Drugs and Alcohol Workplace Trends

The trends between alcohol and drug use in the workplace are interesting. According to a recent study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 15 percent of U.S. workers, or 19.2 million workers, are under the influence of alcohol at least occasionally while on the job. Managers are more likely impaired on the job than are their reports. Workplace alcohol use is more prevalent with men than women, younger workers than older ones, unmarried than married, and more use by employees working on the evening shift, night shift, and irregular shifts.


Read More: http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2007/08/Drugs-and-Alcohol-Workplace-Trends.aspx

Health, safety concerns knock on HR doors - human resource management - Legal Trends

If it hasn't already, monitoring the safety of the workplace could become part of any HR professional's job description. A convincing argument can be made that these concerns should fall into the human resource domain, at least to some extent, since occupational safety and health promise to be a pivotal issue.


Read More: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_n7_v37/ai_12787159/

California Workplace Safety

Last year Cal/OSHA, the state agency charged with protecting employees from workplace hazards, said more than 400 workers died from job-related injuries in California. In addition, Cal/OSHA identifies thousands of non-fatal injuries each year. On the November edition of Health Dialogues, we explore some of the most dangerous sectors of the economy, including agriculture, construction and manufacturing. How effective is Cal/OSHA in enforcing the law, and what rights do all workers have in our state?


Read More: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R911192000

Workplace Safety Compliance: The New Approach

Workplace Safety is emerging as one of the key risk management and regulatory compliance focus areas among many global companies. As a result of this trend, traditional workplace safety compliance systems, which were designed to be point solutions at a plant-level, are giving way to enterprise-wide safety management systems. Such systems need to comply with the OSHA 29CFR regulations and support the OSHAS 18001 framework, while providing enterprise-wide visibility into incidents and trends, corrective actions and process metrics. This paper highlights the requirements of next generation systems for workplace safety compliance.


Read more: http://www.metricstream.com/insights/safety_compliance.htm

OSHA Safety Plan and Manual&Kit

Here's the links to get "OSHA Safety Plan" and "2011 OSHA Manual&Kit"

www.AffordableSafetyTraining.com

www.oshamanual.com

Personal Protection Equipment for Head and Fall Protection

Safeguarding the workforce against accidents that may harm their ability to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently is always prime responsibility of the employers. It is mandatory for industries where occupational hazard cannot be ruled out with automation that they preemptively identify the hazard, train the workers and select appropriate personal protection equipment.

Today, there are many advance systems that can be put in place to maximize safety of workers. Worldwide there are many manufacturers and suppliers of the personal safety equipment that is wide-ranging and includes all the items to ensure complete safety of a worker.

Although there are many categories in Personal Safety but in this particular article we intend to focus on Head protection and Fall protection.

Head is the most vital part of body. Skull, though is the strongest bone in the body, it protects the most sensitive part of the body - The Brain. Minor concussions can sometimes turn ugly therefore head has to be protected very carefully. Wearing a helmet should be made compulsory where there is possibility of falling objects hitting the head. Ultra Helmets with Visor present has slots to add ear muffs and is ideal for use in hazardous industrial sites as it provides multiple protection to - Head, Ear, Eye, and Face. Another helmet, the Ultra Helmet with Ear muff is designed to protect the head and ears of a worker. It absorbs on-contact shock, enables attenuation of noise and is preferred choice for operations where the noise level is high. Similarly the Fusion 6000 L CE helmet has sleek design that ensures maximum protection against lateral pressure. It can withstand the temperature between minus 30 degrees to plus 150 degrees and is ideal for construction industry.

Besides Head injury, injury by fall is quite common in all industries. Falls can happen because of sudden loss of balance, malfunctioning of ladders etc. Just wearing safety helmets might not be the right fall prevention technique. The spots in the industrial complex or site which are prone to falls must be identified in advance. Some falls are either fatal or result in permanent disability therefore as an employer you must proactively try to prevent falls. Using required fall protection equipment can reduce the risk or contain the damage caused by fall. Products available in this category include full body harness, quarter turn steel karabiner, safety nets, shock absorbing rope lanyards and more which can be customized to your industry needs.

But, for every industry whether it is shipping, mining, construction, oil & gas exploration, engineering, or chemical etc. there is specific personal protection equipment that must be used to reduce the risk. The two pronged strategy of workforce training and personal safety equipment can go a long way in preventing any mishap.

http://bu-workplace-safety.co.cc/personal-protection-equipment-for-head-and-fall-protection.htm

What are the common Workplace Safety Issues?

The workplace can be a dangerous place, with there being more hazards than people often realise. There are many accidents in the workplace each year due to unsafe work practices, staff not being trained to use equipment or machinery properly or even simple things, like being tired or overworked. It is important for all businesses to take their Occupational Health and Safety seriously and it is a good idea to deal with Safety Management Consulting groups to make sure they are on the right track.

Confined spaces

A confined working space can become a workplace safety issue. The space itself may be dangerous due to its construction or the location may not be safe. A space may also be a dangerous area to undertake certain types of work. For example it is hazardous to work in a confined space with toxic gases, vapours or fumes. Such work should be undertaken outside or in a large area with lots of fresh air circulating. Staff should also wear the correct safety equipment, such as face masks or breathing ventilators.

Fires

Some workplaces are more prone to fires than others, depending on the nature of the business. As an employer fire safety should be a number one priority and steps undertaken to protect staff against the threat of fire. Staff should also be fully trained in case there is a fire, knowing where the escape routes are and where they should assemble.

Noise

An overexposure to loud noise can cause damage to a person's hearing, even rendering them completely deaf over time. In many factories the noise of some machinery is extremely loud, and staff must be given the right ear protection to wear. Noise should not be louder than 140 decibels and staff should not be exposed to it for prolonged periods of time. If it is at all possible machinery should be fixed to tone down the noise, or have noise buffers put in place.

Injuries

Unfortunately workplace injuries occur everyday. Some are just small injuries, others are more serious, and sometimes they are even fatal. Employers must do everything they can to avoid their staff from being injured. Measures employers can take include making sure machines have safety guards, that staff are well educated in the use of dangerous machinery and that their business compiles with occupational health and safety standards. Employers can also support staff who are injured to return to work as soon as possible and make sure they receive the right compensation during the time they are injured.

Electrical hazards

It is not just staff working with electricity, like electricians, that can be exposed to electrical hazards. Staff need to be aware of any risks that may arise from using electricity. Some industries will be more at risk than others but it is a risk that is not to be disregarded. An employer needs to make sure that there are no faulty electrical equipment being used, no loose wires or water lying around anywhere that electricity is being used.

http://bu-workplace-safety.co.cc/five-common-workplace-safety-issues.htm