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Recognizing and Preventing Alcohol Abuse

One in five workers says they have been put in danger or injured because of a co-worker’s substance abuse. To keep your workplace safe, you have to recognize alcohol abuse that affects job performance and take steps to correct the problem. Recognizing alcohol abuse is the first step in preventing it in your workplace. A […]

No Fooling: April Is Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol and workplace safety don’t mix. If any of your employees are reporting to work under the influence, they’re putting themselves and others at risk. Take advantage of Alcohol Awareness Month to promote an alcohol-free and drug-free workplace. Workplace use of alcohol and drugs is a problem that costs American businesses more than $100 billion […]

Do I Need to Test Employees After Training?

Testing helps you know what your workers learned from training so you can predict if they will perform their work more safely following training. Today our Safety Training Tips editor talks about the kinds of tests that are available and how to go about writing them. True-False tests give you a good idea of what […]

Hazmat Training: What Employees Need to Know

There’s a lot your hazmat employees need to know about the hazardous materials they work with. Inadequate knowledge is dangerous. Proper training is the only way to ensure safety. The first thing hazmat employees need to know is how to recognize and identify hazardous materials and specific hazards. To do this they have to: Read […]

Hazmat Training? You Need a Plan

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA’s) hazmat training requirements are nonspecific. But one thing is crystal clear: You are legally responsible for making sure hazmat employees are properly trained. According to PHMSA regulations, hazmat training should ensure that employees can identify hazardous materials, understand regulatory requirements, know how to prevent accidents, and know […]

Take Action Now to Reduce Ergonomic Risks

Reducing ergonomic risks in your workplace can have substantial benefits such as fewer MSD incidents, fewer lost workdays, lower workers’ comp costs, improved productivity and morale, and greater safety. You can reduce ergonomic risks in your workplace by using: Engineering controls, such as redesigning workstations, tools, and equipment to increase worker comfort and prevent MSDs […]

OSHA Proposes MSD Change for OSHA Form 300

OSHA is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting (recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The proposed rule wouldn’t change the existing requirements for when and under what circumstances you must record MSDs on your injury and illness log. […]

Forklift Battery Safety

While most forklift safety talks center around tipovers, forklift batteries present serious hazards, too. Our Safety Training Tips editor says forklift drivers and others who work around forklifts and on forklift maintenance need to know the hazards and how to protect themselves with proper precautions. Make sure workers know the hazards of forklift batteries. Hazards […]

5 Keys to Effective Hearing Conservation

Noise isn’t a new hazard in the workplace, but it’s one that sometimes doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Repeated, unprotected exposure to loud noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. OSHA requires you to implement a hearing conservation program when information (such as noise monitoring) indicates that any employee’s exposure may equal or exceed […]

Safe-in-Sound Awards Promote Hearing Loss Prevention

Monday and Tuesday we talked about eye protection. Today, we turn to the important subject of hearing conservation. The inaugural Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards were awarded in 2009 by NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) to four U.S. employers that "have shown their dedication to the prevention of noise-induced hearing […]