Category: Safety

Chemical facility safety

Consensus Standards for Safety: What Facility Managers Need to Know

Facilities managers depend on standards to efficiently and consistently do good work, and when it comes to safety, there are many resources for them to consult. The U.S. Chemical and Safety Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a Safety Spotlight recommending that employers closely apply industry consensus standards to safeguard employee and public safety. Titled “The […]

Don’t Slip Up on Fall Prevention

In 2017, slips and falls accounted for 887 work-related deaths, making it the second leading cause of work-related death in the United States, according to the National Safety Council’s 2017 Injury Facts®. In general industry, slips, trips, and falls cause the most injuries and comprise 17% of accidental deaths, and in the construction industry, they […]

Facility management staff inspecting building

Proving General Duty Clause Violations is Easier Said Than Done

The General Duty Clause (Clause) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act has been in effect since the Act’s passage in 1970 and should be an important consideration in employer worker safety and hazard reduction plans. Although most employers that are familiar with the federal and state worker-protection standards to implement the OSH Act […]

Using hand sanitizer

Superbugs are Evolving Resistance to Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

There’s a growing concern among healthcare researchers about bacteria’s ability to handle its booze. Recent studies highlight a potentially serious safety concern blossoming for healthcare facilities as certain forms of bacteria are becoming more tolerant of the alcohol used in popular hand sanitizers.

AIHA, Other Groups Form Indoor Environmental Quality Alliance

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and five other groups formed a new international association on indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The Indoor Environmental Quality Global Alliance (IEQ-GA) will serve as a platform for the exchange of indoor environmental knowledge and information and will promote education and research into the health and environmental quality in buildings.

Marijuana Safety Concerns Voiced by Occupational and Environmental Medical Group

An occupational and environmental medical group urged members of Congress to keep workplace safety implications in mind when considering marijuana legalization. Congress should proceed cautiously and make public and worker safety its primary concern before legalizing marijuana, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) said in a statement. Several states already have enacted […]

OSHA Enforcement Roundup: Falls, Excavations, and … Rhinoceroses

What have OSHA’s compliance officers been up to lately? Take a look at some of the more significant enforcement cases from the past several months to find out. From the usual suspects like fall hazards and excavations to some less typical cases, recent enforcement activity illustrates the importance of a strong safety and health program […]

Emergency eye wash

Eyewash Stations: Do You Know the Requirements?

While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has few specific requirements for eyewash stations, there are good best practices available under American National Standards Institute (ANSI) voluntary standards. Experts at Safety.BLR.com® were recently asked a question about proper installation of eyewash stations—read on to see what they had to say and how it can […]

First Aid cabinet

Facility First Aid Kits: Should You Stock OTC Meds?

Facilities management professionals are often tasked with the proper supply of on-site first aid kits. When it comes to keeping medications stocked, there may be some question as to whether you should include over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and if so, which ones.

Construction Worker wearing personal protective hearing protection in a high noise area.

The Impacts of Hearing Loss on Safety

Hearing loss is a common disability, affecting about 48 million people in the United States. The impacts of hearing loss on the workforce are far-reaching, and can result in lost productivity, lower wages, and increased safety risks.