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.
Free Special Report: 50 Tips for More Effective Safety Training
Young workers are involved in a disproportionate number of forklift accidents. Lack of training, inexperience, and risk taking are all culprits in these accidents. But they are no excuse. Federal laws and regulations require you to protect your young workers and prevent forklift-related incidents. OSHA’s Powered Industrial Truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178) requires you to […]
Many, or perhaps even most, workplaces have something on the premises that would be correctly termed a “confined space.” If you have regulated confined spaces, you need to have a confined spaces program to protect workers. OSHA defines a confined space as a space that is large enough and configured in such a way that […]
OSHA’s permit-required confined spaces standard (29 CFR 1910.146) establishes safety requirements for confined spaces operations from entry to rescue. Compliance with the regulation, however, often raises important questions. Here’s a “best of” selection of the questions BLR® customers have asked us about confined spaces safety requirements, along with some very important answers. Does a company […]
Safety must always be the top priority when driving. Employees driving company vehicles have to understand that, and a comprehensive cell phone policy will reflect your concern Drivers today love their electronic toys. Cell phones and navigation devices allow them to stay connected and find their destinations. These wireless devices have become indispensable, especially with […]
OSHA says that distracted driving is a factor in 25 percent to 30 percent of all traffic crashes. Researchers say that cell phone use while driving is among the biggest distractions—even with hands-free phones. Here’s yet another study about the hazards of using a cell phone and driving. This one, conducted by University of Utah […]
Properly conducted accident investigations analyze and eradicate the hazards that cause accidents. Investigations also educate and motivate to prevent future incidents. Accidents happen. Despite your best efforts, zero accident policies, and well-trained employees, things sometimes go wrong. So what happens after an accident or near miss happens in your facility is a question you have […]
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in one recent year there were 5,488 fatal occupational injuries and 1,158,900 injuries involving days away from work. Add to that all the accidents that resulted in minor injuries, and you have somewhere in the vicinity of 4 million plus recorded workplace accidents. Thorough analysis and understanding of […]
Forklift accidents are costly in both human and economic terms. But those are costs you won’t have to pay if you train your forklift operators to recognize hazards and follow proper operating procedures. Most accidents with forklifts involve pedestrians. The most common hazards include: Having an obstructed view—the operator cannot see the pedestrian because of […]
Most workplaces couldn’t do without forklifts. But they certainly could do without forklift accidents and the resulting injuries. These tips can help keep both forklift operators and pedestrians safe. (These tips are provided courtesy of our sister publication, the Cal/OSHA Compliance Advisor) A truck driver from Iowa delivered new light poles to the football field […]
Because electricity is used in every workplace, the threat of electrocution is present in almost every job. Simple steps can protect workers and prevent electrical accidents. When your employees think of electrical hazards, they may get an image of high voltage overhead power lines. Unless they see such a threat, they may not realize they’re […]