Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
On Nov. 22, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a Sept. 29 chemical reaction and toxic gas release at the Bio-Lab Inc., facility in Conyers, Georgia. The incident led to a massive fire and plume of toxic smoke that threatened the surrounding community and the metropolitan Atlanta […]
Fewer workers are dying from hazards where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has focused its enforcement resources. Preliminary agency data show a decrease in fatalities the agency is mandated to investigate, including significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers. […]
Summer 2024 was the hottest on record—and most of the United States grappled with dangerously high temperatures throughout July and August. The country has cooled down since then. But this summer’s extreme heat was a warning sign. Earth is only getting hotter, and we’re likely to see increasingly dangerous temperatures that could put your employees at […]
Visual management enables businesses to communicate important information about processes and procedures. Where preventative maintenance and facility operations are concerned, using visuals can be an effective way to convey expectations and processes quickly to keep everyone working to the same guidelines. Visual tools and resources span a wide range of options, from symbols and illustrations […]
A workplace accident can take just a few seconds. But those brief incidents have a major impact on the U.S. economy. Employers reported 2.3 million workplace injuries in 2022. The direct costs associated with those incidents—worker’s compensation claims and related medical and legal expenses—add up to $1 billion a week. That’s not counting the indirect […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finally published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on August 30, initiating a 120-day public comment period for the agency’s proposed heat illness prevention standard (89 Fed. Reg. 70698). OSHA first released the text of its proposal on the agency website on July 2. Comments on the proposed standard are […]
California’s new Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard has become effective, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced July 24. The indoor heat standard applies to most indoor workplaces, such as manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and warehouses. In indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to […]
On July 17, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a January 2023 explosion and toxic chemical release at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, La. A reboiler at the facility exploded, leading to the release of over 870 pounds (lb) of hydrogen fluoride (HF) […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has entered into a corporate-wide settlement agreement with Dollar General and its retail subsidiaries to make significant workplace safety improvements in stores nationwide. Based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., Dollar General is a discount retailer that operates more than 19,000 stores. OSHA frequently cited the company for alleged violations such as blocked […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with Accel Schools Ohio LLC to address lead paint concerns and asbestos at three of its schools in Ohio: Youngstown Academy of Excellence, Niles Preparatory Academy, and STEAM Academy of Warren. Accel is a public charter school system that operates 77 in-person charter schools, primarily in Ohio, and 15 […]