Optimizing EHS Programs

“Restarting Work: Optimizing Human Performance” will be held on May 21, 2020 from 10 – 11 AM EDT. Working on an assembly line or in other industrial environments can be physically demanding, and maintaining employee health, safety, and performance includes staying in shape. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 work restrictions, many workers have spent weeks or even months away from work or are working reduced hours. Over time, reduced physical activity can lead to “physical deconditioning” resulting in reduced muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, physical endurance and range […]

These are challenging times. Luckily, EHS professionals are used to changing directions in the moment, and have the agility to balance risk and productivity while responding to new challenges. Here at VelocityEHS, we celebrate the safety commitment of EHS professionals like you, and we want to remind you, now more than ever, that we’re in […]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become the new normal for many of us, including myself, which can be a considerable adjustment. By working remotely, we are participating in more virtual sessions like conference calls, webinars, and online training. This requires us to re-examine how to learn and collaborate despite our physical separation. […]

Before we begin, VelocityEHS would like to acknowledge the health care providers, first responders, grocery store workers, truck drivers and transportation workers, and other essential workers who have been operating uninterrupted since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. All of us owe you an immeasurable amount of gratitude for your service and tireless commitment. We […]

Last week, Health Canada issued an interim enforcement policy for workplaces covered under Canada’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The interim policy provides exemptions for a number of safety data sheet (SDS) and supplier label requirements established under the Hazardous Products Act (HPA), Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) and Hazardous Materials Information Review Act (HMIRA). […]

This year, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is commemorating 50 years since the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which was signed into law on December 29, 1970. In honor of this major milestone, OSHA is announcing its re-commitment to the Agency’s fundamental mission of ensuring safe and healthful […]

Management must consider that production workers may be physically deconditioned when restarting work. It is important for all employees to understand physical deconditioning, how it may impact their ability to jump back into standard working procedures, and how it may increase musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk. Here are some ways to help employees prepare to restart […]

Whether you are conducting an injury investigation or seeking countermeasures to address a hazard, the quality of your root cause analysis will have a direct bearing on the effectiveness of your solution. Unfortunately, many root cause analyses go off course and pursue ineffective paths. For example, a few years ago I was reviewing data on […]

When companies re-start operations, leadership must consider the physical deconditioning of workers.  It is important to investigate ways to reintegrate employees into standard work without increasing musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk and without impacting manufacturing production and product quality. Tips for Workers When Restarting Work Here are some ways to reduce physical stress on workers when […]

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on workplaces, as levels of operation change or even cease due to lockdown measures, and employees find themselves more geographically spread out than ever. Unfortunately, these challenges may also reveal gaps in our EHS management system that we didn’t know about before.  During “normal” times, we […]