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Dr. Michaels states that OSHA needs to transform how it addresses workplace hazards, and in its relationship to employers and workers. As such he outlines a new strategy that is a clear shift from recent years indicating that there is a “new sheriff in town” and business (ALL businesses) should take heed. Here are some of my extrapolations and thoughts regarding 6 of these transformational items — consider how they will affect your business or workplace. Health and safety rules must to apply to all, without exception. When management creates and “lives” a proactive safety culture, it will get the best results. Without enforcement of the policies, there is not only the risk of worker injury, but an erosion of the “safety culture” of the organization and a negative impact on morale. Plus, it is the employer and management who will be responsible for any fines or penalties handed out as well as increased insurance premiums, particularly workman’s compensation. Often, they are found personally responsible. On a job site, safety is important to everyone, so when it’s time for safety training, how do you decide between an online course or a classroom? When evaluating the courses based on their published description, Online Training and Instructor Led Training (ILT) may look the same, so it is wise to understand the benefits and drawbacks of both before making a final decision. This is especially important for occupational health and safety training. Online Training has two key Capt. John DeFillippo, CHMP, EMT-B I recently reviewed a student HazWOPER field exercise. I’ve seen good execution many times, but this class was not one of them. Why not? Poor planning. It always comes down to planning. Whether you are working together for the first time or are a part of a regular response team, what you do before you suit up definitely dictates the outcome. “If you fail to plan, you better plan to fail” I was told that phrase many These are tough economic times and businesses are looking to cut costs and save money. Trained workers are safer workers. The facts bear this out. Shortsighted statements I’ve heard include; “We don’t have problems in that area, so we’re cutting back on training.”, when the training was most likely the reason for the lack of problems. Does your company have employees that work on, near or over water Both OSHA and the EPA seemed to have recently awoken from their regulatory slumber. OSHA has announced its first major rulemaking during the Obama administration with a proposed change to the agency’s Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard. The existing OSHA HazCom Standard provides workers with the right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to while working, as well as the measures they can take to protect themselves. This standard was originally The swine flu vaccine was approved for release by the FDA. It will be about 4 weeks before you are able to be vaccinated. In the meantime, you may have a number of questions regarding the vaccine and its safety. It is important to be educated about the virus and vaccine before making a decision regarding whether you should be vaccinated. By being educated you can protect yourself and others, including family members or coworkers. The Mike Gfroehrer 2. The uncontrolled release of water in a building with a history of water damage Martha Hernandez – EHS Training Manager 1. Assess the Situation Before lifting and carrying a heavy object, take a few moments to assess the situation. How far will you have to carry the load? |
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