Risk Management


California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law AB 2774 (Swanson) which clarifies the definition of a serious citation.

New Law to Strengthen Cal/OSHA Citation Process

New factors used to accurately issue serious citations include any training given to employees and supervisors, existing workplace safety procedures, supervision of employees exposed to the hazard, as well as any contributing information the employer wishes to provide to explain why the employer believes that no serious violation exists.

Stronger Warning from FAA on Lithium Batteries

The agency on Friday alerted operators that the UPS cargo plane that crashed in Dubai on Sept. 3 was carrying large quantities of lithium batteries and that Halon 1301, the suppression agent used in Class C cargo compartments, is ineffective in controlling a lithium metal cell fire.

NFPA Survey: Americans' Smoke Alarm Education Needs Improvement

Survey findings show that less than one quarter have interconnected smoke alarms. And while smoke alarms should be tested monthly, a large portion of the population doesn’t check them as often as they should, according to NFPA.

MSHA's Fight with Massey Energy Continues

The federal agency issued 11 closure orders during a Sept. 28 surprise inspection at a West Virginia coal mine owned by the company. All 11 hazards have been abated.

DOL Strategic Plan Sets Lofty Safety Goals

The 2016 target for federal agencies' rate for lost-time injuries and illnesses is 1.07, which is a 27 percent improvement from 2009's 1.48, according to the DOL plan.

FAA Proposes Stricter Safety Rules for Helicopter Operators

Under the proposed rules, operators would use the latest on-board technology and equipment to avoid terrain and obstacles. The proposal also contains provisions which, if finalized, would require operators to use enhanced procedures for flying in challenging weather, at night, and when landing in remote locations.

FDA Seeks Permanent Injunction against New York Juice Maker

Failure to identify and control food hazards could lead to the formation of Clostridium botulinum (C. bot.) bacteria that can germinate in the carrot and beet juices made by the company. The neurotoxin formed by C. bot., when ingested in even very small amounts, could cause paralysis, difficulty breathing, and potentially death from asphyxiation.

GasBadge Pro, a dockable single-gas detector from Industrial Scientific, is iNet™ Ready and has a lifetime warranty

Join Us Oct. 13 to Solve Your Gas Detection Mysteries

This free webinar features two specialists from Industrial Scientific Corp. explaining how Gas Detection as a Service solves common difficulties, increasing the visibility of your data and allowing you to take action.



Worker's Death at Paper Mill in Niagara Falls Leads to $75K in Fines

The worker was crushed when he became caught between a fixed metal barrier and a large paper roll that was moving on a conveyor. OSHA identified other hazardous conditions that were not related to the fatality; those resulted in two repeat and two serious citations.

Cintas Shares Critical Fire Safety Tips

In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, Cintas has issued a list of fire protection and safety tips to help businesses prevent fires and be prepared in the event of a fire.

OSHA Launches Online Resource to Prevent Distracted Driving

A new webpage aimed at those whose workplaces are the cars, vans, and trucks that deliver the goods and services on which the nation's economy depends, and their employers, is intended to offer best practices and policies on achieving safe workplaces in motor vehicles.

Dow Chemical Wins Robert W. Campbell Award

The "golden thread" running through the 52,000-employee company's global operations is its culture, which makes everyone responsible and accountable for safe performance in the drive for zero incidents, says Michael R. Gambrell, executive vice president for manufacturing and engineering operations.

Blender Company Cited $120,600 for Crushing, Electrical Hazards

"There is no excuse for employees to work in an environment where they are exposed to being crushed while working inside machinery where the energy source was not properly locked out and tagged," said Charles Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo.

Researchers Caution: Handle Snow Blowers with Care

As winter weather approaches, homeowners may prepare by dusting off the snow blower--and its safety manual. Clearing the driveway with a snow blower doesn't have to be a dangerous task. But, unclog a snow blower with your hand, instead of the chute-cleaning tool, and you risk broken bones or amputation.

Mal Meninga, a champion rugby player and coach who is a member of the Australia Rugby Hall of Fame, is featured on posters for the 2010 Safe Work Australia Week.

Rugby Legend Leads Safe Work Australia Week Events

Events across the country Oct. 24-30 will remind workers and employers about the importance of safe operations. Rugby League Hall of Famer Mal Meninga, this year's spokesman, will share his own story in an Oct. 25 forum launching the week.

Former Industrial Scientific CEO Elected NSC Chairman

The company Kent McElhattan co-founded on Oct. 1 announced his election to succeed Joseph J. Ucciferro, who served as National Safety Council board chairman for the past three years. Mark P. Vergnano, executive vice president of DuPont, was elected to a two-year term as vice chairman.

Cyber attacks from criminal organizations have increased in number and severity in recent years, the commission reports.

European Commission Proposes New Anti-Cyber Crime Rules

The proposal will punish those who build, use, and sell tools and software designed to carry out cyber attacks, which have increased and grown more costly in recent years.

Flexible Foam Firm Fined $72,000 for Combustible Dust Hazards, More

The company is being cited for allegedly failing to keep an area clean and free of dangerous accumulations of explosive and combustible foam dust and for failing to install machine guards on cutting machines to protect workers from amputation hazards.

Tying It All Together

Document your training efforts and log all attendance. It matters and shows your efforts to educate a constantly changing workforce.

Employees have both a need and a right to know the identities and hazards of the chemicals to which they are exposed at work.

Think You Know HazCom?

Safety professionals have long had concerns with MSDSs, beginning with issues about the ability of workers to understand them.

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