SAFETY & HEALTH BLOG

How Following OSHA Rules — and Taking Safety Seriously — Saves Lives in the Workplace When a worker was killed after a crane fell, crushing the man, an OSHA inspection showed that the accident could easily have been avoided by extending outriggers designed to keep the crane from tipping. It was a simple step that would have only taken a few moments to put in place and would have saved that man’s life. In total, OSHA found 13 serious violations during that inspection, levying $70,000 in fines on the company. But for that employee, no amount of fines will bring his life back. On that day, he left home that morning, having no idea

When it Comes to Confined Spaces, There’s No Room to Skip on Safety Precautions. In January 2017, a utility worker in Key Largo, Florida, opened a manhole cover and went under a recently paved section of road to investigate why it had settled unevenly. When he stopped responding to coworkers above ground, a second worker went in to see if he needed help. When both stopped responding, The Washington Post reported, a third man entered. What none of these workers knew is that years of vegetation had been rotting underneath the surface, creating a poisonous gas. All three workers were overcome by hydrogen sulfide and methane, causing them to asphyxiate.  These three men lost

How Would You Recover From an Accident? When an accident on the job site occurs, it affects everybody. It’s an emotionally-charged time full of “what ifs” that forces everybody involved to face the reality that everything can change in an instant. But what follows is equally stressful because accidents and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) go hand-in-hand. Following an accident, companies often must work under the scrutiny of safety officials, operating with the knowledge that one violation could cripple the business. It is an unenviable position to be in.  That is exactly what happened to Mark Mashuda Excavating Inc. back in March of 2015. Emergency Can Strike at any Time While doing

OSHA PPE Rules Answered Who pays for PPE? The employer or the employee? Since 2004, Lancaster Safety consultants have conducted nearly 12,000 OSHA-compliance training sessions with companies in all fifty states. In virtually every one of those training sessions, one question arises more frequently than any other. Who Pays for Safety Gear? Is the employer responsible for providing pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE)? Or is the employee?  OSHA has a 48-page guide that provides guidance to employers for evaluating PPE needs. It addresses the proper selection, maintenance, and training necessary to protect employees from a variety of hazards. While the actual assessment and evaluation of PPE can be complicated and complex, when it comes