June 2019 Workplace Safety News & Notes

News Boxes

Here’s a collection of workplace safety news from around the web in June:

OSHA Issues Final Rule Revising Requirements in Safety and Health Standards

OSHA has issued a final rule revising 14 provisions in its recordkeeping, general industry, maritime and construction standards that might be outdated, confusing or unnecessary. According to the agency’s Federal Register notice, the rule “reduces regulatory burden while maintaining or enhancing worker safety and health, and improving privacy protections.” OSHA also stated in a press release that the changes are expected to save employers an estimated total of $6.1 million per year. Review the Final Rule here.

New NIOSH Study Describes Drug Overdoses at Work

The impact of drug overdoses in the workplace can be better understood in a study recently published by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The study describes drug overdose deaths of workers occurring in US workplaces from 2011-2016. Nearly half of workplace overdose deaths occurred in three industries: transportation and warehousing, construction, and healthcare and social assistance. One-third of workplace overdose deaths occurred in businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Learn more.

WorkSafeBC Warns About Risk of Hearing Loss in Service Industry

Regular exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels (dBA) can cause permanent hearing loss in unprotected workers, yet studies have found pubs and nightclubs in Vancouver and Victoria regularly exceed that during a regular shift. Learn more.

AIHA Offers New Online Certificate Programs

The American Industrial Hygiene Association has announced the launch of two new professional assessment-based certificate programs. Occupational Exposure Assessment is intended for those who apply fundamentals of IH to gather, document and report monitoring data and make supervised exposure judgments. Field Use of Direct Reading Instruments for the Detection of Gases and Vapors-Operations Level is intended for users including maintenance technicians, emergency responders, water service workers, utility workers and construction workers. Get details.

Take Steps to Reduce Driver Fatigue

As many as one in five fatal crashes in the general population involve driver fatigue, and driver fatigue is a significant workplace safety risk. After 17 consecutive hours awake, impairment is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05. After 24 hours awake, impairment is equivalent to a BAC of .10. Any company can reduce the risks of driver fatigue through a fatigue risk management system (FRMS). Learn more.

Upcoming Safety Webinars Presented by OH&S

  • June 25 – PPE Best Practices for Combustible Dust and Arc Flash Compliance to NFPA Consensus Standards
  • June 26 – Oil & Gas Safety – The Role of Air Sampling in Developing the Health and Safety Plan for Emergency Response
  • June 27 – Heat Stress Prevention – Inside and Out
  • July 10 – Electrical Safety for Shock and Arc Flash
    Learn more or sign up.