Ergonomics

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 […]

Multiple sources have reported a recent and significant increase in calls to poison control centers concerning harmful exposures to cleaning and disinfecting products. It is especially important during these challenging times that we not worsen the situation through unsafe use of cleaning chemicals, including application of cleaning products to the human body, or intentional or […]

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 […]

Working on an assembly line can be a physically demanding job. Due to COVID-19 work restrictions, some employees may have spent the last few weeks either not working or working reduced hours. Leadership must consider the possibility of physical deconditioning as employees prepare to restart work as it can increase musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk and reduce […]

If you’re like me, you were completely unprepared to work from home (for an extended period of time) when COVID-19 interrupted our lives. I had just moved into my downtown Chicago apartment, with not even a table and chairs, when I was told to work from home. For the first two weeks, I worked from […]