Facility Safety


Spiders & Snakes: NIOSH Adds New Topic Pages to Site, with Pictures

The new pages are designed to help employers train their employees on the risk of exposure and include information on the symptoms associated with stings and bites, how workers can protect themselves, and what they should do if they are stung or bitten.

Willful Violation at Root of Fatal International Paper Explosion, OSHA Says

The agency's investigation followed an incident in May that killed one employee and injured 22 others.

Small Businesses' Compliance Challenges Addressed at OSHA Forum

Electronic tools helping small businesses evaluate workplace safety and health management programs was among the topics presented at a recent OSHA forum titled "Challenges Small Businesses Face in Complying with Regulations."

University Awarded $1.3 Million to Study Violence in Emergency Departments

The study focuses on physical violence and verbal threats by patients and visitors against direct care providers -- including physicians, nurses and aides -- in adult emergency departments.

Maine Firm Fined for Oil Spill Prevention Violations, Inadequate Security

An inspection found that two of the company's oil storage facilities adjacent to Penobscot Bay had failed to maintain sufficiently impervious secondary containment for its oil tanks and one of the sites next to the harbor had inadequate containment for the loading and off-loading areas.

AAOS Releases New Treatment Guidelines for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The academy's recommendations include both operative and non-operative treatment options as well as alternative techniques.

Refinery Fined $357,750 for Willful Chemical, Explosion Hazards, More

"It is inexcusable for employees to be situated next to the process operation and have them use equipment that could serve as an ignition source for an explosion," said Clyde Payne, director of OSHA's Area Office in Jackson, Miss.

CPSC Urges Consumers to Replace Batteries in Smoke Alarms

Today is not only the day to change our clocks, it's also the day to replaced smoke alarm batteries, according to an timely reminder from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as Daylight Saving Time ends.



IT Company to pay nearly $1.7 million in Back Wages

GlobalCynex Inc., a Sterling information technology company, has agreed to pay $1,683,584 to 343 non-immigrant workers after a U.S. Labor Department investigation found the company violated the H-1B visa provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Managing Your Safety Program During Economic Crises

Surveying the dismal outlook for the economy in the upcoming months (years?), many of us ol' timers know safety is often one of the first areas managers cast a "cutback" eye upon when the economy turns sour. Many industries already are seeing this, with open safety positions being left dormant or abolished. Budgets are being slashed; and the use of extra skilled and unskilled help is being reduced or eliminated.

Safety and Motvation for Autonomous Workers

Many organizations have encountered resistance or noncompliance trying to get plant-bound employees to work safely. This despite reminders, threats, or tomes of policies and procedures (some so ponderous they might create back problems from lifting them). So what chance do you have of inculcating safety checkoffs, judgment, and actions with people who receive minimal or no supervision, who work outside and perhaps check in only occasionally? Actually, a lot, if you approach it the right way—slim, if you don’t.

CDC Succeeds at Recruiting Disabled Employees

The agency's director, Dr. Julie Gerberding, told four offices to take the lead, and the efforts are working, CDC said in an article posted Oct. 29. October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2008.

Christmas Tree Fire Videos Show Benefit of Home Sprinklers

As the weather grows cold and people start planning for the holidays, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have released two new research videos that illustrate the benefit of having sprinkler systems in homes. Scientists exposed two dry Christmas trees to an open flame in a living room mock-up built inside their laboratory and recorded the results.

Revisions Bring Registered Apprenticeship into the 21st Century

The Department of Labor's updates to the program lets employers use multiple training approaches, gives apprentices interim credentials and lets both use electronic media for technical instruction.

Nearly $10 Million State Fine Adds to Agriprocessors' Woes

Iowa's labor commissioner announced the record $9,988,200 in civil penalties and said the Postville, Iowa, kosher meatpacking plant also owes $264,786.45 in back wages. This blow may close the plant, where 389 workers were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on May 12.

Nassau County Police Dept. to Pay $450,000 for Age Bias

EEOC says the county transferred four individuals out of their Marine Bureau positions and into precincts that were less desirable and replaced them with younger officers.

ACOEM Issues Treatment Guidelines for Workers with Chronic Pain

The recommendations focus on diagnostic and other testing and treatments for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neuropathic pain, trigger points/myofascial pain, chronic persistent pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic low back pain, among other conditions.

Nov. 17-18 Symposium Explores Fire Safety in the Next 25 Years

U.S. Fire Administrator Gregory Cade and leaders from a host of agencies and companies are scheduled to speak at the Washington, D.C., event hosted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

Nov. 6 Conference to Address Post-Election Labor Law Changes

Sessions will discuss state and federal laws covering FMLA, FLSA, harassment, diversity, hiring, employee attendance, technology and information policies, and the aging workforce, among other topics.

Citizens Sue EPA over PVC Plant Emissions

If successful, the lawsuit would trigger protections against several harmful pollutants associated with a wide variety of serious adverse health effects.

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