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No one wants it to happen, but an emergency, natural or manmade, can strike at anytime, 24/7. What’s more, it need not be a major, nationally-televised incident, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or act of political terror. An event as common as a local building fire can present just as large a challenge to you. These resources will help you create a plan for handling such crises, whatever their scope, and to carry it out in a way that best protects your employees and your company.
Preparedness is crucial when it comes to conducting an organized and thorough response to an emergency situation. In the case of a hazardous substance release, employers subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard must prepare and train their workers for such situations and emergency response […]
Having an emergency action plan developed and in place is crucial for farm worker safety. Here’s what you need to know about farm emergency preparedness.
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine emergency preparedness for farm workers. For farm workers, there are many emergencies and hazards that may occur. To prepare for these events, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that […]
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA), the state’s workplace safety and health agency, recently posted a hazard alert for employers and workers on its website about avian (H5N1) influenza. The fact sheet describes the H5N1 virus, who may be exposed (poultry and livestock workers, veterinarians and their staff, and slaughterhouse workers performing […]
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a report on March 24, marking the 20th anniversary of fatal explosions and fires at the BP America Texas City Refinery in Texas City, Texas. The March 23, 2005, explosions and fires at the BP America refinery led to 15 deaths, 180 injuries, and significant […]
Although 96% of employees think physical safety is a top priority, they’re not sure their employers feel the same way. In fact, most workers overwhelmingly believe their employers put their reputation, productivity, and the bottom line above workplace safety. If a safety incident arises, many workers could be unprepared. You can’t control when an emergency […]
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 prepare for disaster situations. We recently looked at wildfire health and safety hazards following the wildfires in Southern California. California, Oregon, and Washington have state rules addressing the health […]
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a second update on its investigation into a fatal hydrogen sulfide release last year at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The board’s investigation is focused on safe work factors, maintenance policies and procedures, and emergency preparedness at the facility. When the […]
Opioid addiction is a major problem in the U.S. and it can have a serious impact on the workplace. Here are work practices that emergency responders should follow when illicit drugs such as fentanyl are known or suspected to be present.
On episode 236 of EHS On Tap, Tom Heneghan, manager of Preparedness Education and Youth Preparedness at the American Red Cross, talks about the need for emergency planning in light of recent natural disasters.