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Understanding the Seveso III Directive
By Phil Molé, MPH The Seveso III directive is one of the most important regulations in the EU, requiring operators of certain facilities storing dangerous chemicals to develop and implement emergency planning and response procedures. The directive officially covers approximately 12,000 EU establishments, and EU member states implement the directive through national legislation and enforce […]
Improving Your Perception of Safety Risks (Or, “Why There Might Be a Bear in Your Car!”)
By Phil Molé, MPH Vehicle owners in Winston, Connecticut got quite a surprise when they returned to their car the morning of July 15, 2024. They heard the horn blaring and the radio blasting and saw a full-grown black bear and a cub trapped inside the car. The owners contacted state environmental conservation officials, who […]
If You Think Management of Change Processes Take a Lot…Try Disaster Response
Changes occurring within an organization’s operations are inevitable, and it’s imperative that the crucial process of Management of Change (MOC) procedures be completed to assess and address the risks or unintended consequences that stem from changes made. MOC is a systematic method for identifying and controlling safety, health and environmental risks associated with planned […]
Standardizing JSA Risk Assessment Criteria
By Greg Duncan, MELP, CSP, Sr. EHS & ESG Content Manager at VelocityEHS One of the most important steps in performing any job safety analysis (JSA) is assessing the likelihood and severity of risks encountered during performance of job tasks. This risk assessment is crucial to the subsequent JSA steps of identifying and implementing the […]
A Closer Look at OSHA’s Final Rule Updating the HazCom Standard
By Phil Molé, MPH OSHA published its long-awaited final rule updating requirements in its Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard. The publication of OSHA’s final rule ended months of waiting and uncertainty by manufacturers and users of hazardous chemicals and aligns HazCom with updated versions of the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals […]
Building Your JSA Team
EHS professionals know that completing comprehensive job safety analyses (JSAs) is vital to the safety of the workplace, but an important factor in the effectiveness of JSAs that often goes overlooked is making sure you have the right team of people working together to complete them. Yes, you need a team of people to complete […]
Understanding Lock-Out/Tag-Out
What is Lockout/Tagout? The term Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO, or Lockout/Tagout) refers to the safety practice and procedures that are necessary for employees to disable machinery or equipment to prevent the release of hazardous energy and prevent start-up until maintenance or repair work is completed. In a nutshell, it falls under the umbrella of […]
Ergonomics in the Automotive Industry to Reduce MSD Risk
The main goal of ergonomics is to optimize the safety well-being of workers and increase productivity in various work settings, such as in the automotive industry. Job tasks in the automotive industry generally involve constantly moving equipment, heavy lifting and repetitive work, which can result in a high risk of employees developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). […]
Using the Borg CR-10 Scale to Measure Perceived Exertion in Ergonomics
When completing an ergonomics assessment, it isn’t always possible to directly measure the force being applied during a task. Fortunately, there is a widely used and scientifically validated method that can be used when direct measuring of force isn’t possible. The Borg CR-10 scale was developed by Swedish researcher, Gunner Borg, to measure exertion or […]
Benefits of the VelocityEHS Control of Work Contractor Self-Service Portal
One of the biggest pain points when it comes to control of work for contractors and temporary workers is the amount of administrative work to verify that contractors coming on-site meet our stringent safety standards. From submitting required documentation and pre-qualification responses to completing worksite training and induction, it can take days, even weeks’ worth […]