When we think about our daily routines, many people sit more than they stand throughout their day. We wake up in the morning and we sit to read the newspaper and drink our coffee. We leave for work and we sit in our cars or public transit each way. Once we get to work, most […]
A quality powered equipment program has many different components, without each one, the program fails, not just from a regulatory aspect, but more importantly from a safety standpoint. The foundation of a quality powered industrial vehicle program is started with a quality policy. An excellent policy should be broad based, covering all known and potential […]
The universal waste regulations at 40 CFR 273 are less burdensome alternatives to the RCRA requirements of 40 CFR 260–270 that apply to regular hazardous waste. Part of US EPA’s reason for creating universal waste rules was that small and conditionally exempt (now called “very small”) generators create a high volume of universal waste. Without […]
As you advance your team in a quality accident investigation program, it is imperative to continue their training to improve their skills. This accident investigation training is for intermediate level, so it is best recommended to start with the beginner’s training. 5 Step Investigative Process Response Fact Finding Analysis Corrective Action Follow-up The investigation process […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) came into being in 1970 with a view to helping employers and their employees reduce workplace accidents, deaths and illnesses. The good news is that since OSHA was enacted, there has been a 60% reduction in workplace illnesses and injuries. The act has consequently reduced workmen’s compensation costs […]
There is a preoccupation in most industries for measuring safety using the frequency or severity of lost time accidents and incidents. Regrettably, there is only a very tenuous link between safety in the workplace and the number of lost time accidents. The reasons for this are many and varied but it is becoming fairly obvious […]
With over 40,000 workers injured annually due to fall accidents, falls in the workplace present a major risk for employers and workers. The ideal method of fall prevention is to eliminate all potential fall hazards, but this is not a realistic solution for most workplaces. Fall prevention systems like guard rails and barriers are not […]
As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide a safe working environment for your employees. A great tool at your disposal, often overlooked is incident investigation. So many employers document an incident, taking statements, and cataloging that information away, until the next accident happens. BUT, if you instead investigate every incident, both near miss […]
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) has issued numerous safety standards for specific industries, mandating that employers require employees in those industries require employees to use personal protection equipment (PPE) on the job. For instance, hard hats are required in the construction industry as well as the use of fall protection equipment. Some OSHA standards […]
You’ve probably heard the famous quote from General Eisenhower about plans being useless but planning essential. It’s as valid today as it was when IKE first used it but maybe we should ask, “If plans are so useless, why do we bother writing them?” Part of the problem is how we use plans. To many […]