When it comes to new safety information, regulations, and practices, up-to-date knowledge makes a difference in worker well being, productivity, and consumer satisfaction. At MySafetySign, we’re following the agendas and changing regulations of agencies like OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, ADA and the CDC. We post about new discoveries, controversy, and data, like changing safety regulations or information about the most dangerous jobs in America. Our posts aim to update you about ways to stay safe anywhere, from your home kitchen to a construction scaffold.
News
Truss construction: What It Is and How to Warn Firefighters
Lightweight truss construction is increasingly common in modern buildings. This type of construction is heavily reliant on prefabricated parts as opposed to being built on site, using long chords at top and bottom and webs to keep the arc in place. (About ⅔ of new commercial and residential construction uses truss construction.) While lightweight truss […]
Save lives with Peanut Allergy Safety Signs
Nearly three million people in the U.S. report suffering from peanut allergies. Children make up about 2% of this group. Peanuts are surprisingly common in cuisine, as it is used to thicken chili and other sauces, for example. With so many people at risk and the ubiquitous nature of peanuts, organizations need to take extra […]
Just how safe are high-security labs?
A recent lab mishap has raised questions about the overall culture of lab safety in so-called high security labs. Five rhesus macaque monkeys at the Tulane National Primate Research Center near New Orleans have displayed possible infection from Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria after it was somehow released from the research facility. A worker at the research center is […]
‘Midnight Rider’ filmmakers could be convicted in death of Sarah Jones
February 20th will mark the first anniversary of Sarah Jones’ death. A crew member on the set of Midnight Rider, Jones was killed by an oncoming freight train while preparing for a scene on a narrow train trestle. The film is now suspended and set to face a court trial beginning March 9th. In August of last […]
Obama’s 2016 proposed budget reduces NIOSH funding
The funding for National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), responsible for research on the health and safety of the country’s 155 million-strong workforce, has been cut 15 percent in the 2016 proposed budget by the Obama administration. This brings the total funding of this safety research wing to $283 million. Along with NIOSH, funding for Education Research […]
New FAA rule aims to reduce air travel fatality risks
With the goal of reducing the fatality risk of commercial air travel, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken a step to “fill the gap” between industry-wide regulations and operator-specific circumstances. Last week, the FAA issued a final rule requiring that most commercial airlines in the U.S. create safety management systems (SMS). Simply stated, a […]
Top 10 safety blogs to read in the new year
Last year, we brought you ten of our go-to resources for industry news — the blogs that helped us stay inspired and in the know throughout the year. Although it’s now a little past the year mark, we’re making it a tradition. The ten safety blogs below are dedicated to staying abreast of the latest in industry […]
OSHA revises rules for reporting workplace deaths
From 14,000 workers killed on the job in 1970 to 4,405 worker deaths in 2013, workplaces have clearly become much safer than they were a few decades ago. However, workers are still exposed to extreme hazards at work and thousands of fatalities are reported each year. In order to prevent work-related accidents, the Occupational Health […]
Top executive indicted in Upper Big Branch mine disaster
On April 5, 2010, 29 workers in the Upper Big Branch mine near Whitesville, West Virginia died in a methane gas explosion, fed by illegally high levels of highly flammable coal dust. For the first time in the state’s history, a top executive – who has been called the “dark lord of coal country” – […]
Protecting temporary retail workers during the busy holiday rush
For employers in the retail industry, holiday hiring is off to a frantic pace. Retailers hired more workers in October than ever on record — that’s since 1939, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track. While the season offers valuable employment opportunities, temporary workers also face a greater risk of non-fatal injuries than […]
Hand hygiene declines at end of hospital shift
New research on hand washing habit in hospitals shows that healthcare workers are less likely to wash their hands toward the end of their shift. The decline is attributed to hectic work schedules that drain cognitive resources responsible for self-regulatory behavior. As work pressure builds through the day, mental fatigue pushes healthcare workers to focus […]