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.
Forklift accidents can happen in so many different ways that you have to anticipate all the possibilities—even the kinds of accident scenarios that common sense would dictate should never happen Parking and securing a forklift when not in use is a simple enough thing—something trainers might not emphasize much because it seems like such a […]
OSHA estimates that 1 million forklifts are used in workplaces across the country. Forklifts are not only among the most common types of motorized equipment, they are also the cause of some of the most serious workplace accidents. Forklift safety is—or at least should be—a major concern in the large majority of U.S. workplaces. That’s […]
The average vehicle crash costs an employer more than $16,000. When the incident involves an employee injury, that figure spikes to $74,000, then up to $500,000 if there is a fatality. The good news, say the experts, is that auto accidents are largely preventable There’s no time like the present to shore up your fleet […]
Hand injuries can be especially traumatic, stripping away not only an employee’s ability to work, but also the ability to perform activities of daily living. Yet, workplace hand protection often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. OSHA’s hand protection standard (29 CFR 1910.138) is short and sweet: 1910.138(a) General requirements. Employers shall select and require […]
Whether a worker is injured on or off the job, the result is often the same—lost workdays, lost productivity, and hefty healthcare costs. That makes getting all injured employees back to work ASAP a priority. At General Electric the focus is on an integrated approach to worker injuries and return to work (RTW). By “integrated,” […]
When workers are injured on the job, early return to work (RTW) makes good sense for employees and employers. Spend a few hours in front of the TV on a weekday, and you’ll get an eyeful of what injured workers see every day—ads for lawyers promising large settlements for their injuries. That’s why workers’ compensation […]
The right kind of workplace flooring can help prevent falls and injuries. A recent ANSI standard rates flooring traction levels and provides a way to measure risk. A 2009 voluntary standard from ANSI can help take the guesswork out of decisions about safe flooring, says Russ Kendzior, founder and chairman of the National Floor Safety […]
Yesterday, we presented the first 3 of the 5 Deadly Forklift Dangers. Today, we conclude with the last two. Deadly Danger # 4—Falls from Forklifts It is not always the case that a victim is crushed following a fall from a forklift. The fall alone may be fatal. Of fatal forklift accidents, 9 percent are […]
OSHA estimates that 1 million forklifts are used in workplaces across the United States. Each year, nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents. Deadly Danger # 1—Forklift Turnovers Close to one out of every four fatalities occurs when a forklift tips over. Forklifts can easily tip if they […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we highlighted the sections of the scaffolding standard that garner the most citations. Today, we suggest ways to ensure compliance and avoid violations and penalties. To avoid citations and ensure construction worksites are in compliance with the scaffolding standard (29 CFR 1926.451), check and recheck each of the requirements of the scaffolding […]