants to 100 non-profit organizations across the nation to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards, employ injury prevention and understand workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under federal law.
Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants are being awarded in three categories, namely Targeted Topic Training, Training and Educational Materials Development and Capacity Building grants.
“The award of Susan Harwood Training Grants remind us of Dr. Harwood’s important contributions -
September 21, 20235 Social Disclosure Trends That Companies Must Understand
Companies are increasingly focusing on social elements in their sustainability reports, says Verdandix.
In order to help companies stay informed about the ever- changing regulatory landscape, Priyanka Bawa, industry analyst at Verdandix offered these five trends in a recent blog.
- Growing scrutiny of human rights in supply chains. With the looming confirmation of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the 2023 enforcement of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the UK government’s intent to tighten reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act, the global crackdown on human rights abuses is set to build more momentum.
- Higher penalties for poor quality disclosures and for bad social performance. There
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September 21, 2023Wearables can help encourage safe body movements that reduce the risk of overexertion or strains and pulls.
Beemal Vasani
There have been distinct revolutions that have changed the way we look at manufacturing and industry. From the first introduction of steam power to electricity to computers and automation, these tide shifts have transformed our conceptions of efficiency and manufacturing complexity.
Now, as we enter the fourth revolution in industry, we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the interconnectedness of humans and technology can truly accomplish when expressed to their full potential. From what we’ve seen, however, it’s safe to say that the introduction of wearable tech can have a dramatic impact on occupational health and safety of workers as well as -
September 21, 2023Seasonal and temporary hires are a necessity for a number of industries from manufacturing and warehousing down to shipping, logistics, and even agriculture. They’re the lifeblood that carries businesses through their busiest seasons.
Yet as businesses staff up to meet increased demand in summer months through the holidays, it can be difficult to maintain the same standard of safety as long-term hires. With this lack of consistency in safety practices, it’s no surprise that summer months see higher rates of workplace accidents.
By investing in workplace safety measures and leveraging emerging technology, companies can mitigate accidents — particularly for seasonal workers — which can save money in the long run and simultaneously support long-term staffing needs. At the end of the day, an engaged workforce that feels part of a broader -
September 12, 2023
Back to Basics: Wearables, Robotics, and Exoskeletons
New technologies such as wearables, robotics, and exoskeletons will likely have a huge effect on the work being done by EHS professionals. During the National Safety Council’s 2023 Workplace Safety Summit in June, Dr. John Howard, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) spoke about sensors, robots, and exoskeletons, and how to introduce wearables into the workplace.
Wearable sensors
Howard stated that according to the theory of robotics, robots process information by first sensing, using data inputs from sensors, then thinking, using artificial intelligence, and then acting. There are two types of robots: steel-collar, which are physical devices, and white-collar, which are software programs like Alexa. According to data from the international Federation of Robotics, approximately 49,000 industrial -
September 12, 2023Chemical Safety Board Applauds EPA Hydrogen Fluoride Initiative
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) updated National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs), which continue the EPA’s focus on reducing risks of accidental releases at industrial and chemical facilities.
For the first time, the EPA’s initiatives emphasize inspecting and addressing noncompliance at facilities that use highly toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF), the chemical safety board said in an August 31 statement.
In recent years, the CSB has investigated several incidents involving a release of HF or a “near miss” of an HF release that put nearby communities at risk.
A major fire and explosions in 2019 at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resulted in the release of more -
September 12, 2023
Preventing Back Injuries
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to prevent back injuries in the workplace.
Many industries, ranging from nursing and construction to manufacturing and office work, can place significant demands on your back. Back pain can make it difficult to concentrate at work and lead to injuries. So, it’s important to understand what causes back injuries in the workplace and what you can do to prevent them.
Back injury causes
Three primary safety hazards in the workplace that can lead to back injuries include:
1.Force
. The most common cause of back injury in the workplace is force, such as lifting or carrying a heavy object.
2.Repetition
. Repetitive strain on the back, such -
September 04, 2023Many organizations are not doing enough to address fall hazards, and their employees are paying the price.
Over the past decade, businesses and regulators have focused more on preventing fatal workplace falls. Unfortunately, falls continue to occur at an alarming rate. Falls are one of the leading causes of workplace death in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Although fall prevention has been a big topic of conversation within construction for many years, no industry is safe from fall hazards. In 2020, 368 construction workers died from falls, while 805 workers across all sectors lost their lives to falls.
Despite the high incident rate and increased awareness, many companies continue to struggle with fall prevention. In fact, fall protection has been the most cited OSHA violation for the past decade.
One of the most -
September 04, 2023Workplaces can have numerous chemicals and hazardous substances on-site, and that can spell disaster. That’s why having an updated inventory along with safety data sheets is key to keeping workers safe.
It’s easy to get distracted by shiny new tools and gadgets. But sometimes, it’s important to focus on fundamentals.
There’s no better place to start than on Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), says David Sousa, occupational safety and health manager at Pharmaron Manufacturing Services (US) LLC.
They may not be flashy, but SDSs are critical to ensuring several health and safety programs are up to date and workers know what to do in the event of an emergency. Plus, an accurate chemical inventory will help companies maintaining reporting and compliance with Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational -
September 04, 2023Safe Workers, Safe Rooftops: A Comprehensive Look at Common Hazards and Fall Protection Solutions
General Industry Fall Safety Standards:
While construction codes govern activities during the erection or renovation of a structure, General Industry codes extend to ongoing maintenance and operation. This guide focuses on the nuances of the General Industry code, shedding light on the fall protection regulations for individuals involved in long-term building maintenance.
Ensuring Safety: The Hierarchy of Fall Protection:
The Hierarchy of Fall Protection is a four-level approach that maximizes rooftop safety. It begins with inspecting the roof site for potential hazards and then implementing a complete system solution that descends down the hierarchy levels. These levels include elimination of risks, collective systems,
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