In a memo sent Oct. 11 to regional administrators and state designees, the agency outlines examples of acceptable drug testing, and states that incentive programs that withhold prizes because of an injury are compliant “as long as the employer has implemented precautions to ensure that employees feel free to report an injury or illness.”

When done correctly, incentive programs can boost workplace safety, experts say.

In Episode 18, the S+H editorial team discusses the pros and cons of safety incentives, along with OSHA’s evolving stance on the topic. Also: Transportation safety expert Brian Hammer answers our questions about road safety, as more workers begin to commute to their workplace again.

My current fire prevention education program consists of a PowerPoint presentation, and I can tell my workforce is bored. How can I put life back into the program and keep people engaged?

How can I change up my fire prevention program to provide more advanced lessons to veteran employees? Some have seen my presentation year after year.

Washington — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a stop-work order for a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study reviewing BSEE’s offshore oil and gas operations inspection program, the National Academies announced Dec. 21.

New Orleans — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has introduced a risk-based inspection program intended to improve safety for offshore oil and gas workers.

Every year, motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion in medical care, legal expenses, property damage and lost productivity, according to a white paper from OSHA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.

With the rapid spread of AI products and services, i-PRO said there has been a worldwide demand for companies to utilize AI responsibly.

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration, in partnership with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has implemented a safety reporting program intended to allow certain employees within the agency to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

C.A. Short’s mission is to provide organizations with a blueprint to implement a strategic, OSHA-compliant employee safety incentive program that will raise awareness, reduce incidents and increase the bottom line.

Salem, OR — Extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest this summer has spurred Oregon OSHA to launch a Local Emphasis Program aimed at preventing heat-related illness.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has launched a state emphasis program aimed at identifying and reducing exposures to indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has established new review criteria for state excavation damage prevention programs, under a final rule published in the July 23 Federal Register.

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of “an emerging public health threat” after researchers identified an increase in cases of silicosis – an incurable lung disease – among workers who handle engineered stone used to make household countertops.

Arlington, VA – Beginning July 1, the Mine Safety and Health Administration will increase enforcement of its “Rules to Live By” initiative, as well as the nine common standards that fall under the agency’s Exam Rule, the agency announced during a May 12 stakeholder meeting.

Washington — In an effort to detect cases of black lung disease, NIOSH will offer free, confidential health screenings for current and former coal miners in Indiana and Texas.

New York — The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has launched a wellness program for its members after a survey found that music creators are two to three times more likely than the general public to experience feelings of loneliness, disappointment and being ignored.

AMAG Technology Financial Services offers customized, flexible leasing solutions via a partnership with Vantage Financial.

I’m creating a training program for my electrical workers. What do you recommend as best practices to keep them safe from arc flash incidents and other electrical hazards?

KNIPEX Tools has introduced 24 tools with tether attachment mounts for its Tethered Tool Pliers Program.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a pilot program that would allow a limited number of military veterans between 18 and 21 years old to operate a commercial motor vehicle for interstate commerce, according to a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Aug. 22 Federal Register.

Washington — The NIOSH World Trade Center Health Program is accepting nominations for its Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a proposed pilot program that would allow commercial motor vehicle operators one rest break of up to three consecutive hours but no less than 30 minutes during every 14-hour on-duty period.

Toronto – As part of International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day (which takes place annually on Feb. 28), office workers can use a new online training program to learn about the importance of ergonomics and how to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Washington — The National Occupational Research Agenda Manufacturing Sector Council has created an online resource guide intended to assist organizations in beginning, maintaining or enhancing their hazardous energy control programs.

Washington — Nearly two years after the Federal Railroad Administration first published a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs, the process has hit another hurdle.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has extended until March 4 its stay on publishing a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs.

Washington — Effective April 20, the Federal Railway Administration is requiring the nation’s largest freight railroads – known as Class I – and smaller freight railroads with “inadequate safety performance” to develop and implement a formal risk reduction program. However, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says the final rule does not fulfill a congressional mandate to address rail worker fatigue.

Washington — More than three years after the Federal Railroad Administration published a final rule that requires commuter and intercity passenger lines to develop and implement system safety programs, FRA is amending the rule.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule requiring certain railroads to develop and implement a fatigue risk management program as a component of their larger safety risk reduction program.

Washington — Responding to a petition for reconsideration of a final rule on its Risk Reduction Program, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comment on whether to keep or remove a provision clarifying that certain contractors are considered a railroad’s directly affected employees.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has announced plans for a pilot program to evaluate the safety and security impacts of a paperless hazard communications system for shippers and carriers.

Washington — To support implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, OSHA and Health Canada have released joint guidance on pictogram requirements for three hazard communication categories.

Employers are required to train workers on chemical Safety Data Sheets and labels as part of OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard. Try the interactive quiz, our most popular quiz ever.

Field sales teams from Honeywell will work to pull in business for security dealers and systems integrators as they roll out the new Honeywell Builder Program introduced at the 2005

Washington — OSHA is initiating a multipronged approach to protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, both outdoors and indoors, the agency has announced.

Boston — Spurred by an “alarming” and “unacceptable” number of incidents in the tree and landscaping industries throughout New England in recent years, OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program intended to reduce the risks of injury and death faced by workers in these industries.

New York — A new Regional Emphasis Program from OSHA is aimed at curbing worker fatalities and injuries in the tree and landscape services industries.

Washington — In an effort to enhance enforcement of and compliance with workplace safety standards, OSHA has expanded the criteria for placement in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program to include violations of all hazards and agency standards, OSHA announced Sept. 15.

How should my workplace determine what first aid supplies are needed and where to place them?

Washington — The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is calling for two separate respiratory protection frameworks – one for workers, and one for the public – amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, in a recently published report.

Boon Edam Inc. has announced the launch of the Boon Edam Security Integrator Certification Program. 

Everything online in the industry, from white papers to webinars    

Washington – OSHA has released its annual inspection plan targeting workplaces with high rates of injuries and illnesses.

This free white paper from the experts at J. J. Keller provides a detailed listing of the most cited OSHA standards from fiscal year 2021, along with proven tips to help ensure compliance.

This white paper provides a detailed listing of the most cited OSHA standards across all industries, along with proven tips to help you reduce risk and ensure compliance.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, in collaboration with OSHA, will allow select pork-processing facilities – on a trial basis – to operate at increased line speeds for up to one year while gathering data that “measures the impact of line speed on workers.”

Chicago — A new Local Emphasis Program from OSHA is aimed at protecting workers in Wisconsin food manufacturing establishments from machine and amputation hazards.

Chicago — OSHA recently launched a launched Local Emphasis Program aimed at protecting food production workers in Illinois and Ohio, who are experiencing “significantly higher” injury rates than other workers in the manufacturing industry.