Category: Maintenance and Operations

Manual workers pouring cement through pipe on roof.

Stepping Up Your Foot Protection Program

Many employers have questions about what specific footwear would best fit their foot protection programs. Experts at Safety.BLR.com® recently stepped in to answer two questions on the subject—see what they had to say, plus download a free guide from Tingley to get your program on firm ground!

Construction site and equipment - aerial view

NYC Construction Training Law Sets High Bar

The latest safety trend for construction workers may have been established by a New York City (NYC) law signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in October 2017. Local Law 196 set forth new training requirements for employees at certain construction jobsites. The requirement—a minimum number of hours of training on specific safety subjects for workers […]

Worker lying after falling from a ladder

OIG Says That Fatalities and Injuries Are Underreported

Despite OSHA’s 2014 rule strengthening provisions that require employers to inform the agency about work-related fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that OSHA’s data on these incidents are deficient as is its assurance that employers abated the hazards that contributed to the incidents.

Explosions and Fires in Massachusetts Highlight the Costs of Faulty Equipment

A series of explosions in three Massachusetts towns in mid-September resulted in one fatality and several injuries. The incident and the resulting investigations and pending litigation are a reminder of the costliness of failing to conduct proper maintenance and monitoring of equipment to ensure its safe operation and performance.

Lock Out Tag Out

How Compliant Are Your LOTO and Machine Guarding Practices ?

Does your safety program effectively protect workers when they are exposed to moving machine parts and hazardous energy? The machine guarding and lockout/tagout (LOTO) standards are consistently on the list of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards—read on for a Q&A on the basics, as well as an opportunity to join our live […]

Female scientist looking at a MSDS binder

As an Industrial Supply Company, What Do I Need in My Hazcom Inventory?

Complete Question: I am developing an updated hazardous material inventory for my Hazard Communication (HazCom) program. We are a industrial supply/hardware supply company that maintains an inventory of paints, thinners, lubricants, and cleaners etc. The employees do not use these substances, but do handle them from receiving, to the shelf, to the customer. What should be […]

Scientist analyze the water of a river

Are You Prepared for Industrial Stormwater Monitoring?

Several states now have looming deadlines for discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), making it a good time of year to evaluate your industrial facility’s stormwater monitoring practices. Improper monitoring—or just plain forgetting to monitor—can lead to a number of costly violations for facilities operating under industrial stormwater permits, so it pays to make sure you’re doing […]

Close-up of human hand inserting coin in vending machine

Do You Know What’s in Your Facilities Vending Machines?

Many facilities have vending machines in place to help employees get through their day, or, to keep customers sated while they move from store to store. Some vending machines, however, serve a much more nefarious purpose. Like the 3 non-permitted machines in the town of Brookhaven, New York (located on Long Island) that were found […]