i

OSHA’s Top 10 most cited violations for FY 2021

Topping the list for the 11th straight year is Fall Protection – General Requirements. Also: The Top 10 “willful” and “serious” violations, a list of the year’s highest penalties, and an exclusive Q&A with OSHA’s Patrick Kapust.




i

OSHA and MSHA partner on poster and infographic on preventing heat illness

Washington — A new poster and infographic from OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration offer best practices to help mine operators and workers mitigate heat-related hazards and prevent heat illness.




i

Self-contained eyewash

The G1562 Eyewash and Drench Hose “Keg” is the latest innovation in portable emergency equipment technology.




i

Portable gravity-flow eyewash unit

The self-contained 90320 16-Gallon Gravit-Eye Portable Gravity-Flow Unit uses gravity to deliver water through dual-spray heads.




i

Eyewash expiration timer

Compliance made easy. The Eyewash Expiration Timer provides simple, effective visual management for emergency eyewashes, helping to ensure OSHA compliance.




i

Trends in ... emergency eyewashes/showers

Quick access to an emergency eyewash/shower station is vital in the event of an incident.




i

Working in the rain

The potential hazards present on a worksite can be exacerbated during inclement conditions such as rain. Working in the rain can cause slippery surfaces and limited visibility.




i

Encountering animals

Working outside in the spring months may mean working alongside insects and animals that could pose a threat to workers. OSHA offers the following tips for avoiding such injuries when working outdoors.




i

Prevent floodwater illnesses

Cleaning up after hurricanes or other storms exposes cleanup workers to floodwaters, which can carry some serious health risks. Floodwaters can be contaminated with micro-organisms, sewage, industrial waste, chemicals or other substances that can cause illness or death, according to OSHA.




i

Work safely in floodwaters

Floodwaters can be contaminated with any number of dangerous substances that may cause serious illness or even death, such as micro-organisms, sewage and industrial waste. It is imperative to maintain good hygiene when working in areas affected by floods.




i

Keep safety in mind when working outdoors

Outdoor workers can be exposed to various hazards – including poisonous plants, stinging insects and venomous snakes – that can cause health problems ranging from slight discomfort to a serious allergic reaction. Experts offer advice on to help keep these workers safe.




i

Experts offer lawn mower safety tips

Chicago – With summer approaching, three medical organizations have teamed up to issue tips to help prevent lawn mower injuries.




i

Avoid contact with poisonous plants

Anyone working outdoors is at risk of exposure to poisonous plants, including poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.




i

Treating a lightning strike victim: Know how to help

If you witnessed a worker being struck by lightning, would you know how to help?




i

Avoiding dog bites

Outdoor workers occasionally encounter animals when they’re on the job. The Humane Society and U.S. Postal Service provide guidelines on how to avoid dog attacks and bites.




i

Be prepared for an emergency situation

Disasters can manifest in a variety of ways. Taking preventive measures and planning ahead can help you remain calm in an emergency.




i

Worker hydration

How much hydration is enough?




i

Working safely with cement

From homes and workplaces to sidewalks and playgrounds, cement is everywhere. According to the Portland Cement Association, cement is one of the safest building materials available – when precautions are observed.




i

Watch out for ticks when working outdoors

Outdoor workers face a variety of hazards on the job. Beyond the usual suspects – severe weather, extreme temperatures, and traffic – an additional concern may be present: ticks.




i

Pressure washers: Dangerous when misused

Pressure washers are used to clean large areas, including buildings, parking lots, vehicles and other machinery. These high-powered tools also are used in disaster cleanup. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a pressure washer’s intense spray can cause wounds and other serious injuries that may at first appear minor.




i

Watch out for lightning

The threat of lightning is one of the hazards of working outdoors. OSHA points out that employees who work outdoors in open spaces or on or near tall objects have a significant risk for exposure to lightning.




i

Is your workplace prepared for an earthquake?

Even if you don’t live or work in an earthquake-prone area, don’t dismiss the threat. Earthquakes can occur in all 50 states.




i

Lyme disease risk on the rise as more states see spike in cases: study

Secaucus, NJ — Lyme disease is becoming more common outside the Northeast and more prevalent in the United States overall, a recent study by lab services provider Quest Diagnostics shows.




i

Outdoor workers and skin cancer

The American Academy of Dermatology cautions outdoor workers to be aware of an invisible hazard: the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Exposure to these rays for hours is a major risk factor for a number of skin cancers, including melanoma – the most serious form.




i

Work safely in the heat: What you need to know

Heat-related illnesses accounted for 783 worker deaths and nearly 70,000 serious injuries in the United States from 1992 to 2016. And in 2018 alone, 3,950 workers experienced days away from work as a result of nonfatal injuries and illnesses from on-the-job heat exposure.




i

Safe spring cleaning: 12 tips

Before tackling spring cleaning, you should be aware of the hazards that may await you: handling household chemicals, lifting heavy objects, navigating around clutter, walking on wet surfaces, and reaching or climbing – to name a few.




i

Kids and hot cars

According to the National Safety Council, in 2018, 53 children died in hot cars. Although these incidents are more common in the summer months, they’re not limited to July and August.




i

Plant a garden without pain

Spring is a great time to get started on your garden. But gardening takes a toll on your body, particularly your hands, wrists, knees and back.




i

Study finds golf cart-related injuries are common

Columbus, OH — Golf cart users, be “FORE!”-warned: The zippy means of transportation – no longer limited to golf courses – carries “considerable risk of injury and morbidity” to drivers and passengers of all ages, especially kids and older adults, say researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.




i

FACE Report: Roofer falls 30 feet from rain-slick roof

A 45-year-old roofer died after he fell 30 feet from a rain-slick roof of an apartment building under construction.




i

Water damage prevention planning

Which locations in my building are at highest risk for water leaks, and how can I prevent them?




i

Avoid the sting: Working outdoors with insects

Outdoor workers are unique in that they regularly share their workspaces with wasps, bees, hornets and other stinging insects. It’s important for workers to know how to respond to and treat stings, especially because some people may be allergic.




i

Prevent work zone-related incidents

National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15. This year’s theme is “Work zones are a sign to slow down.”




i

Protect workers when lightning strikes

Lightning can strike with little or no warning. That’s why it can’t be ignored or taken lightly by employers or workers – particularly those who spend time outdoors.




i

On the Safe Side podcast Episode 27: Lightning safety and aging workforce discussion

In Episode 27, the S+H editorial team discusses lightning safety for workers as the summer months approach. The team is also joined by NIOSH social scientist Gigi Petery, co-director of the agency’s National Center for Productive Aging and Work.




i

Cars can start wildfires, Oregon DOT warns

Did you know your car could cause a wildfire if you’re not careful? The Oregon Department of Transportation says more than 70% of the state’s wildfires in 2021 were caused by people.




i

‘Turn around don’t drown’ in floodwaters

Flooding can happen anywhere in the country, and it’s a year-round hazard that happens in all 50 states. As little as 6 inches of floodwater can cause vehicles to lose control and stall, the National Weather Service warns.




i

Lightning: When it’s time to bolt

Here are some tips for staying safe from lightning before, during and after lightning storms.




i

CSB to vote on OSHA’s 'unacceptable' implementation of recommendations

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board has scheduled a meeting to consider whether OSHA's responses to some of the board's recommendations have been "unacceptable," and to launch its Most Wanted Chemical Safety Improvements Program.




i

NIOSH: ‘Fracking’ exposes workers to silica

Falls Church, VA – Oil and gas workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica during directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations, a new NIOSH study concludes.




i

New letters of interpretation clarify info in hazcom rule

Washington – OSHA recently published four letters of interpretation regarding its revised Hazard Communication Standard.




i

CSB report renews call for a combustible dust standard

Charleston, WV – A number of combustible dust-related incidents, injuries and deaths over the past decade might have been prevented had OSHA promulgated a standard covering the hazard, according to a Chemical Safety Board report released July 16.




i

Dust explosion in China illustrates need for OSHA standard, CSB chief says

Washington – A deadly metal dust explosion in China offers a fresh reminder of combustible dust hazards, which the United States should address through an OSHA standard, Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said in a statement released Aug. 5.




i

CSB renews call for combustible dust standard

The Chemical Safety Board has reiterated its call for OSHA to promulgate a comprehensive combustible dust standard.




i

OSHA releases fact sheets on combustible dust, farm emergencies

Washington – Two new fact sheets from OSHA provide information intended to protect workers from combustible dust explosion hazards and agricultural emergencies.




i

Combustible dust still ‘critical issue in industrial safety’: CSB

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is reiterating its call for OSHA to enact a comprehensive general industry standard for combustible dust – a potential hazard the board calls a “critical issue in industrial safety.”




i

CSB to stakeholders: Tell us why efforts to control combustible dust aren’t working

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is seeking to better understand why efforts to manage and control combustible dust hazards “have often failed” to prevent explosions.




i

CSB extends comment period on combustible dust initiative

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board has extended to Dec. 31 its deadline for comment on a recent initiative that seeks to better understand why efforts to manage and control combustible dust hazards “have often failed” to prevent explosions.




i

New method of detecting combustible dust uses real-time imaging

West Lafayette, IN — Using newly developed algorithms, researchers from Purdue University have designed an image- and video-based application to detect combustible dust concentrations suspended in the air.




i

‘Multiple perspectives’: CSB releases first ‘learning review’ on combustible dust

Washington — Managing and controlling combustible dust should be considered a unique hazard – not simply “tidying up the place,” the Chemical Safety Board says in a recently released learning review document that includes input from workers and industry stakeholders.