Blog

OSHA used the National Safety Council’s 2010 Congress and Expo to announce the top 10 violations of 2010. Thomas Galassi, OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs made the announcement with Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of OSHA, in attendance. The list was little changed from 2009, with a couple of violations switching places. Hazard Communication violations […]

In recent months, OSHA has stepped up its efforts to remind employers that employees must be trained in a language they understand. First, on April 14, 2010, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis touched on the issue in an address to the National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety. Then on April 28, […]

We have received some questions recently on the “CPE ” designation that appears at the end of the title of VelocityEHS Ergonomics consultants.  In the United States, the most recognized official certification body is the Board of Certified Professional Ergonomists (BCPE).  The Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) designation has the following requirements: A master’s degree in […]

In the last couple of weeks, the video of a trench caving in at the exact moment an OSHA inspector is telling the crew that one of the workers can’t be in the trench has gone viral. The video illustrates at least three important lessons for employees and employers: Trenching and excavating are hazardous activities […]

We have noticed a significant number of searches on our database for MSDS information related to Nalco products Corexit 9500 and Corexit 9527, the two dispersants being used in the oil spill cleanup effort. As a public service, and in an effort to assist the EPA in making MSDS information about these two dispersants more […]

Just back from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) show in San Antonio.  Great show and thanks to all that stopped by our booth.  A number of people at the show asked me if material safety data sheets (MSDSs) are required for consumer products like Windex or Lysol? This is a common question we […]

Yes, it’s that time of year, when the sweltering heat of summer begins to set in and brings with it a host of additional safety and health concerns for employers and workers across the country.  Being able to identify and respond to the warning signs of heat stress can truly become a life or death […]

We have been doing a lot of work lately with the delivery logistics and route distributions industry.  As ergonomists, we rely heavily on scientific data when making recommendations to optimize human performance.  We would like to highlight an example of somebody making our job easier for a change. When performing a review of hand truck […]

As you can guess, we get this question often.  So let’s clear the air once and for all.  The answer, of course, is YES… as long as you meet these three criteria: Have a back-up system in place in case of a foreseeable emergency. Ensure that your system is integrated into your overall hazard communication plan. […]

On a recent post at NAEM’s GreenTie blog, Alex Pollock asked for our thoughts on the “demise of the Industrial Hygiene profession as we know it.” He noted changes in staffing, reliance on “EHS generalists” and changes to the profession over the past 20+ years. It is my experience that the changes within the IH […]