News / New Products
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 […]
Who is protected? OSHA exemptions to coverage and record keeping
I was recently catching up with some old episodes of The West Wing. One episode addressed OSHA exemptions by featuring an amusing sideplot where Josh Lyman, the Deputy Chief of Staff to this fictional White house, is being hounded by his assistant about the importance of OSHA funding when it comes to protecting workers from […]
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 […]
USPS will improve electrical safety under settlement with OSHA
Initially cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with $3 million in fines for electrical hazards, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) authorities have now managed to reduce the amount by reaching a settlement with the Department of Labor and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and agreeing to improve electrical safety in the […]
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 […]
Will the ANSI designs save more lives?
The ANSI Z535 sign designs are now sanctioned alternatives to OSHA’s traditional, straightforward templates. But, will they save lives? It depends! In some environments, the ANSI designs are far superior. For others, the directness and historical familiarity with the traditional OSHA Danger and OSHA Caution signs, we believe, are far better. The safety sign market, […]
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 […]