If you operate a facility where workers or tenants could come into contact with dangerous chemicals, hopefully you have eye wash stations installed throughout the building. Equally important is making sure that everyone in the facility knows how to act in case of emergency. When an chemical splashes into your eyes, you need to act […]
Workplace fires and explosions have the potential to kill hundreds and injure thousands of workers each year. One way to limit the amount of damage from such fires is to make portable fire extinguishers an important part of your fire prevention program. OSHA says employers must choose one of four options regarding workplace fire extinguishers, […]
Two federal agencies have issued warnings about the hazards of working in cold weather. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reminded employers and workers that frostbite and hypothermia can occur when working in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions. While exposure can be a concern for facility managers who handle their own […]
Technology has opened the doors to many trends, but none might be more ubiquitous than walking down a street or through a facility and seeing everyone with earbuds in or headphones on. There is evidence showing that, for some, listening to music while they work increases overall productivity. However, many workplaces have an explicit (or […]
Winter is here, and many parts of the country are seeing snow. With the seasonal changes come the hazards of outdoor work in cold conditions, snow and ice removal, and other dangers. At its Winter Weather resource site, OSHA lists 10 common winter weather hazards that employers should train employees to recognize.
On average, the United States Postal Service processes and delivers over 493 million pieces of mail (letters and packages) per day. That does not include the additional millions of packages per day handled by other shipping companies such as United Parcel Service or Fed-Ex. On an average day, all of this goes off without a […]
At last year’s annual conference of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), ASSP’s outgoing President Jim Smith presented a session titled “The A1264.1 Standard: Wall and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrails/Handrails.” The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards 1264.1 and 1264.2 could be helpful for facilities management professionals looking to design their workplaces with […]
Though many recent incidents of workplace violence have occurred in the public eye, there are still far too many that we do not hear about, and your facility should be prepared. This infographic, created by the Safety Management Program at Eastern Kentucky University provides a solid overview of recent statistics, potential warning signs, and outlines […]
The Midwest is currently in the grips of a polar vortex, dropping temperatures anywhere from 10 to 50 degrees below normal for this time of year. As you crank up the heat in your facility to deal with this extreme cold, be sure to double check your monitoring systems, as the risks from carbon monoxide […]
OSHA’s final rule to increase its civil penalties by approximately 2.5% for 2019 has been published in the Federal Register and took effect immediately on January 23, 2019. The rule brings a new maximum single-violation penalty of $132,598 for willful and repeat violations. The increases adjust for inflation as required by the Federal Civil Penalties […]