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
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 […]
Safety awards: a high-five program that changed a company
Not all safety incentive programs need to be expensive or complicated. At Rocky Mountain Masonry, a daily high-five routine has helped educate and inspire workers, earning the company the 2013 Charles A. Cain Safety Award. The award was presented by the Utah’s Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) for innovative safety practices. The workers also meet for five minutes […]
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 […]
Could silica protection finally enter the 21st century?
Since February 2011, a proposal that would better protect workers from crystalline silica dust – a known carcinogen – has sat in the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Although the review – required by law – is not to exceed 90 days, and although the proposal merely updates 1970 standards, it received […]
OSHA cites Maine sawmill for repeat safety violations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a sawmill in Jefferson, Maine for three alleged repeat safety violations and seven serious violations imposing a fine of $79,310. The sawmill, N.C. Hunt Lumber, failed to use necessary safety procedures to prevent logging vehicles from striking workers. The violations included failure to install signs and […]