Like many small businesses starting out, SigmaPro Engineering and Manufacturing, LLC had a safety program in place, but they were unsure if it met all of the state and federal requirements. The small electronic connector manufacturing facility in northern Fort Worth, Texas found the Texas Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program (OSHCON) on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website and set up a consultation with a Texas OSHCON safety consultant in their area.
Full article: Texas manufacturer improves root cause analyses, gets SHARP
Source: Safety Best Practices
States use training, videos, WaterSense program to improve water conservation efforts
Training landscapers in water efficiency, using “edutainers” to teach water conservation tips to children and encouraging consumers to buy WaterSense products are among the strategies states are using to head off – or at least, minimize – water shortages expected in the years ahead.
“Forty states anticipate experiencing fresh water shortages in certain regions within their borders over the next decade,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
Full article: States use training, videos, WaterSense program to improve water conservation efforts
Source: Safety Best Practices
Make a plan during National Fire Prevention Week
National Fire Prevention Week (FPW) is just ahead – October 6 – 12 – and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) wants you to take small but important actions to keep you and your family safe.
The theme for this year’s FPW is, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”
It’s easy to dismiss the possibility of a fire in your home as an unlikely occurrence.
Full article: Make a plan during National Fire Prevention Week
Source: Safety Best Practices
Injured federal workers get 7-day opioid limit under new controls
New restrictions on how long injured federal workers can get prescription opioids have been implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), as a way of protecting the workers from the risks of long-term opioid use.
The DOL controls – which impose a 7-day limit on the initial fill of an opioid prescription – will apply to injured federal workers receiving benefits under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).
Full article: Injured federal workers get 7-day opioid limit under new controls
Source: Safety Best Practices
Sharing the sky – safely
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is encouraging the drone community to help spread the word on drone safety with the first National Drone Safety Awareness Week taking place, Nov. 4-10, 2019. The FAA’s highest priority is to ensure the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS), and during National Drone Safety Awareness Week, the FAA reminds drone pilots and stakeholders that airspace safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Full article: Sharing the sky – safely
Source: Safety Best Practices
Oregon company improves safety with machine guarding, LOTO, repetitive stress changes
For Kevin Emerick, workplace safety is no mere box to be checked on a To-Do List. It is about people. It is about family. It is about sending members of your work family home safe after each and every workday.
“With the median tenure at our company at almost 25 years, we are family, and the last thing you want to see is someone in your family get hurt or worse,” said Emerick (shown above), risk manager for Woodfold Mfg., Inc., a Forest Grove, Oregon-based company that makes custom-crafted accordion doors, roll-up doors, and hardwood shutters.
Full article: Oregon company improves safety with machine guarding, LOTO, repetitive stress changes
Source: Safety Best Practices
Small business international travel: NIOSH has you covered
Your company just landed a business deal overseas. It’s an exciting opportunity for the company and for your employees. But you are a small company with limited resources. What are the next steps for international business travel? Travel visas, vaccinations, import restrictions. How do you ensure your employees’ safe and healthy travel?
Full article: Small business international travel: NIOSH has you covered
Source: Safety Best Practices
Safety intervention less effective for low-wage workers
A safe patient-handling intervention decreased injuries among nurses, but not among lower-wage workers employed as patient care associates, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health.
This study at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health compared self-reports of safe patient-handling practices and hospital injury rates at two large Boston area hospitals from 2012 to 2014.
Full article: Safety intervention less effective for low-wage workers
Source: Safety Best Practices
Safety management standard gets an update
Revisions to the standard that guides implementation of safety and health management systems – ANSI/ASSP Z10.0-2019 – have been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Safety and health management systems set an operational foundation by ensuring that critical processes are integrated, which helps organizations reduce injuries, save lives and maximize financial performance.
Full article: Safety management standard gets an update
Source: Safety Best Practices
Reducing fatigue and stress in the retail industry: Workplace solutions
Workplace fatigue and stress is a growing topic for worker safety and health research. For instance, workplace studies have shown that the nature of retail industry work may cause fatigue and stress. Nonstandard work schedules such as irregular and extended shifts, long periods of standing, and reduced staffing are a few reasons for health issues related to job fatigue and stress.
Full article: Reducing fatigue and stress in the retail industry: Workplace solutions
Source: Safety Best Practices