Amy Howell
As a freelance writer, Amy knows just enough to be dangerous to herself when talking with experts in various fields. A typical day might include researching OSHA regulations (for MySafetySign!), treatments for vertebral compression fractures, applications of data-driven insights or advancements in aircraft engines or genetic testing. Covering home design and décor, however, has been her home turf for more than a dozen years. She received her B.A. in Journalism from Miami University (no, not the one in Florida) and recently checked-off a lifelong dream of watching a NASA rocket launch.
Amy Howell's Latest Posts
Ambiguous regulations increase risks for temporary workers
Temporary workers, who are appointed to employers by staffing agencies, inhabit a confusing space in the American workforce: They can have a “first day” at a new job every week. Their day-to-day work is managed by one employer, yet they are paid by another. And they may, or may not, receive training from one or […]
OSHA v. SeaWorld: the saga continues
Last week, the Associated Press reported on the latest development in a long battle between SeaWorld Orlando and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), stemming from the 2010 death of a trainer drowned by one of the park’s killer whales. In the recent ruling, an administrative law judge determined that SeaWorld had made a […]
PPE on a near-atomic level: are workers safe from nanomaterials?
Advancements in science allow us to see more of the world around us, but often raise more questions than answers. Such is the case with engineered nanoparticles, and the dilemma of how “standard industrial hygiene practices” apply to a potential hazard that isn’t yet fully understood. Little particles, big question marks Nanomaterials are defined by […]
Why the health care industry has the most on-the-job injuries
Fatal falls in the construction industry and manufacturing injuries due to falling objects can cause dramatic on-the-job injuries that grab headlines and incite safety campaigns and stricter regulations. But one type of workplace-related injury is so chronic in one industry that it has gone almost unnoticed – and unregulated. According to a new report from […]
Working the night shift may cause cancer
All the potential hazards in the workplace, artificial light could be one of the most frightening for those working the night shift. Alongside other environmental factors like diesel exhaust particulates, “shiftwork involving light at night” was nominated last month to be formally reviewed for potential inclusion on the National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens. This […]
OSHA calls for improvements in retail employee safety
As retail customers, we’re used to being greeted by well-lit, clean and clear walkways. But that neat façade might be concealing a potentially deadly hazard, and several agencies with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are launching campaigns to improve retail employee safety. Over the last three years, “blocked egress” – exit routes or doors […]
Summer sounds can bring hearing loss
What are the sounds of summer? For many of us, it means the chirping of birds, but also the whirl of lawnmowers and the din of jackhammers as construction season kicks into high gear. It also means there will be many people exposed to excessive, potentially dangerous levels of noise who aren’t used to thinking […]
Less safety culture, more work accidents
Does your company have a safety program, safety culture or safety climate? If you’re not sure, that could have a direct and damaging impact on your health. The relationship between safety culture and work accidents: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Developing strong safety cultures has the single greatest impact on accident reduction […]
Heat safety: A universal issue that requires an individual approach
This is the time of year when we start to hear about heat emergencies, and the need to keep hydrated and cool, especially if you work outdoors in the sun. A combination of high temperatures, high humidity and physical exertion can raise the body’s temperature to a point that it can’t be cooled by […]
Name brands with hazardous conditions: Big-box retailers linked to workplace violations by suppliers?
When it comes to unobstructed access to fire exits, protection from hazardous chemicals, and proper safety training, what responsibility do retailers have in monitoring their suppliers? Specifically, must U.S.-based big-box retailers ensure that their suppliers provide workers with these basic safety requirements? The tragedy in Bangladesh – where over 1,000 workers at a garment factory […]
Harmful chemicals in healthy foods
Does it make you cringe to wonder if your “sandwich artist” washed his hands before assembling your masterpiece, or if a restaurant is vigilant about keeping foods refrigerated and surfaces bacteria-free? Well, take heart. That apple or container of homemade pasta salad in your lunch may pose a greater health threat. Many foods that we […]
