Category: Special Topics in Safety Management
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.
A recent poll finds that sleepiness affects the job performance of many workers, particularly in the transportation field. The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2012 Sleep in America® poll is the first poll to ask transportation professionals, including pilots, train operators, and truck, bus, taxi, and limo drivers about their sleep habits and work performance. The […]
Whistleblower violations can be costly, both in dollars and in the kind of publicity no company wants. Here’s a case in point. OSHA has found that Norfolk Southern Railway Co. violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) and has ordered the company to pay three whistleblowers $802,168.70 in damages, including […]
The issue of employer liability for motor vehicle crashes, especially in distraction-related accidents, is heating up as more of these cases make it through the legal system. Yesterday, we talked about distracted driving policies. Having a policy can do more than put employees on notice that you’re serious about phone use. It can even potentially […]
The battle against driving distractions is being fought in state houses, on highways, and in corporate offices, where employee driving policies are being revised to help stem the surge of distracted driving accidents on the job. Consider the facts about work-related road accidents: Motor vehicle crashes account for nearly one-quarter of all fatal occupational injuries […]
How many nonemployees are on your workplace at any given moment? Do you know where they are, what their business is, and whether they pose a risk to your workers or themselves? This checklist will help you to determine whether you are prepared to keep visitors to your workplace safe while they are in your […]
Costs of hearing loss compensation can add up very quickly. This is especially troubling, given that noise-induced hearing loss is most common occupational injury in the United States. Compensation for hearing loss have been known to cost over $38,000 for loss of hearing in one ear and over $80,000 for hearing loss in both ears. […]
One of the biggest challenges of maintaining a successful hearing conservation program is getting employees to wear hearing protection. Here are some suggestions that can help. You face the same problem with hearing protection that you do with other forms of PPE—employee resistance. You provide them with state-of-the-art PPE to protect them from hazards, you […]
Good communication is fundamental to a safe workplace. Safety messages of all kinds and in all forms must flow all through the organization and be heard by all. It’s often said that safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s also often said that management commitment and employee involvement are critical factors in developing an effective safety and […]
Find out how one company has leveraged their existing safety and health management system to cover employee off-the-job safety and become a leader in the field. “We finally realized the cost to the business as so many more people are hurt at home than at work,” says Dale Wriedt, manager of work and life safety […]
As a safety professional, you’re dedicated to protecting employees from the moment they clock in to the time they leave work. But what about all the hours before and after? What’s your obligation to employee protection beyond the workday? The formerly clear distinction between on- and off-the-job safety is becoming blurred. Increasingly, employers are investing […]