Category: Safety

OSHA Ranks Top 10 Workplace Safety Violations of FY 2021

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2021. Patrick Kapust, Deputy Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the list virtually during the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, a tradeshow held live in Orlando, Fla., and virtually Oct. […]

Study: What COVID-Era Workers Want Most in Office Restrooms

When it comes to restroom breaks, office workers in the U.S. say that touchless restroom fixtures are the No. 1 feature that would make them feel safer when using their workplace restroom, according to a new survey. In the Healthy Handwashing Survey, conducted by restroom equipment manufacturer Bradley Corp., touch-free washroom fixtures received the highest safety ranking, […]

What Does Legalized Marijuana Mean for Workplace Safety?

The National Safety Council, a major U.S. nonprofit safety advocate, released results of a survey conducted as part of an ongoing effort to assess the risks of cannabis in the workplace, and the group said the results are clear: Employers must do more to educate and protect their workers. The survey, conducted between April and […]

Coalition Releases Cleaning Guidelines for Reopening N.Y. Businesses

New York was one of the first states in the U.S. to suffer a major outbreak of COVID-19, so it stands to reason that any steps that may help safely reopen facilities and operations there are noteworthy for just about anywhere else across the country. The Cleaning Coalition of America, a trade group representing cleaning […]

Ohio State University Pledges $20M More for Safety and Security

The Ohio State University will invest an additional $2 million per year over the next decade to enhance safety and security on and around campus, President Kristina M. Johnson and Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Sept. 24. The additional investment is expected to be at least $20 million, and the university’s total safety and security […]

National Lab Quantifies Potential Dangers of Poor Air Circulation

Poorly circulated room air raises the potential exposure to contaminants by up to six times, according to a new report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The researchers say the experiments quantify the effects of overhead heating on room air mixing, with implications for COVID-safe meetings and classrooms.

OSHA Launches Heat Stress Initiatives

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) September 20 announced “enhanced and expanded efforts” to address worker exposures to excessive heat and heat-related illnesses. The agency will develop a National Emphasis Program (NEP) and workplace heat standards, according to a White House announcement of interagency efforts to address heat hazards.

How Can OSHA Even Require Vaccines?

How is it that President Joe Biden can order the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish an emergency rule that requires employers to vaccinate all their employees or test them for COVID-19? Is this normal? How does OSHA even have that kind of authority?

Most People Remain Concerned About Air Quality Amid COVID, Want Data

People would feel safer with more data on indoor air quality (IAQ) during these trying times, according to a new survey ordered by measurement tech company Vaisala. The survey, which included over 4,000 respondents in the United States, France, Germany, and Finland, was conducted in summer 2021 and studied people’s concerns regarding indoor air during […]

back to school

6 Back-to-School Ventilation Tips

As the country enters the 2021-2022 school year amid a lingering pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has highlighted key strategies for improving ventilation in schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs), such as colleges and universities, to help prevent COVID-19 and maintain a safe environment for in-person learning.