Workplace Culture

You already know that workplace accidents can have devastating consequences. You understand that effective EHS management must involve active identification and control of hazards, which is the primary intention behind risk assessments. You may even use job safety analysis (JSAs), to perform formal risk assessments that break down jobs into their constituent tasks in order […]

Some organizations rely on stretching, exercise, and conditioning programs (alone or in combination with other interventions) to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  This relies on changing the physical condition and capabilities of each individual employee and is heavily dependent on many variables that are outside an employer’s control, including employee willingness, interest, and participation; an individual’s […]

OSHA Amputation Data and Anti-Retaliation Guidelines Highlight Need for Proactive Management OSHA has just released some startling new data regarding workplace amputation injuries. The agency has also recently published a new set of guidelines for workplace anti-retaliation programs, to help employers comply with its new electronic recordkeeping rule which went into effect on January 1. […]

All good safety professionals know to pursue the hierarchy of controls when eliminating or reducing exposure to safety hazards. The same hierarchy can be applied to managing and controlling the risk factors which cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  The proof and effectiveness has been demonstrated in several recently-published studies. It is interesting to note that there […]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published a fact sheet to help employers develop effective strategies for Process Safety Management (PSM). The fact sheet identifies and discusses the ways that facilities enrolled in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), and who therefore have been recognized by OSHA for safety performance above industry average, use […]

In our 24/7 world, shift work is common. Shift workers are susceptible to sleep deprivation and fatigue, leading to decreased physical and mental capabilities, increased incident rates, and negative health consequences. Many strategies used to manage shift work focus on administrative controls (such as work scheduling and breaks) and employee behavior (sleep strategies and schedules […]

VelocityEHS continues to hold its top ranking on the Top 100 Digital Companies in Chicago list. The annual list from Built In Chicago, an online community of startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators, ranks top tech companies based on full-time employees in the Chicagoland area. This is VelocityEHS’ third consecutive year on the Top 100 list, a […]

This weekend, the feature film “Deepwater Horizon” hits movie theaters across the country. It tells the true story of the ill-fated semi-submersible offshore oil drilling rig that exploded after the well it was drilling erupted, killing 11 workers and injuring dozens more. Following the explosion, more than 200 million US gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf […]

Workplace safety is often focused on workers doing rigorous tasks in industries with the perceived highest occupational risk, such as construction, mining, oil and gas, and manufacturing. However, one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, and one of the most costly to employers, affects those workers whose time is spent in offices and laboratories […]