This mobile app allows users to access safety resources and correspond with supervisors and co-workers in real time. Users can report safety concerns, report incidents, track safety-related data, and consult information on hazard identification and safety checklists.

The Griffin portable fall protection system’s slim profile and “L” shape are perfect for protecting workers who need to access different parts of flatbed trucks, airplane fuselages or railcars.

Workman Winch is a rugged, versatile and economical winch for lifting, lowering, and positioning personnel and materials in confined space applications.

The Miller SkyORB Overhead Rotational Boom Anchor by Honeywell Safety Products uses the weight of the vehicle being serviced as a counterweight to provide a safe overhead anchorage point.

KEEGUARD free-standing roof edge protection works on a proven counterweight system and meets or exceeds American and international safety requirements.

The LiftPod FS60 portable aerial work platform offers an affordable alternative to ladders and scaffolding, with a working height of up to 14 feet and a 330-pound platform capacity.

The family of Tether Track Fall Arrest Systems provides a safe and cost-effective solution for reducing the risk of injury in elevated work environments.

The Nano-Lok edge is the first personal self-retracting lifeline engineered for both foot-level tie-off and sharp-edge applications.

The GuardDog Industrial Safety Gate is tough, durable and easy to install. This ladder safety gate is self-closing and comes in five nominal sizes.

In 2010, falls to a lower level ranked second – behind highway crashes – in number of workplace fatalities, according to the 2013 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”

Annandale, VA – A webinar about requirements in OSHA’s newly revised Hazard Communication Standard has been scheduled for July 25.

OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard is one of the most sweeping regulations the agency has issued in recent years, and compliance deadlines are approaching.

New chemical hazard labeling and safety data sheets will start arriving at worksites June 1 to comply with OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. The new labels could reveal previously undisclosed hazards – make sure your employees understand the new format, and your chemical safety policy is up-to-date.

Washington – Some manufacturers of chemical mixtures will not be cited for failing to immediately comply with new Safety Data Sheet and chemical labeling requirements if they exercise “good faith,” a Feb. 9 OSHA enforcement memorandum states.

Washington – An OSHA interim policy issued May 29 allows limited continued use of hazard communication labels that are not yet in compliance with the revised Hazard Communication Standard released in 2012.

Washington – OSHA compliance officers have a new instruction document that outlines inspection procedures for the agency’s updated Hazard Communication Standard.

Washington – A new draft OSHA document outlines how employers can use an approach known as “weight of evidence” to assist in classifying hazardous chemicals.

Washington — OSHA has issued a long-awaited proposed rule that would update its regulations on hazard communication to align with the seventh version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, the agency announced Feb. 5.

Washington — A recent analysis of more than 650 Safety Data Sheets found that 30% feature inaccurate chemical hazard warnings, while 15% fail to warn that a listed chemical may cause cancer.

Although OSHA has no standard regarding occupational homicide, it can be a significant risk, especially for workers in what NIOSH deems “high-risk workplaces.” These workplaces include liquor stores, taxicabs, motels, gas stations and jewelry stores.

A workplace shooting or other violent incident can harm employees and damage morale. What signs should employers look for to recognize potentially dangerous employees, and how should they respond to the threat?

According to NIOSH, about 1.7 million workers are injured every year in workplace assaults.

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, workplace bullying generally involves repeated incidents intended to “intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people.”

Is your workplace at risk of experiencing a violent incident? Probably not, you may believe. But consider the statistics: In 2013, 404 homicides occurred on the job, according to the 2016 edition of the National Safety Council chartbook “Injury Facts.” And, according to OSHA, roughly 2 million workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. The agency notes that many additional cases likely go unreported. How can your workplace prepare?

An active shooter situation is a worst-case scenario many people don’t want to think about, but it’s important to be prepared. The Department of Homeland Security notes that active shooter situations often evolve quickly. Would you know what to do?

Workplace violence is a “growing concern for employers and employees,” OSHA states. In 2016, workplace homicides increased by 83 cases to 500, the highest homicide figure since 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Episode 39, the S+H team examines the May issue’s feature story on workplace violence prevention. Also, Cal/OSHA Heat and Agriculture Program Coordinator David Hornung discusses heat illness awareness in the “5 Questions With …” interview.
 

Workers should be trained on safe procedures for working with tools. Tools can pose a safety risk when they are misplaced or improperly handled by workers.

Every tool serves a purpose, but according to the National Safety Council, the screwdriver is perhaps the most misused and abused tool in the workplace.

Using tool belts can be helpful for carting a large number of tools around a jobsite. But when fully loaded, tool belts can weigh upward of 50 pounds, according to OSHA.

According to NIOSH, the use of non-powered hand tools in work settings can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. These injuries can be reduced if users choose the right tool for the job.

When used improperly, pneumatic nail guns can cause severe injuries in a number of ways.

A hammer is an impact tool – a tool used to drive items into material by way of manual or powered force – and, according to the National Safety Council, is a common source of injury.

Tingling, numbness or pain experienced when operating vibrating tools should not be considered part of the job.

Sanding machines can be dangerous if not properly handled. To help stay safe, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises workers to read the owner’s manual of the sander and thoroughly understand how to use it.

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, hammers are “widely used and often abused.” So, what can workers do to avoid injuries?

If you’re not giving much thought to how you choose hand tools, you should. That’s the message the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR), via its choosehandsafety.org website, wants you to keep in mind.

Cuts and lacerations are common workplace injuries. In fact, about 30% of all workplace injuries involve cuts or lacerations, and approximately 70% of those are to the hands or fingers, according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

If you use hammers on the job, are you using them safely? If not, serious injuries can occur.

Workers, do you use the edge of the palm of your hand to grind, push or twist hard objects? If you do this often, you’re at risk of hypothenar hammer syndrome – a condition caused when blood flow to the fingers is reduced.

The H-800 Series Full Brim Hard Hat features an innovative design that offers full-brim protection and a smooth ratchet suspension.

The Viking 3350 welding helmet has one of the industry’s largest auto-darkening view sizes, at 3.34 inches tall.

The Serpent Safety Helmet offers wearers features such as a rotating ratchet adjustment system (pin-lock also available); an eight-point, six-strap suspension for extreme comfort and impact resistance; and a soft cloth brow pad.

To protect against head bumps and lacerations, the Diamond Bump Cap comes with a four-point molded suspension and adjustable headband.

Designed with a wide profile and brim, the Classic C30R Hard Hat provides enhanced ventilation, increased protection from the elements and greater comfort for outdoor workers.

The V-Gard GREEN Protective Helmet is the first industrial safety product produced from renewable resources.

The JSP Full Brim line of hard hats helps protect a worker’s neck and ears from the sun’s UV rays.

Classic VSi is a variable shade (shades 8-13) auto-darkening welding helmet with a flip-up panel that exposes a clear grinding shield that provides 180 degrees of vision.

Head and face protection cover critical areas of the body. To ensure workers wear personal protective equipment, the products should be comfortable, functional and able to be worn throughout the day, according to Aubrey Collier, product manager, industrial head and face protection, for Cynthiana, KY-based Bullard.

Needlestick and sharps injuries occur when needles or other sharp objects inadvertently puncture a person’s skin, and can happen “when people use, disassemble or dispose of needles,” according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.