Blog

It seems almost every few months there’s another story in the news about a major chemical accident somewhere in the United States. On June 21, 2019 a major explosion at a petroleum refinery just outside of downtown Philadelphia, PA injured five workers and endangered thousands of nearby Philadelphia residents. The damage was so severe that […]

EPA issued a final rule in April 2019 that imposes new restrictions on products that contain asbestos. Let’s take a moment to review the new rule and the impacts it may have on human health, as well as your business. The Background Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in rock and soil. For […]

In order to keep your employees safe, you must be aware of all the hazards they may encounter during their daily tasks, from chemical exposure to slips, trips and falls. A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is a trusted process that helps you formally identify these hazards in order to make critical changes that protect workers […]

The recent chemical-related incidents in the news are a reminder of how important it is to have an accurate, up-to-date inventory of the chemicals you have on-site. Not only is an accurate inventory essential for safety, it’s a requirement under hazard communication regulations. For example, under OSHA’s HazCom Standard, employers must include a list of […]

Working from home has become more common with advances in technology. Whether you are a full-time remote employee or work from home occasionally, you can probably relate to performing tasks that require your undivided attention in a space where it might be too comfortable to focus. In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published data […]

There have been some exciting technological breakthroughs in ergonomics over the past decade, particularly for practitioners. When I began my career as an ergonomist back in “the good old days,” we conducted musculoskeletal disorder risk assessments using pen and paper (observation-based). Those days are over, thanks to technology. Here are a few major technological advancements […]

Powered hand tools are common in manufacturing (and other) work environments. Unfortunately, heavy users are at a greater risk of injury due to the transmission of vibration to a body area. To combat the negative effects, many turn to anti-vibration gloves. The abundance of products to choose from claim to be ISO certified. While some […]

Last month, OSHA published a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers surrounding its silica standard. Developed with input from industry and union stakeholders, the document provides additional guidance to employers and employees regarding the standard’s requirements for general industry, which has presented a number challenges for some due to the rule’s complexity. Those […]

Last year, we were excited to announce Humantech’s acquisition by global EHS software leader, VelocityEHS. In the coming months, you will see the VelocityEHS name more often. You’ll also see a fresh, new look for the Humantech brand as we phase it in across our offices, products, and services. Though our colors have changed, Humantech’s […]

The day has finally arrived! The deadline for employer compliance with Canada’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS 2015) is Saturday December 1, 2018. From that point, employers across Canada (with the exception of federally regulated workplaces) will be required to have ONLY WHMIS 2015 safety data sheets, supplier labels and workplace container labels for […]