Category: Injuries and Illness

Modern safety management goes beyond covering traditional workplace accidents to now being equally concerned with illnesses caused on and even off the job. This section will explain what you need to know to avoid both injuries and illnesses, and to track your progress in reaching this goal.

COVID-19 coronavirus

COVID-19: OSHA Urges Businesses to Prepare for Outbreak

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued guidance on preparing workplaces for a COVID-19 outbreak. The guide explains how COVID-19 could affect workplaces and steps employers can take to reduce workers’ risk of exposure.

California State Flag

Cal/OSHA Issues Interim Guidelines for COVID-19

On March 6, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) notified employers the agency has developed interim guidelines for general industry employers on the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Cal/OSHA also issued updated guidance for healthcare facilities about the efficient use of respirator supplies.

First aid kit

Was That Incident Recordable … or Just First Aid?

Many EHS professionals wonder whether they are in proper compliance with all of the recordkeeping requirements issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). One question they often have, especially in the immediate aftermath of an incident in the workplace, is if the occurrence was a recordable injury (i.e., one that must be included […]

Disinfecting spray, wipes

COVID-19: EPA Releases List of Registered Disinfectants

The EPA has released a list of 82 registered disinfectant products that have been qualified for use against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Coronavirus

Coronavirus: CDC Updates N95 Respirator Strategy for COVID-19

On February 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its strategy for optimizing the supply of N95 respirators for healthcare workers. The CDC also has developed and continues to update guidance for commercial airlines and shipping for handling known or suspected cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus […]

Safety supervisor, leader

Early Intervention Key to Better Worker Safety

I don’t have to tell you that worker safety is a big deal—like a $161.5 billion big deal (the total cost of worker injuries, according to recent available data). Or, another way to look at it is $1,100 per worker or $39,000 per medically consulted injury. As I said, I don’t have to tell you […]

Healthy, happy worker

NIOSH Develops Research Agenda for Healthy Work Design

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a research agenda into healthy work design and worker well-being. The institute recently released a final version of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for Healthy Work Design and Well-Being. A draft version was released March 2019.

Silica dust at construction site

Crystalline Silica: OSHA Revises Its National Emphasis Program

On February 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for enforcement of the construction, general, and maritime industry standards for respirable crystalline silica exposure. OSHA canceled the 2008 Crystalline Silica NEP in October 2017. The replacement NEP addresses enforcement of OSHA’s amended standards for respirable crystalline silica—promulgated March […]

Coronavirus

Cal/OSHA Issues Guidance on Coronavirus

On February 3, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued interim guidance covering the safety and health requirements when providing care for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and laboratories testing samples for the pathogen.