EHS Insider Blog

What is OSHA - Topic 5 - How are OSHA inspections conducted?

What is OSHA: Topic 5 - How are OSHA inspections conducted? A. Inspection Priorities The OSH Act authorizes OSHA compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) to conduct workplace inspections at reasonable times. OSHA conducts inspections without advance notice, except in rare circumstances (for example, when there is a report of an Imminent Danger). In fact, anyone who tells an employer about an OSHA inspection in advance can receive fines and a jail term.
Topics: What is OSHA Safety Training

What is A Near Miss?

What is a Near Miss? OSHA defines a near miss as an incident where no property was damaged and no personal injury was sustained, but where given a slight shift in time or position damage and/or injury easily could have occurred. Merriam-Webster's definition is "an accident that is just barely avoided." Near miss incidents occur every day in the workplace and can be anything from a simple stumble over an electrical cord to a hand narrowly escaping amputation.
Topics: Near Misses Safety Training

Safety Check by Facebook

What Is Safety Check The Facebook team has created a simple to use tool that allows users to connect with their network during a crisis. When Will It Be Used When a natural disaster or crisis occurs it's common for people and companies to turn to the internet to check on loved ones and employees. With 3.2 billion subscribers, Facebook is a popular choice for such information.
Topics: News and Regulatory Alerts Safety Resources

Final Stages: OSHA's Proposed Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

OSHA's Proposed Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses The proposed rule seeks to make changes to the reporting requirements of OSHA's recordkeeping rule. The comment period on the proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses expired October 14, 2014. The next stage in this rulemaking process will be for OSHA to carefully review all comments before promulgating a final rule. Summary of Explanation of the Proposed Rule OSHA is proposing to amend its recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information employers are already required to keep under Part 1904. The proposed rule would amend 29 CFR 1904.41 to add three new electronic reporting requirements (proposed § 1904.41—Electronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA).
Topics: News and Regulatory Alerts

Upcoming Safety Conferences - Last Quarter 2014 & 1st Half of 2015

Considering attending a safety conference during the last quarter of 2014 or the first half of 2015? If so, we have compiled a list of some of the top national safety conferences in the United States. As more information becomes available for these events, we will update this article. Safety Conferences are listed in chronological order.
Topics: Conferences

Case Study: Companies Cited for Willful and Serious Hazard Violations

OSHA Proposes $130,200 in Fines to Aluminum Plant for Willful Exposures Company: Matalco US Inc., Canton, Ohio Scope: Matalco US is under investigation by the US Department of Labor for exposing workers to amputation, fall hazards and unsafe crane operations.
Topics: Violations and Penalties Case Studies