Safety in the News: February 2019

Below is a quick selection of some notable safety-related news headlines for the month of February 2019:

 

OSHA Revises Whistleblower ADR Policy (Safety.BLR)
OSHA has updated its policies and procedures for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve whistleblower retaliation complaints.

 

OSHA Reminds Employers to Prevent Workplace Carbon Monoxide Exposure (OH&S)
The reminder follows recent incidents highlighting the need to educate employers and workers about the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure from portable generators and other equipment within enclosed spaces.

 

OSHA Raises Employer Penalties for 2019 (EHS Today)
The penalties levied against employers for safety violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have gone up, effective Jan. 24. The increases only apply to citations issued after that date and for the remainder of 2019.

 

Getting ready for and managing an on-site visit by OSHA (MultiBriefs)
Employers subject to an on-site inspection by OSHA or one of the state agencies that regulate workplace safety and health should take preventive steps to prepare for such an inspection and have a plan for handling it and any follow-up that may be necessary.

 

6 OSHA Guidelines You Need to Know (The Nonprofit Times)
Many nonprofit managers might find their work to be hazardous all the time, but in fact some nonprofits do handle hazardous materials.

 

OSHA Fines Habitat for Humanity in August 2018 Construction Accident (Black Hills Fox)
There is new information about the federal investigation into the construction accident that severely injured Leah Nixon of Rapid City last summer. OSHA and Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity have settled on six total citations in the accident, two of which are labeled as serious.

 

Ready to Wear: Wearable Technology Could Boost Workplace Safety, buy Concerns Remain (Safety + Health)
In the safety world, “wearables” can include “smart” personal protective equipment, glasses with heads-up displays and hard hats with sensors. What most of these devices have in common is they give safety professionals and other employees a set of watchful eyes to help ensure the health and well-being of the workforce, particularly lone workers.