Safety

Since OSHA announced its new Final Rule to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, the agency has handed down several citations for silica dust violations involving substantial fines. In May, a citation of $62,370 was leveled against a Wisconsin iron foundry that “overexposed three workers to silica.” According to OSHA, “One employee’s exposure […]

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 […]

OSHA named the Top 10 most cited violations of 2016 at this year’s National Safety Council Congress and Expo in Anaheim. For the fourth consecutive year, Hazard Communication has maintained the No. 2 spot, second only to Fall Protection. Here is the complete Top 10 list for 2016, along with the listing for previous years: Most […]

VelocityEHS is offering a free, live webinar to help businesses prepare for compliance with OSHA’s new Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Rule. With the first impacted industry (Construction) facing a compliance deadline of June 23, 2017 — and General Industry and Maritime facing a deadline of June 23, 2018, and Hydraulic Fracturing facing deadlines ranging from […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has blocked efforts by OSHA to more strictly enforce its Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. The PSM standard mandates that all businesses handling, manufacturing, or storing large amounts of certain hazardous chemicals take specific steps to prevent unexpected releases. Fertilizer retailers are especially impacted. In 2001, […]

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 […]

Reaffirming its commitment to holding both host employers and staffing agencies responsible for training workers on hazards they may encounter on the job, OSHA has levied fines of over $700,000 against an auto parts manufacturer and the staffing agency it was using. The businesses were cited for numerous violations, including failing to adequately train workers […]

In the material handling industry, even when most of the major hazards are identified and addressed, a small or careless mistake can still result in serious injury. Below are four common warehouse hazards should not be overlooked. 1. Pallet Rack Collapses Incidents involving pallet rack collapses often stem from materials not being properly stowed in […]

Emphasizing the importance of controlling employee exposure to workplace hazards, OSHA has recommended the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH’s) new Engineering Controls Database, a tool for locating “information on effective engineering controls that can protect workers by eliminating or reducing hazardous conditions.” The free-to-access database contains years of previously published resources generated […]