Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Safety is a process, and as such, needs to be managed. This section offers resources to create a viable safety program, sell it to senior management, train supervisors and employees in using it, and then track and report your progress. Look also for ways to advance your own skills in these areas, both for your current job, and those that follow.
Accountability for injury and incident prevention can vary significantly from organization to organization. Who is ultimately responsible in your company? Does everyone understand his or her role and responsibilities? In a safer workplace, management responsibilities include: Providing a workplace free from recognized hazards Evaluating workplace conditions, and controlling or eliminating potential hazards Complying with all […]
Yesterday, we introduced the link between maintenance and safety in the workplace. Today the Advisor reports on an interview with two safety experts who say the link is real and significant—and can have a very positive impact on your organization’s bottom line as well as its safety performance. When maintenance is proactive, the impact on […]
What’s the relationship between keeping people safe and keeping equipment is safe? Does better maintenance really yield better safety? That’s the topic of today’s Advisor. There are three types of maintenance: Routine or preventive maintenance is conducted to keep equipment working and/or extend its life. An example is a scheduled overhaul or replacement. Corrective maintenance […]
Yesterday, we talked about the risks and costs of worker fatigue. Today, we focus on what you can do to deal with it before it causes an accident. One encouraging sign of action on the issue of worker fatigue is a 2012 guidance document published by an American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) […]
You can’t personally tuck your workers in when it’s their bedtime, but there’s plenty you can do to tackle the serious safety problem of fatigue on the job. America is a tired country. About 20% of us get less than 6 hours of sleep on average, and the number of those who say they get […]
On-the-job eye injuries can have devastating consequences, such as chemical burns or blindness. Despite these potential hazards, 85% of industrial workers in a Kimberly-Clark Professional survey said they had observed others failing to wear eye protection when they should have been. "This high rate of noncompliance seriously jeopardizes worker health and safety. In many instances, […]
Yesterday, we provided answers to some important questions about OSHA’s lockout/tagout rules. Today, we treat you to two more. Q. If equipment has a safety interlock and it’s own safety disconnect built in the unit, would it still need to be included in a lockout/tagout policy? A. According to 1910.147(c)(4)(i), procedures must be developed, documented, […]
OSHA has specific and strict rules about lockout/tagout. Today, we present some questions BLR has received about this issue and the answers BLR safety experts have given. Q. Can a duplicate key for the purpose of lock removal under LOTO be held in a secure area with a procedure in place for access to the […]
Yesterday, we presented the views of two leaders in workplace safety on closing the gap between safety as a value and safety culture. Today, we conclude with the thoughts of a third. Jeff Ruebesam, VP of Global Health, Safety and Environmental at Fluor Corporation, spoke about his company’s use of leading indicators to measure employee […]
There is a gap between the value of worker safety and the culture of safety in many organizations. Closing the gap is a major concern for safety professionals and executive managers. Jeff Ruebesam, VP of Global Health, Safety and Environmental at Fluor Corporation, spoke about his company’s use of leading indicators to measure employee engagement […]