National No Beard Day (October 18th) Background Each year on October 18th, we recognize National No Beard Day. Whether you have been growing your exceptionally groomed beard for years, or you just recently started your endeavor, this is the day to wave goodbye and go back to the smooth look everyone forgot about! No Beard Day is the perfect day to see what you look like without it, and perhaps to start anew or mark the start of something new in your life. Aside from the clean look that your partner or family might enjoy seeing for the first time in months or even years,Read More →

Fall Prevention Awareness Week Did you know that the leading cause of death for construction workers are falls? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 350 of the 937 construction fatalities in 2015 were caused by falls from elevation. However, the construction industry is not the only sector of work where falls are considered to be a danger. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most general industry incidents involve slips, trips, and falls as well. They cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicle incidents for causing fatalities. Furthermore, all of these deaths from falling are preventable and canRead More →

The home is far more dangerous than being out at the ballpark! Were you aware that more serious injuries typically occur at home than at work, or that the costs associated with home-related injuries are higher for employers than work-related injuries? Home-related injuries adversely affect family and personal quality of life as well. Here are a few tips that will help you make your home a safer place for you and your family: For Children: Do a walkthrough of your home and look for potential trouble spots. The leading cause of fatalities for children in the home is accidental poisoning. Keep medicines and household chemicalsRead More →

How do I obtain my OSHA certification? OSHA’s training requirements are in accordance to the safety and health hazards that employees are exposed to on the job. We often hear this misconception that OSHA requires employees to be OSHA certified. Although some states and certain types of jobsites may have requirements for employees or supervisors such as the OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA outreach certifications, this is not a federal OSHA requirement. Therefore, while the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour are beneficial trainings for strengthening your employee’s knowledge, it cannot count towards other OSHA required training. We recommend that company utilize these Outreach Trainings as aRead More →

An active shooter is a person or persons who appears to be actively engaged in harming or attempting to kill people in the facility. An event like this can happen anywhere, at any time. The actions taken by you can mean life or death for anyone involved. There are three lines of defense that can help should you ever find yourself in this situation. Run If possible, running or escaping from the scene is the best option. Take a moment to encourage others to retreat and evacuate with you but it is crucial to not let them slow you down with indecision. Hide If youRead More →

Did you know that three of the ten most violated (and cited) OSHA standards involve electrical safety? In fact, “Electrocutions” is one of OSHA’s Construction Fatal Four. The Fatal Four is a list of hazards that accounted for over 64% of fatalities in the construction industry in 2015. Of the construction fatalities, 8.6% of them dealt with electrocutions. The following are some ways to prevent run-ins with electrical hazards: Make sure your lockout/tagout program is up to date. Routinely inspect extension cords and electrically powered tools for wear and tear. If any extension cords or other electrical equipment have visible damage, ensure that they areRead More →

Workers’ Memorial Day, observed every year on April 28, is a day to honor those who have died on the job, to acknowledge the suffering experienced by their families and communities, and to recommit ourselves to the fight for safe and healthful workplaces for all workers. April 28 is also the day OSHA was established in 1971. Under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their workers. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. OSHA hasRead More →

An estimated 32% of fatal car crashes involve an intoxicated driver or pedestrian. (NHTSA) 3,952 fatally injured drivers tested positive for drug involvement. (FARS) Over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. (FBI)   Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Is a Serious Crime Drugs Alcohol Adverse effects to a person’s judgment, reaction time, motor skills, and memory. Adverse effects to a person’s judgment, reaction time, motor skills, and memory. Misused prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and illegal drugs pose serious danger to yourself and public safety. Alcohol slows down the functions of the central nervousRead More →

5 Benefits of OSHA’s New Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries & Illnesses As of January 1, 2017, OSHA’s final rule for improving the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses went into effect. The new rule requires establishments with 250 or more employees to submit their injury and illness records (300 & 300A Form) electronically. Establishments with 20-249 employees in certain high-risk industries will also be required to electronically submit their 300 logs. OSHA is allowing employers to submit the information by July 1, 2017 while they are phasing in the new requirements. A secure website will be provided with multiple options for submissionRead More →

CDC Foundation Provides Tips on Workplace Flu Prevention With flu season on the horizon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation is sharing information to help workers protect themselves from the disease. Annually, 5 to 20 percent of Americans contract the flu, resulting in $10.4 billion in medical bills and $16.3 billion in lost wages, according to the infographic. Nearly 60 percent of reported flu hospitalizations are adults 18 to 64 – the general age range of workers. Among the information released is an infographic with facts about vaccination, how the flu impacts workers and how to avoid spreading germs. Some symptoms of the flu: body aches,Read More →