Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently renewed its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for warehouses and distribution centers. The new NEP replaces the agency’s July 13, 2023, directive. Significant changes in the new directive include: According to an August 6 announcement on OSHA’s website, under the renewed NEP, the agency will conduct comprehensive inspections focused […]
Didion Milling Inc. has now implemented all nine safety recommendations issued to the company by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) following an investigation into a fatal May 2017 explosion at Didion’s Cambria, Wis., facility, the board announced Aug. 12. The explosion killed five employees and seriously injured 14 others. The board issued nine […]
In April, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards. The revised program directs inspections and outreach for 55 high-risk industries in both indoor and outdoor work settings, including “warehousing and storage” under NAICS code 4931. Why does this matter for facilities managers? Because workers in warehouses, manufacturing […]
We recently examined uncommon workplace injuries, referred to as “serious injuries and fatalities” (SIFs). Professional safety groups like the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the National Safety Council (NSC) have researched SIFs for years and offer employers resources to prevent SIFs. But what about common workplace injuries like musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and slips, […]
Walk through almost any facility and you’ll see hard hats, safety glasses, first aid kits, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in use every day. The gear is there, employees are trained, and everything appears to comply. But here’s the question many employers never ask: Is compliance enough? What some facilities managers don’t realize is […]
Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. With the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expected to stay on the rulemaking sidelines over the next few years, states are moving in different directions regarding workplace safety. Some are tightening their […]
Large commercial building projects, such as data centers, warehouses, distribution centers, and office parks, can be among the most complex and hazardous worksites. The leading safety hazards in construction are well known. The industry’s “fatal four” safety hazards are caught-in or -between hazards, electrocution, falls, and struck-by hazards. (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] […]
Workplace safety programs have never been more sophisticated, yet when something actually goes wrong, many still fall short. Organizations have invested heavily in prevention, from training protocols to compliance systems. But when an incident actually happens, many are still unprepared for the most critical moment: the response. There’s a growing disconnect between the protections employers […]
Summer is approaching, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed its Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards National Emphasis Program (NEP) of outreach and enforcement. The new NEP replaces and updates a 2022 directive aimed at protecting workers from outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, directing agency resources to where they can have the greatest impact […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Many workplaces are staffed by workers with different employers—a host company, contractors, and staffing agencies. If you own or operate a facility, you have complete responsibility for the health and safety of your own employees and a […]