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April, 2005
How to Use Pilot Testing to Get Worker Input on Sharps Safety
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BPS) requires employers to get workers’ input regarding safe devices to cut the risk of injuries from contaminated sharps. You also need to document that input. One effective strategy to ensure compliance is “pilot testing,” that is, letting workers test the device and fill out a questionnaire to evaluate its [...]
Proving Safetys Return on Investment, Part 2
As discussed in Part 1, a 2001 report from Liberty Mutual shows that there are a lot of executives out there who ?get it? and understand that spending money on safety isn’t just a ?nice thing to do for workers? but increases profitability. Now we turn to a second important finding of the report: The [...]
A Corporate Merger
Mergers and acquisitions, alas, are no passing fad. While that may be great for the investment bankers and attorneys on Wall Street, it’s not so hot for the folks who work for the corporations that acquire and get acquired. Safety directors are especially vulnerable to the shakeout that invariably follows a big corporate deal. History [...]
A Bad Boss
Sooner or later, you’re going to work for a boss who’s a real pain in the behind. Maybe you already do. Bad bosses are no fun. In fact, a bad relationship with the boss is the leading source of stress on the job. But there are things you can do to make the situation less [...]
Top 10 Reasons Companies Give for Investing in Safety
Top 10 Reasons Companies Give for Investing in Safety
Cutting workers’ compensation costs (59%);
The feeling that investing in safety is the “right thing to do” (51%);
Increasing profits (33%);
Complying with federal/state safety rules (31%);
The feeling that the company has had “too many accidents” (29%);
Maintaining or improving employee morale (26%);
Maintaining [...]
Proving Safetys Return on Investment, Part 1
Saying that ?safety saves money? is a clich?. The real challenge for safety directors is to back up the assertion with substantive economic arguments. There’s a 2001 report from Liberty Mutual Insurance that can help you do that.
Study Results
Liberty Mutual interviewed 200 executives responsible for workers’ compensation at their companies ? 75 from mid-size [...]
Avoiding OSHA Liability For Retaliation Against Workers
THE PROBLEM
The OSHA law bans “discharging or in any manner discriminating against any” worker because the worker files an OSHA complaint or “exercises any right” under the OSHA law (Occupational Safety & Health Act, Sec. 11(c)). Discrimination can include not just firing and layoff but denial of overtime, reassignment to undesirable shifts, demotion, paycuts [...]
10 OSHA Changes You Need to Know About
OSHA just published a final rule in the Federal Register scaling back what the agency calls “inconsistent, duplicative or outdated provisions” in various toxic substances standards.
Who’s Affected: Employers subject to OSHA general industry, construction and/or maritime standards.
When Changes Take Effect : Immediately
What Are the Changes: There are 10 key changes:
1. Carcinogens Reporting
Standard Affected: [...]
Having Multiple Facilities Can Lead to Repeat Violations
An OSHA citation is never a good thing. But being cited for a repeat violation is especially serious. In addition to penalties of up to $70,000 per offense, repeat violations can land you on OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP) hit list and embarrass your company.
Repeat violations don’t happen just at companies that don’t care about [...]
Dos and Donts
Don’t Ask Job Applicants If They’re Allergic to Latex
Don’t ask job applicants if they’re allergic to latex, even if they might have to wear latex gloves on the job. While you might think it’s an appropriate way to evaluate the applicant’s qualifications to perform the job, asking a direct question about latex allergies [...]
