OSHA Releases New Respiratory Protection Guidance
In its newly published guidance document, Assigned Protection Factors (APF), OSHA provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for workers exposed to contaminants in the air....
OSHA Proposes $273,000 in Fines against Jamestown, N.Y., Employer for Lack of Asbestos Safeguards
OSHA cited Blackstone Business Enterprises Inc. of Jamestown, N.Y., for 18 alleged willful and serious violations of OSHA standards for failing to protect contract employees against asbestos hazards....
Updated ANSI/ISEA Industrial Head Protection Standard is Approved
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) recently received American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval for an updated industrial head protection standard, which includes criteria for high-visibility equipment and top-of-head protection....
New Web Site Offers Resources for NRR Changes
As EPA works to better align Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) with real-world use of hearing protection, a number of proposed changes to testing, labeling and regulations are underway. The new Web site http://www.NRRUpdate.com provides the latest regulatory updates, expert insights and resources for implementing these new regulations into the workplace. ...
ISEA Announces Public Review for First Aid, Smoke Hood Standards
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) recently announced the availability of draft revisions to its voluntary consensus standards for workplace first aid kits and air-purifying respiratory protective smoke escape devices. ...
Shoe Charity Encourages Manufacturers, Employees to Recycle Safety Footwear
The charity Soles4Souls Inc. seeks safety footwear – either directly from manufacturers or from employees who are required to wear safety shoes – to donate to people in need....
UK: HSE Launches Prevent Falls from Vehicles Campaign
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has relaunched a campaign that warns about the dangers of falls from vehicles. The campaign will highlight the many cost effective ways that exist to stop these falls from occurring....
Encourage Employees To Take Earplugs Home
OSHA requires employers to provide hearing protection for workers exposed to hazardous noise, and best practice has shown that providing a good variety of hearing protectors improves compliance. But smart employers also will encourage employees to take hearing protectors home, according to Theresa Y. Schulz, Ph.D., hearing conservation manager for Howard Leight....
Preventing Extreme Sport Injuries
For many thrill-seekers, extreme sports, such as downhill ski racing, ski jumping, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snow biking and ice climbing, can be fun way to get an adrenaline rush during the long winter months. But these sports are called “x-treme” for a reason – participants may have a high chance of injury....
OSHA Proposes Revised Procedures for Fit Testing Respirators
OSHA has proposed two revised fit test procedures under the Respiratory Protection Standard for determining the effectiveness of respiratory protection facemasks....
OSHA Fines Roofing Company $50,000 for Fall Hazard
OSHA cited Peach State Roofing for an alleged workplace safety violation at a Sicklerville worksite. Headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., the company had two employees working on the site; OSHA initiated its inspection on July 16, 2008...
Skanska Recognizes Contractors Working to Prevent On-the-Job Falls
Beaverton, Ore.-based Skanska USA Building Inc. recently awarded top honors to several of its 40 largest subcontractors in a competition aimed at helping eliminate construction-related falls...
OSHA Issues Final Rule Clarifying Employers’ Duty to Provide PPE
OSHA’s final rule on Clarification of Employers’ Duty to Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Each Employee was published in the Dec. 12 Federal Register. The rule revises OSHA standards to clarify that employers must provide PPE and hazards training for each employee covered by the standards....
SC Safety Engineers Caution Employers About Workplace Safety Cutbacks
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) South Carolina Chapter is cautioning employers against cutting back on workplace safety in time of economic difficulty and is encouraging them to explore creative ways of generating temporary and long-term savings in safety and training expenses, while still ensuring that the safety needs of employees and safety regulations are met....
OSHA Proposes $55,600 in Fines Following Fall at Pembroke, Mass., Worksite
OSHA has cited a Marshfield, Mass., steel erection contractor for a total of 14 alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards after an employee fell 20 feet at a Pembroke, Mass., job site on June 12. Brian Barnes, doing business as Barco Metal Fabrication, faces a total of $55,600 in proposed fines following an OSHA inspection opened the day of the accident....
Survey: Workers Risk Injury By Not Wearing PPE
U.S. workers are risking workplace injuries by not complying with important safety procedures, according to a new survey released by Kimberly-Clark Professional....
OSHA, AIHA Renew Alliance
Employers and employees will receive valuable workplace safety and health information and training resources on general industry, construction and emergency response issues through a renewed alliance signed Oct. 27 between OSHA and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)....
ISEA Asks FHWA to Clarify High-Vis Worker Rule
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) asked the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to formally recognize vests that meet the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 American National Standard for Public Safety Vests as complying with the provisions of a worker-visibility regulation that takes effect Nov. 24, 2008....
NSC: The Human Side of Injury Prevention
During the motivational keynote, “The Human Side of Injury Prevention,” at the National Safety Council (NSC) Annual Conference and Expo in Anaheim, Calif., Phoenix Safety Management President Charlie Morecraft shared how his failure to take responsibility for his own safety and a reluctance to wear PPE contributed to his severe on-the-job injuries....
EAR Hearing Conservation Seminar
E-A-R and Peltor Brandsoffer this hearing conservation seminar to educate staff about the current regulations, equipment choices, employee training programs...
Off-the-Job Safety: Keep Eyes Safely On The Ball
American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Texas Ophthalmological Association is reminding parents and the public importance of protective eyewear for youth sports and back-to-school leagues. ...
Industrial Degreaser Linked to Parkinsonism, Researchers Say
The team, led by Don M. Gash and John T. Slevin of the U.K. College of Medicine, identified a number of industrial workers who exhibited symptoms of Parkinsonism,...
