EHS Today

I Rode My Bike to Work ... Now Where’s My Cookie?

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:53:00 +0000

Happy Bike to Work Day! This annual event is celebrated across the nation to promote the fun, eco-friendly, healthy way of getting to work: on two wheels that you pedal yourself.

EHS OutLoud Blog

Off-the-Job Safety: Cancer Experts Issue Warning on Grilling Safety

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Charring or burning meat on the grill can increase our risk of cancer. These five tips can help reduce that risk and provide guilt-free grilling.

In time for the start of grilling season, experts at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), an organization that studies the impact of lifestyle on cancer risk, issued a warning about the hidden health hazards of cookouts and campfires.

Run, Hide, Fight: The New Response to Active Shooters?

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:25:00 +0000

”Run, hide, fight” has been the standard responses forever to workplace and campus violence, including shooters. Yet ”run, hide, fight” is not a list of choices. It is a continuum of decision making for intended victims.

EHS OutLoud Blog

USDA and EPA Release New Report on Honey Bee Health

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Honey bees are dying and the USDA and EPA report that it’s a complex problem with multiple factors playing a role.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and EPA on May 2 released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.

Voting Open for Green America ‘People & Planet’ Award to Recognize Small Businesses

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:38:00 +0000

Ten small businesses are competing for the Green America Award recognizing entrepreneurs with an overall green way of doing business and a commitment to a sustainable food system.

The public voting period now is open for the 10 finalists of the fourth Green America "People & Planet" award, which recognizes America's best green small businesses. Each of three winners will receive $5,000. Voting ends on May 31.

Musculoskeletal Disorders on the Rise

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Whether a worker sits at a desk, provides bedside care in a hospital, drives a truck or works on a production line, he or she is at risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).

EHS OutLoud Blog

EPA Says Intel, Microsoft, Top the List of Green Power Users

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:48:00 +0000

EPA’s Green Power Partnership released an updated list of the Top 50 organizations that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources.

Intel Corp. continues to top the list of U.S. organizations using the most green power.

Is Your Leadership Hurting the Bottom Line?

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:42:00 +0000

Corporate leaders often don’t realize that what they do and say can have a huge impact on public perception of their leadership and their companies.

What can business leaders and managers learn from watching the earnings of publicly traded companies?

“Plenty,” says Kathleen Brush, Ph.D., a 25-year veteran of international business and author of “The Power of One: You’re the Boss,” a guide to developing the skills necessary to become an effective, respected leader.

Tips for the Safe Handling of Cleaning Chemicals

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:36:00 +0000

There's a reason why the U.S. Department of Labor continues to list custodial work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country: cleaning chemicals.

When used properly, both conventional and green cleaning chemicals are relatively safe. However, accidents do happen and there are precautions that should be taken for the proper handling of cleaning solutions.

This is one reason why the U.S. Department of Labor continues to list cleaning and custodial work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, mainly because of the many accidents involving chemicals that occur each year.

Here are the key components of a cleaning chemical safety program:

Jail Time for Man who Faked Work Injuries to Get Drugs

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:27:00 +0000

A drug seeker thought he’d come up with the perfect plan to feed his addiction by claiming he was hurt on the job.

Jose Ramon Amaya-Hernandez thought he found the perfect way to get prescription narcotics – go to a hospital claiming to be in pain due to a work-related injury. However, an investigation by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) uncovered the scam.

Amaya-Hernandez recently pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and was sentenced to 45 days in jail on each count to run concurrently. He also must pay fines as well as a yet to be determined amount of restitution to the hospitals he defrauded.

Why Workers Are Stressed

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:36:00 +0000

A new poll reveals that job insecurity, job reorganization and high workloads are the most common causes of occupational stress among workers in Europe.

National Electrical Safety Month: Six Safety Tips for Working Near Overhead Power Lines

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:58:00 +0000

In honor of National Electrical Safety Month this May, spark a safety-conscious conversation by sharing these six tips for working near overhead power lines.

It was just a typical day at work. Gary Norland and his coworkers were discussing weekend plans as they worked near overhead power lines. But when Norland leaned back and came into contact with 12,500 volts of electricity, he suffered life-changing burns the required a 4-month hospital stay and more than 50 surgeries.

Now, 20 years after the accident, Norland has a message: “Everything you are going to do is going to affect others for the rest of your life. So if you get injured, it's an impact that's going to affect everybody.”

West Fertilizer Explosion Investigation Continues

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:01:00 +0000

The investigation by the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office into the origin and cause of the West Fertilizer Co. fire and explosion continues, with some causes now being ruled out.

Originally slated for completion by May 10, the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office says the investigation of the West Fertilizer Co. fire for at least another week, possibly two. Investigators revealed that ammonium nitrate stored on site detonated in the explosion.

Over 70 investigators from agencies including the State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF continue the investigation. The two agencies have developed over 200 leads, and conducted more than 400 interviews. Also on site are federal investigators from OSHA and the Chemical Safety Board.

Infographic: The Link Between Cell Phone Use and Fatal Car Crashes

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:29:00 +0000

According to a new infographic released by the National Safety Council, data alone cannot capture the scope of cell phone distraction on our nation’s roads.

“If cell phone distraction is an important factor in crash fatalities, why don’t we have a complete picture of the crashes that involve drivers using cell phones?” This is the question posed in the National Safety Council’s (NSC) “The Underreporting of Cell Phone Involvement in Fatal Crash Crashes” infographic, which was released along with a report suggesting cell phone distractions are underreported in car crashes.

Tales from the Crime Scene

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:31:00 +0000

I now live six blocks from a notorious crime scene. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth.

Notorious. Crime. Scene.

For more than a decade, Ariel Castro imprisoned three girls after first kidnapping them from Cleveland streets. For over a decade, Castro and these three women – Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight – lived on Seymour Avenue, which is six blocks from my house. I rarely drive down Seymour and I’ve never walked it. And even if I had, I would not have known about the house of horrors there.

EHS OutLoud Blog

Share Your Safety Story During NAOSH Week

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:07:00 +0000

Every safety professional has a story. Tell yours during North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, held this year through May 11.

With a theme of “Worker Safety Works for Everyone,” the 2013 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week strives to raise awareness about occupational safety and health and encourages EHS professionals to share their safety stories.

Take the Time to Thank an EHS Professional Today

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:21:00 +0000

May 8 is the time for EHS professionals to shine: It’s Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day, a chance to celebrate, thank and appreciate the EHS professionals who keep our workplaces safe.

Every year, on the Wednesday during the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week in May, the safety community celebrates EHS professionals through Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day.

Dropped Call: Cell Phone Distractions Underreported in Car Crashes

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:49:00 +0000

A new report from the National Safety Council suggests that cell phones play a more frequent role in car crashes than is typically reported.

A review of fatal car crashes that involved driver cell phone use suggests that cell phone use may be underreported or inconsistently reported, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). NSC President and CEO Janet Froetscher said the number of crashes involving cell phone use and distraction likely is “much greater” than current reporting indicates due to a variety of complicating factors.

Amusement Park Safety Shouldn’t Be a Roller Coaster Ride

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Every day during the summer months, approximately 20 injuries related to amusement rides occur nationwide. Follow these tips to ensure your family stays safe while enjoying the ride.

A new study reveals that between 1990 and 2010, 92,885 children under the age of 18 were treated in emergency departments for amusement ride-related injuries in the United States. Most injuries occurred between May and September, averaging about 20 injuries per day during those summer months.

NIOSH Puts Health Hazards to Bed at Metal Furniture Manufacturer

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:14:00 +0000

By Scott E. Brueck, MS, CIH; Jessica Ramsey, MS; Manuel Rodriguez, MS, CIH, CPS; and Ayodele Adebayo, MD, MPH

Researchers and investigators from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offer an insider's glimpse into a health hazard evaluation of a workplace where metal furniture such as beds and cabinets are manufactured.

Employees of a metal furniture manufacturer asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to evaluate health hazards at their workplace.

Q&A With AIHA President-Elect Barbara Dawson

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

This month, Barbara J. Dawson, CIH, CSP, will take over leadership of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) in Falls Church, Va., is an international professional society representing 10,000 occupational and environmental health and safety professionals – supported by 50 staff – with 75 chapters across the country.

Whistleblower Complaints: Avoiding Discrimination Charges through Documentation

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Arthur G. Sapper and William Friedman

The best way to convince OSHA that an employee was fired with cause, rather than for being a whistleblower, is to maintain a comprehensive system of documentation.

Sticky Stories are Safety Savvy

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:14:00 +0000

If you make the information you are sharing personal, by telling anecdotes about real people and their safe and unsafe acts and the consequences, employees won't forget your message.

On a cold and windy day, a worker crossing a street at his workplace was struck and killed by a truck. The driver said he was backing the truck because an exit was blocked and he never saw the worker.

The Break Room: Broken Glass

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:03:00 +0000

Domestic violence shatters more than personal lives – it can cross into the workplace, too.

In 2007, I lived just down the street from a McDonald's in Lakewood, Ohio. On July 7 that year, I heard sirens in the neighborhood but didn't think much of it.

Sandy Says: #prayforwesttexas

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:54:00 +0000

When praying for Boston, don't forget to pray for tiny West, Texas.

Bombs going off during an iconic, crowded event like the Boston Marathon: It makes all of us think about the last baseball or football game we attended, the last large celebration or event in a big city.

Smart Phone App Saves Lives of Farmers Involved in Tractor Rollovers

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:14:00 +0000

Tractor rollovers are the leading cause of death among farmers and claim about 250 lives each year, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. These accidents are deadly because they often occur far away from farmers’ homes or roads and they may be unable to reach a phone to call for help.

University of Missouri researchers have developed an application for smartphones that uses GPS systems to locate farmers who have rolled their tractors. The app, called VRPETERS (Vehicle Rollover Prevention Education Training Emergency Reporting System), uses sensors and GPS capability built into smartphones that can detect rollovers. Once the app detects a rollover, it sends an automatic emergency e-mail and phone message with the coordinates of the accident location to family or emergency responders.

The Only Acceptable Number

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:26:00 +0000

From the time you leave work today to the time you report back to work tomorrow, approximately seven workers nationwide will be denied the opportunity to do the same.

EHS OutLoud Blog

Cool Down: Preventing Workplace Heat Stress

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:54:00 +0000

Dan Linder

Use these prevention tips and tools to avoid fanning the heat stress flames.

At 5:30 p.m., the welder was discovered in the parking lot. He had collapsed on the way to his car. He was rushed to a hospital, where it was determined his internal temperature had reached 108 degrees.

Electrical Safety for All Ages

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:47:00 +0000

Brett Brenner

Many lives are lost each year as a result of electrical-related incidents and fires. As part of the 2013 National Electrical Safety Month, the Electrical Safety Foundation International has launched a multifaceted campaign to help at-risk populations identify and correct home electrical hazards and to provide resources to help encourage electrically safe practices in the workplace.

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is spearheading its annual effort to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken to reduce the incidence of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries and property loss.

ISO 14001 Revision Prompts Greater Focus on Environmental Compliance

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:27:00 +0000

Tjeerd Hendel-Blackford

The revision of the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard may compel companies to take a more proactive approach to environmental regulatory compliance.

In November 2011, the International Standards Organization (ISO) started a 3-year procedure to revise the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard. The revision is intended to better align the standard with current and future environmental and business conditions and practices.