According to OSHA, the most common emergency small businesses must plan for is a fire. Fire extinguishers can be invaluable tools to help fight smaller fires in the workplace or to protect evacuation routes in the event of a larger one.

If your facility is considering installing EV charging stations, the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends a site assessment conducted by a trained and qualified electrician.

The failure to prioritize rest is a growing concern – and taking a toll on U.S. workers. “Most employers underestimate how little sleep deprivation is necessary to result in detrimental outcomes,” one expert says.

What role does data analysis play in ensuring the safety of connected workers, and how can it be used to identify potential hazards and prevent incidents?

Washington – Mandatory guidelines for drug testing of federal employees have been updated to include testing for four semi-synthetic opioids, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently announced.

Nashville, TN — A free online tool developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University is intended to help employers assess how and where exoskeletons could help reduce work-related back injuries “without the need for costly and time-consuming experiments.”

Join the MSD Solutions Lab, a National Safety Council program, for its second annual virtual Workplace Safety Summit: Insights and Actions to Prevent the Most Common Injury on the Job.

UL’s PureSafety Safety Management System employs integrated tools to simplify and centralize training, safety and compliance programs. With a single, comprehensive system, you can seamlessly manage recurring training requirements, report incidents and observations and provide powerful reporting and analytics. See it in action at the TSCE in Booth 1017.

Click here for more information from UL Workplace Health and Safety

Stockholm — Exposure to dusts and fumes from common workplace agents such as vapors, gases and solvents may increase workers’ risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, results of a recent study out of Sweden show.

Washington — Workplace violence led to nearly 18,000 deaths over a recent 27-year period, according to a recently published report from NIOSH and two other federal agencies.

Itasca — New guidance from the National Safety Council is aimed at providing organizations with information and solutions to effectively mitigate and address workplace violence.

Geneva — Nearly a quarter of workers worldwide have endured workplace violence or harassment, but only half of the victims discuss their experiences, results of a recent survey show.

Provo, UT — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has signed a law allowing employers to petition for and obtain protective orders against anyone who poses a threat.

Cincinnati — A new guidance document from NIOSH outlines ways to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with robbery-related violence at gasoline stations and convenience stores.

“The old methodology of, ‘Oh, it could never happen here’ – that has to go out of the window,” a workplace security expert says. “Because it can.”

Iowa City, IA — Three out of 5 young employees have experienced some form of workplace violence, results of a recent study show.

Sacramento, CA — Employers in California will be required to establish, implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention program, under a new state law.

Washington — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is asking for comment on proposed enforcement guidance aimed at preventing and addressing worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits.

Portland, OR — In light of the 29 workplace homicides that have occurred in the state since 2018, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences has issued a hazard alert.

Is your worksite ready to respond to an incident? Experts offer advice.

In Episode 46, the S+H team examines the December issue’s feature story on best practices for preventing workplace violence. Also, Atanu Das, owner of MSDS Writer, a consulting company, joins the podcast to discuss Safety Data Sheets in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

Geneva, Switzerland — Around 20% of workers worldwide have reported some form of violence or harassment, according to a recent report from the International Labour Organization.

Chicago — Chronic workplace harassment may increase the risk of coronary heart disease, arthritic/rheumatic conditions and migraines, results of a recent University of Illinois Chicago study show.

Washington — New guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is intended to prevent and address worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits, outlining when such behavior is against the law.

Orlando, FL — Although OSHA remains largely a regulatory and enforcement agency, it’s recently started prioritizing safety culture.

London — Around half of workers who’ve been harmed on the job in the past two years didn’t report it, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Sacramento, CA — The California Legislature has approved a bill that would require employers in the state to have a workplace violence prevention plan.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House would direct OSHA to create employer guidance on acquiring opioid overdose reversal medication and training workers on its use.

Washington — Physical assaults on health care workers in hospitals could lead to federal penalties and up to 20 years of jail time, under new bipartisan legislation.

Albany, NY — Public school districts in New York will be required to develop and implement workplace violence prevention programs, under a new state law set to go into effect Jan 4.

Denver — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has signed legislation that includes funding aimed at establishing recovery friendly workplaces and supporting people in recovery from substance use disorders.

Sacramento, CA — Naloxone hydrochloride or another Food and Drug Administration-approved opioid-reversal medication must be included in all workplace first aid kits in California no later than Dec. 1, 2028.

In Episode 48, the S+H team examines the February issue’s CEO’s Who “Get It” feature and some of OSHA’s most unique cases. Also, National Safety Council colleague Maria Cordova joins the podcast to discuss the benefits of first aid at work in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

Wearable technology offers EHS pros another way to help employees stay safer and healthier. But with its potential comes concerns.

Washington — Location geofencing is the subject of the latest white paper from the National Safety Council’s Work to Zero initiative

Los Angeles – Better laws and more resources are needed to protect workers throughout the country, several safety advocates said in an April 23 teleconference sponsored by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

San Diego – Most U.S. workplace deaths are preventable, and several approaches can be taken to reduce exposures to hazardous conditions, suggests a new report from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka cautioned the public not to become “numb” to workplace fatalities and illnesses, as the labor federation released its annual report detailing the hazards workers face every day.

Los Angeles — Workplace deaths as a result of trauma have increased at a significantly higher percentage for Black, Latino and Asian workers compared with white workers, according to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Looking for some quick recommendations for setting up a workplace safety and health program? OSHA has 10 steps.

Identifying and correcting hazards in the workplace helps ensure workers safely return home to their families. OSHA, via its Safe + Sound campaign, says employers can do many things to encourage workers to find and fix hazards.

Are your workplace fire extinguishers in the right place? According to the National Fire Protection Association, employers need to consider two key factors: accessibility and visibility.

Make safety management easy with PureSafety. PureSafety software lets you centralize and deliver all of your training, understand every employee’s training status, and track workplace safety performance metrics. Find out how.

Click here for more information from UL Workplace Health and Safety

Washington – NIOSH has developed a sound level meter mobile app designed to measure noise exposure in the workplace.

As a writer I’m loath to admit it, but sometimes words just can’t paint as clear of a picture as, well, a picture.

Members of the National Safety Council Consulting Services Group travel across the country – and the world – to visit worksites and conduct safety audits. They share with Safety+Health seven hazards they frequently spot, and offer advice on preventing them.

Safety+Health shares seven tips from veteran safety professionals Carl Potter and Richard Hawk on making safety committee meetings more enjoyable.

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.

Greenbelt, MD — Commercial motor vehicle inspectors across North America conducted 35,764 brake system inspections and identified 4,295 vehicles – or 12% – with out-of-service conditions during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week, the organization announced recently.

What are the biggest technological innovations that have affected workplace safety?