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Federal OSHA administered 33,401,401 inspections in fiscal year (FY) 2019, a record number according to the agency. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program, available at no cost to employers, identified 137,885 workplace hazards and protected an estimated 3.2 million workers from harm. [Extracted from the article]

Ooton stated that in her five-year tenure at the company safety has shifted from a talking point to being evident in everything Amazon associates do across their global fulfillment network. Ooton's efforts to change Amazon's culture parallels with ISO 45001, which requires involvement from leadership and all workers. Safety culture should no longer be thrown around as a buzzword, as new tools and systems make it easier to prove return on investment (ROI). [Extracted from the article]

Preliminary Thanksgiving holiday road fatalities are estimated to fall 4% year over year, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways; the NSC State of Safety report shows which states have the strongest and weakest traffic safety laws. [Extracted from the article]

"[ISO 45001] is the future of safety", Ed Foulke, Fisher Phillips partner, told a packed room of attendees at the 2019 Safety Leadership Conference in Dallas. Lastly, ISO45001 allows companies to demonstrate in writing and in practice their commitment to the welfare of workers and the community. [Extracted from the article]

Between 2011 and 2015, heating equipment caused 54,030 home fires and 480 fatalities. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is reminding everyone to practice home safety to prevent household fires caused by improper cooking and heating practices, especially as the holiday season approaches. "Entertaining during the holidays can be stressful, but statistics suggest simple cooking and heating safety practices can ensure everyone enjoys the celebration", said ESFI President Brett Brenner. [Extracted from the article]

Environmental consciousness is at the forefront of workers' minds, and your company's culture could be affected by it. A new survey by UK commercial property agents Savoy Stewart asked 1,703 office workers about their opinions on their company's green initiatives. [Extracted from the article]

Lee Shelby told attendees of the 2019 Safety Leadership Conference about the workplace accident that changed his and his family's lives. Shelby told the audience that it's unfair to them and the effects of a workplace injury should not be thrown on children. [Extracted from the article]

On May 3, 2019, an explosion at AB Specialty Silicones plant in Waukegan, Ill. decimated the entire facility, shook homes and scattered debris for miles. AB Specialty Silicones faces $1,591,176 in penalties and has been placed the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program. [Extracted from the article]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that December, January and February are peak months for influenza activity. Flu's direct cost to businesses is $7 billion in sick days and lost productivity with an estimated 17 million workdays lost, the CDC estimates. Individuals at high risk for flu complications should seek medical attention right away if they do become sick with flu, the CDC states. [Extracted from the article]

Highway crash fatalities have decreased for the second year in a row, according to a new reportfrom the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NHTSA Acting Administrator James Owens credits the decline to public outreach campaigns and enhanced safety technology features in newer model vehicles. [Extracted from the article]

These workers must also be instructed in safe work practices and use of equipment including chain saws, cutters and especially hand-fed wood chippers that cut and grind branches and logs into pulp". Watson willfully exposed workers to eye hazards including wood dust, flying wood pieces, and being struck by branches during tree trimming and feeding wood into a chipper. "Corroborative of this conclusion is Watson's testimony that allowing new workers to "run" the chipper was not his "normal procedure on a new guy working with us". [Extracted from the article]

A petroleum refiner and industrial contractor are facing $106,080 in OSHA fines after failing to secure a permit-required confined space. Petroleum refiner Hunt Refining Co. did not identify all hazards of the confined space nor did the company documents all of the steps required to make sure employees were safe while performing work in confined spaces. [Extracted from the article]

"The silver tsunami that is occurring where we have a significant amount of the current workforce retiring is increasing that void", says Keith Barr, CEO of Leading2Lean, a manufacturing operations management platform. The reality is the jobs that a lot of the workforce are doing today, the next generation workforce won't do. [Extracted from the article]

Discount retailer Dollar Tree Stores Inc. is once again under OSHA scrunity for obstructing exit routes and electrical panels. Recently, OSHA cited the retailer for violations at four stores in Idaho. [Extracted from the article]

An recent uptick in trenching and excavation deaths has caused OSHA to address the issue as one of its priority goals. In October 2018, the agency updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing collapses. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)'s set of recommendations details engineering controls, protective equipment and safe work practices employers and safety professionals can implement to minimize trenching hazards for workers. [Extracted from the article]

All of the airlines contacted confirmed that "limited" cleaning occurs between flights, which includes lavatories, tray tables and seats. In an October 2018 investigation into airline cleanliness, Canada's Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) sent staff to collect more than 100 samples on 18 flights. More than 300 million travelers each year develop blood clots or deep-vein thrombosis on long flights. [Extracted from the article]

In the American workforce, women have long struggled to have a voice, no matter the industry in which they aspire to build their careers. B Holly Burgess, EHS manager, Siemens Mobility Inc.: b I started my career almost 20 years ago when EHS was mainly male dominated and women were just starting to come into this part of the workforce. [Extracted from the article]

For the past 30 years, Joel Vetter, chief of fire rescue services for Suffolk County, New York, has seen an evolution in the types of threats that call for emergency preparedness. Seven years ago, Suffolk County's Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) began using Smart911, a software that allows citizens to provide 911 call takers and first responders with critical information. Vetter says it was just a matter of exchanging facility and student profile data that allowed FRES to enhance the immediate response to emergencies at the school. [Extracted from the article]

With the prevalance of active and mass shootings in the United States, employers should have a emergency response plan to protect workers. Jackson also informed the audience about the "Run, Hide, Fight" widespread tactic of reacting to an active shooter incident. Watch the video to get Jackson's insight on the "Fight" response of active shooter response protocol. [Extracted from the article]

Dozens of companies showcased their new innovations at National Safety Council's (NSC) 5th annual New Product Showcase at the National Safety Congress and Expo in San Diego. Each year, NSC participants cast votes for their favorite PPE. Show: Conney Safety Products, A Division of WESCO Distribution, Inc. - Direct Safety® Karbonex™ Dusk Mechanic Gloves. [Extracted from the article]

According to KidsandCars.org, a nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of young children and pets in and around vehicles, 2018 was the worst year for documented hot car deaths, with a total of 53 fatalities. The automobile manufacturer described the technology as a sensor focused on the rear seating area of a vehicle. "One of the reasons for that is because it costs the auto industry money to add a new feature to a vehicle", Rollins says. [Extracted from the article]

Mick Ebeling is utilizing technology for the sake of humanity. Ebeling drew parallels between his company and the safety industry, telling the story about how Not Impossible Labs creates technology to assist those with challenges such as poverty, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease. He drew parallels to how safety professionals identify "absurdities" or hazards in the workplace and commit to changing processes or implementing technology to create a safe environment for all employees. [Extracted from the article]

On Dec. 29, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. 25-year-old Caleb Brown began his shift at Centralia Coal Mine in Centralia, Wash. After the huddle, Brown drove out to the impoundment to start operating the suction dredge and replace William Bachman, a plant operator ending his shift. The next day, rescue divers recovered Brown's body in the dredge operator's compartment. [Extracted from the article]

A consortium of wind power companies are collaborating to provide standard safety training and emergency management for industry organizations across the globe. "The wind turbine industry is growing as the demand for renewable energy is accelerating", said Brian Walencik, GWO North America committee chair and EHS leader for GE Wind Onshore. [Extracted from the article]

Every business should have an emergency response plan, not matter if it is an office environment or a plant, said Greg Duncan, EHS & sustainability content manager for VelocityEHS. Duncan explained to VPPPA Safety+ attendees about how continuous improvement and technology work hand-in-hand when it comes to effectively preparing for a chemical emergency or situation. Stages to building an effective emergency response plan include planning; organizing and equiping; training; exercises and drills; and evaluating and improving. [Extracted from the article]

Highlights from the article: As Labor Day weekend approaches, the National Safety Council (NSC) is reminding Americans about the dangers of drunk driving. Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways; the NSC State of Safety report shows which states have the strongest and weakest traffic safety laws; and.

Highlights from the article: Creating a safe workplace goes above and beyond a company's doors, said Terry Gray during his keynote address at VPPPA's Safety+ Symposium. The pipefitter and motivational speaker developed the Safety Man Movement as a way to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a safe, engaged workplace as well as exemplifying the core values of safety in everyday situations.

Highlights from the article: Active shooter sessions are ineffective because they fail to teach workplace violence prevention and are focused mainly on techniques used in mass shooting situations, Phil La Duke told VPPPA's 2019 Safety+ Symposium attendees. The safety consultant and author of "Lone Gunman: Rewriting the Handbook on Workplace Violence Prevention" expounded about the ways safety managers and human resources professionals can screen job candidates to mitigate the risk of a workplace violence situation.

Highlights from the article: Gary Guller spun a tale of trials, tribulation and perservance to a packed room of Safety+ attendees during the VPPPA symposium's second day in New Orleans. If there's not a person in the world that climbed mountains with one arm, be the first", Guller recalled.

Highlights from the article: A former Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) worker who was placed on administrative leave and terminated in retaliation for cooperating with OSHA must be reinstated. An OSHA investigation uncovered that TVA terminated the employee for cooperating, violating Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act (ERA).

Highlights from the article: Imagine a world where there are no workplace fatalities or debilitating injuries or diseases. J.A. Rodriguez, Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) chairman, gave a boisterous State of the Association address at the 35th annual Safety+ Symposium in New Orleans.

Highlights from the article: Kirk Bagnal, Domtar's global director of safety, environment, health & sustainability, has worked to greatly reduce injuries while integrating six manufacturing plants the company has purchased over the past five years. The former U.S. armor officer and paratrooper is in pursuit of a culture of safety excellence at Domtar's nine locations across North America and Europe. Bagnal will explain how he is creating Domtar's newest safety leaders at the 2019 Safety Leadership Conference session titled "Cultural Transformation Across Global Locations - A Case Study".

Highlights from the article: Lloyd Industies Inc., a Pennsylvania-based fire protection equipment manufacturer, is feeling the heat after a federal judge ruled against the company for retaliating against its workers. The decision comes after a jury determined that owner William P. Lloyd illegally fired two employees following an OSHA inspection. On April 2, 2019, a jury determined that Lloyd Industries Inc. and owner, William P. Lloyd, illegally fired the employees because they participated in a 2014 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).