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.

Infographic: Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricanes are a form of tropical storms that have circulating air and wind speeds between 74-155+ miles per hour. According to OSHA, areas around the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast, and certain parts of the Southwestern United States are at risk for hurricanes. As hurricane season begins, it is important for businesses to be prepared […]

Avoid the Potential Catastrophes of Confined Spaces

Have you recently checked on your permit-required confined space compliance? Risks can go well beyond hefty Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines. Potential outcomes of confined space entry can be serious, even fatal, and include asphyxiation, engulfed or trapped workers, explosions or fires, and electrical and struck-by hazards. There are confined spaces in workplaces […]

Cal/OSHA Issues $1.75 Million Fine in Valero Refinery Death

On May 19, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced a combined $1,753,375 in fines for the Valero Refinery of Benicia and 3 of its contractors following an investigation into the confined space death of a 35-year-old worker. On November 12, 2021, a worker lost consciousness after descending into a regenerator overflow […]

Ask the Expert: OSHA’s SCBA Requirements

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at EHS Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber asking about OSHA’s requirements for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) in the workplace. See what the experts had to say.  Q: What are the requirements of having SCBAs […]

Committee Alleges Industry, USDA Interference in Worker Health

A House committee examining issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic alleged that meatpacking companies enlisted the help of political appointees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to weaken worker safety and health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). On May 12, the […]

OSHA Region 8 Begins Noise Enforcement Push

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 8, which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, will begin the enforcement phase of its Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss on May 17. Enforcement begins with the end of a 90-day outreach program. The REP targets manufacturing industries with high […]

NSC Survey: Workplace Safety Issues Correlate with Depression, Anxiety

As the country observes Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the National Safety Council (NSC) has announced that the results of its Workforce Trends Indicator Survey show feelings of depression and anxiety were strongly correlated with how safe a respondent felt at work.  Respondents who felt unsafe at work were nearly three times more likely […]

Faces of EHS: Shawn Galloway on Valuing and Prioritizing Safety

Shawn M. Galloway is CEO of the global consultancy, ProAct Safety. Shawn’s consulting clients include most of the best safety-performing organizations within every major industry. He is a trusted advisor, professional speaker, and author of several bestselling books on safety strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement. ProAct Safety was established in 1993 to help individuals […]

How to Choose Cut-Resistant Safety Gloves

Over a third of workplace hand injuries involve cuts and often occur because workers are wearing the wrong hand protection—or worse, no hand protection! Unfortunately, the countless options on the market can make it difficult to choose the right cut-resistant gloves. So, how do you select safety gloves that will protect your workers’ hands from […]

Infographic: Conventional Fall Protection Standards

This week (May 2-6) is the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, which is a voluntary event that encourages employers to talk directly to employees about fall prevention and safety. This event is being held jointly by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National […]