June Is National Safety Month!
Celebrated annually by the National Safety Council (NSC) since 1996, National Safety Month seeks to increase awareness of safety at work, at home, and within our communities.
Category: Special Topics in Safety Management
Safety is a process, and as such, needs to be managed. This section offers resources to create a viable safety program, sell it to senior management, train supervisors and employees in using it, and then track and report your progress. Look also for ways to advance your own skills in these areas, both for your current job, and those that follow.
Free Special Report: 50 Tips for More Effective Safety Training
OSHA Says Employers Must Plan for COVID-19 Hazards
As states lift stay-at-home orders and workplaces reopen, employers must plan for potential hazards of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and routine workplace hazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminded employers. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 currently is widespread in most U.S. communities and considered […]
OSHA: Surgical Masks Not a Substitute for Respirators for Non-COVID-19 Respiratory Hazards
Exceptions from respiratory protection regulations allowing the use of surgical masks only apply to healthcare facilities and emergency medical services, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminded employers. Other employers must provide respirators, the agency explained in guidance discussing the differences among cloth face coverings, surgical masks, and respirators.
California Safety and Public Health Agencies Issue Hotel Reopening Guidelines
As California hotels begin to reopen with the lifting of stay at home orders, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and California Department of Public Health have issued guidelines for the hotels and lodging industry. Cal/OSHA and CDPH released the guidelines and a checklist to help employers in the industry keep employees […]
NSC Urges Employers to Brace for Employee Substance Misuse Amid Pandemic’s Impact on Mental Health
According to the American Medical Association, at least 30 states are reporting spikes in fatal opioid overdoses and ongoing concern about mental illness or substance use disorders, all in connection with COVID-19. To help employers address these interconnected issues, the National Safety Council (NSC) is calling on employers to prioritize employee stress and emotional and mental […]
FDA Tells Employers to Stop Decontaminating, Reusing FFRs Made in China
Non-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) made in China are no longer authorized for decontamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on June 6.
Emerging Safety Technologies Show Promise
Government researchers and private-sector developers deliver technological advancements all the time. Some could significantly transform the safety function—like in-vehicle monitoring systems that could improve driving performance by identifying risky driving behaviors and reducing the number of motor vehicle crashes. Wearable sensors that could alert construction workers of nearby vehicles and equipment, potentially eliminating struck-by hazards. […]
National Safety Council Urges Caution in Reopening Business
Employers should reopen only when they can do so safely, the National Safety Council (NSC) said in response to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for office workers returning to work during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
ASSP and Its 40,000 Members Stand for Safety and Equity
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), the world’s oldest professional safety organization with 40,000 members globally, releases the following statement from ASSP President Diana Stegall, CSP, CFPS, ARM, SMS, CPCU, on behalf of the Society’s Board of Directors.
CDC Releases COVID-19 Recommendations for Office Buildings
Updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reopening offices during the COVID-19 pandemic include wearing cloth masks throughout the workday; maintaining social distances of six feet, including in elevators; positioning workstations six feet apart or installing plastic partitions; and removing communal coffeepots.