Cintas Corporation has become the first company to reach 100 sites with Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification from OSHA. The company’s Dayton, Ohio location became its 100th VPP location in early 2019.
“Safety is woven into the DNA of Cintas’ culture, and we are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Scott Farmer, Chairman and CEO, Cintas. “Nearly 45,000 Cintas employee-partners across the country go to work every day, and it is our mission to make sure everyone goes home safe.”
Full article: Cintas becomes first company with 100 VPP star certified locations
Source: Safety Best Practices
Computer simulation helps manufacturer improve safety, health
How do manufacturing companies know the best and safest way to design workplaces and assign tasks? Ideally, injuries and illnesses should be prevented, but historically companies have adjusted their workplace policies, practices and procedures after an injury or illness occurred.
In a NIOSH-supported study at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health, researchers tested the role of computer simulation in promoting workers’ well-being by designing safer work.
Full article: Computer simulation helps manufacturer improve safety, health
Source: Safety Best Practices
Process Safety Management: A Q&A with Cority’s Ian Cohen
What are potential obstacles to building an effective Process Safety Management (PSM) program?
From what I’ve seen there are three related obstacles to building an effective PSM program. The first is engagement. It really takes commitment from everyone up and down the chain of command to build a best-in-class PSM program. Related to this is timely and relevant communication so that everyone from the shop floor up to the C-suite is on the same page. And the third obstacle is availability of decision-useful data.
Full article: Process Safety Management: A Q&A with Cority’s Ian Cohen
Source: Safety Best Practices
Managing fear of carcinogens
In 2019, 1,762,450 new cancer cases and 606,880 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States1. It is statistically improbable for someone in America not to know someone close who had or has cancer.
Full article: Managing fear of carcinogens
Source: Safety Best Practices
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help employers combat opioid crisis
Small and midsize business owners who are struggling to find a way to address prescription drug misuse among their employees can get help from Sharing Solutions, an initiative just launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Said Carolyn Cawley, president of the Chamber Foundation; “Employer specific resources are thin, and they’re scattered. Our campaign collects and curates credible resources to help employers get what they need more quickly.”
Full article: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help employers combat opioid crisis
Source: Safety Best Practices
Overlooked work safety practices that lead to falls
According to OSHA, one in five deaths in 2017 were in construction with what it calls the “Fatal Four.” These are accidents in construction caused by falls, being struck by objects, electrocution, and caught-in/between.
The first overlooked worksite safety practice is awareness. If employees are not made aware of the dangers they face in the workplace, the burden falls on management to ensure they do.
Full article: Overlooked work safety practices that lead to falls
Source: Safety Best Practices
How to stay safe when working in freezing temps
When working in freezing temperatures, it always pays to be prepared. Whether you’re working in a year-round cold environment such as cold storage or you’re working construction in the dead of winter, knowing a few cold weather safety tips can help you remain both functional and comfortable on the job.
Full article: How to stay safe when working in freezing temps
Source: Safety Best Practices
Seize the opportunities ergonomics can mean for your workplace
People who work outside or who do the heavy lifting for a living are often jealous of office workers. “They have it so easy!” you hear them say, “They never have to worry about the heat, the cold, or being injured.”
While the office temperature is debatable, it is not true that desk jobs carry no risk of injury. The CDC states that in 1999, about 1 million people took time off work to recover from musculoskeletal injuries due to poor economics, costing businesses about $50 billion each year in lost wages and productivity.
Full article: Seize the opportunities ergonomics can mean for your workplace
Source: Safety Best Practices
ASSP names new leaders of key standards committees
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has announced leadership changes on two ANSI/ASSP standards committees that work to advance occupational safety and health across the country. Voluntary consensus standards promote best practices and prevent worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Full article: ASSP names new leaders of key standards committees
Source: Safety Best Practices
3 most common workplace eye injuries — and how to avoid them
When new hires or temporary staff members join your team, it isn’t enough to simply lay out the plan, give them their tools and expect them to get to work. In fact, failing to educate your team on proper safety protocols is exactly the kind of negligence that often leads to workplace eye injuries — or worse.
When it comes to eye injuries, the numbers are astonishing. In the U.S., more than 2,000 workers injure their eyes on the job every single day, with roughly one out of every 10 of those injuries resulting in employees missing work in order to recuperate. That’s a drain on your bottom line to the tune of $300 million in medical bills, compensation and time off annually — and that’s something you just can’t afford.
Full article: 3 most common workplace eye injuries — and how to avoid them
Source: Safety Best Practices