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Compliance Checklist: Lockout/Tagout Employers whose lockout/tagout programs are incomplete risk serious injuries to workers, and steep fines from DOSH. Use this checklist to make sure that the basic elements of your lockout/tagout program are in place. . . . more » Infection Control Checklist Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are becoming increasingly common. In part, this is due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which tends to breed resistant strains. Another factor is the spread of these organisms from the immunocompromised populations where they first . . . more » DOWNLOAD: Personal Protective Equipment; What Do You Need, When Do You Need It, and How Do You Ensure Its Effectiveness? It would be nice if workplaces could be made completely safe--if hazards could be eliminated, guarded, enclosed, rendered benign--but for some workplaces and some types of work, it just isn't going to happen . . . more » Emergency Planning and Response: How to Manage the Media — and Contain Negative Publicity — in the Event of a Crisis at Your Workplace Audio Conference Originally presented on June 13, 2007 It is not pleasant to think about a crisis at your workplace that draws news outlets to your door--but planning ahead for this contingency is vital for the well-being of both your workers and your business. Join us on June 13 for an in-depth audio conference on preparing your company for the possibility of a media event . . . more » DOWNLOAD: The Dollars and Cents of Safety--Why Safety's Bottom Line Is a Boon to Business; Learn How to Reap the Benefits for Your Workplace Where does safety show up on your company's balance sheet? Is it always and only in the expense column? If so, you may not be fully aware of all of your safety program's benefits. Many studies have demonstrated that an investment in safety not only prevents injury-related losses but significantly increases productivity--companies that have measured it report increases of 10 percent or more. Keep reading to find out how you can make the case to management that safety is no charitable contribution but a genuine investment with measurable positive returns. . . . more » More

Toxic Mold: Preventing Mold-Related Problems in Indoor Workplaces; Guidance from Federal OSHA and California California was the first state in the nation to pass a law addressing the hazards of toxic mold in buildings: the Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001. This act required the California Department of Health Services (DHS) to present a study to the legislature evaluating . . . more » Roofing Safety: A Review of Cal/OSHA's Requirements; Prevent Slips, Falls, Serious Injuries, and Deaths Workers on roofs are at risk for serious injuries and death from falls. Not only do they perform their jobs at substantial heights, but they may also be working on surfaces that are . . . more » Best Practices: Federal OSHA's Fundamentals of a Workplace First Aid Program; Are You Ready to Respond to Medical Emergencies? Employers in California are required to ensure that medical treatment is readily available to sick or injured workers under General Industry Safety Order Section 3400, Medical Services and First Aid. . . . more » Sign up for a trial and access more articles like these

Bulletin: New feature expected to improve fleet safety Ford Motor Company has introduced a new technology called MyKey intended to help fleet owners encourage safer driving by vehicle operators. The feature allows owners to limit top speed and radio volum . . . more » Bulletin: Winners Announced for ERI 2008 Safe California Workplaces Award The ERI Safe California Workplaces Award recognizes California employers of all sizes that have implemented unique, innovative, or exceptionally effective programs that make them stand out. The 2008 g . . . more » Bulletin: UCLA Research Finds Effects of Boron Exposure on Male Workers A University of California at Los Angeles researcher has completed a study demonstrating the effects of occupational boron exposure on the male reproductive system in a group of Chinese workers. Dr. W . . . more » Bulletin: Online Exclusive: Hazardous Materials Business Plan Checklist If your business handles hazardous materials (whether as inputs, finished products, or wastes) in quantities that meet or exceed California's Community Right-to-Know thresholds, you must complete . . . more » Hazardous Materials: Is Your Hazardous Materials Business Plan in Place? The March 1 deadline for submitting an annual hazardous materials business plan is fast approaching for employers that handle large quantities of hazardous chemicals. . . . more » Fall Protection: Skylights, Stepladders, and Other Deceptively Safe Hazards Falls are consistently one of the top five causes of workplace death and injury. Although some fall hazards are obvious--employees working on scaffolds, on elevated platforms, in trees, or on roofs are clearly at risk--other deadly hazards seem to pass unnoticed by many employers until a worker dies. Don't let workers be exposed to these deceptively safe fall hazards in your workplace. . . . more » Health and Wellness: No Budget for Wellness? No Problem! California Offers Free Workplace Wellness Program With the economy in a downward spiral, businesses are being squeezed from all sides: costs are up and revenues are down. Healthcare costs are of particular concern to employers, who saw health insurance premiums increase by 5 percent in 2008, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The average annual premium for a family of four is now more than $12,000. . . . more » Personal Protective Equipment: Do You Need Respirators in Your Workplace? Three Things You Need to Know to Choose the Right One The first patent issued in the United States for an air-filtering facemask--a respirator--went to Lewis P. Haslett in 1848. In the 160 years that followed Haslett's dust-filtering "lung protector," respirators have come a long way, although the fundamental design hasn't changed much. . . . more » Safety Management: Do Your Executives Support Employee Involvement in Safety Initiatives? Four Strategies to Get Their Buy-In In business, many decisions--on budget cuts and layoffs, hiring, firing, and promotions, and policies on sick and personal leave--are made at the organization's top level and simply imposed on workers. The best safety programs, though, turn this management style completely on its head. Why is that? . . . more » Trainer's Handbook: Recognizing and Responding to Common Medical Emergencies; Do Your Employees Know How to Help a Co-Worker? When Nowell Wiggins collapsed at a Texas refinery in 2002, his co-workers reacted quickly: They called 911 and then the refinery's first-aid team. Within two minutes, someone grabbed one of the facility's seven on-site automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and shocked Wiggins' heart back into a normal rhythm. Wiggins was soon back on the job. . . . more » News Note: OHB Helps Develop Updated Standards for 'Green' Cleaners California's Occupational Health Branch has participated in the development of a new consensus standard for industrial and institutional cleaners, which was issued by Green Seal. A nonprofit group . . . more » News Note: Review Finds Benefit to Health Promotion Programs Work health promotion programs can have positive effects on employees' health and productivity—including a more than 20 percent reduction in sick leave, according to a review of studies in t . . . more » News Note: New Safety and Health Information Bulletins Available from Federal OSHA Federal OSHA has published three new Safety and Health Information Bulletins. Compactor Rollover Hazards addresses . . . more » News Note: Survey Finds PPE Compliance Problems Too many workers aren't using personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a survey of top safety professionals carried out by Kimberly-Clark Professional. Only 14.58 percent of the safety pr . . . more » Bulletin: Senators urge action on diacetyl Four Democratic U.S. senators have written letters to the heads of the Department of Labor and OSHA expressing concern over the public health risks of diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial flavoring . . . more » Bulletin: Draft of DHS Risk-Based Performance Standards guidance issued. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued the draft guidance for Risk-Based Performance Standards (RBPSs) of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). The guidance was develop . . . more » Bulletin: Reminder: Beware of CO dangers this winter The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is reminding employers of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in the wake of a recent incident. Says Assistant Director Steve Cant: "Ever . . . more » Lockout/Tagout: Keep Workers Safe Even During 'Minor' Maintenance Activities; Understanding the Exception That Isn't Ordinarily, when a piece of equipment is working, all of its potentially hazardous contact points should be fully guarded. Conversely, whenever its potentially hazardous points of contact are not guarded, the machine should be shut down, locked out, and neutralized so that workers are not imperiled while they work in areas that would be dangerous. . . . more » Best Practices: Don't Let Holiday Decorations Create Workplace Hazards; Tips for Safe Seasonal Decor Do you deck the halls in your workplace? Whether you decorate for business-related purposes--to draw in customers looking for holiday items--or just to have some seasonal cheer at work, make sure your holiday trimmings don't invite tragedy. To help you decorate safely, here are some holiday tips . . . more » Safety Management: For Best Results, Don't Treat Adult Learners Like Children Adults are not children. This may seem obvious, yet the training given to adults is often based on the same model that schoolteachers use with primary school children: The teacher is the expert who gives students both information and a context for that information, and students are expected to respect the teacher's authority and expertise. . . . more » Hazardous Chemicals: Diesel Exhaust; How to Control This Potentially Deadly Hazard According to the California Air Resources Board, more than 90 percent of Californians live in areas that experience episodes of dangerously "dirty" air--when air is contaminated with levels of ozone, toxics, and particulate matter (PM) that are dangerous to human health. . . . more » Appeals Board Decisions: Forklift Death Results in $48,750 Final Penalties; How Employer Obtained a Reduction ABC Supply Company, a Wisconsin-based roofing supplier, rented a rough terrain forklift for workers in its Los Angeles facility to use. On April 13, 2005, a worker was descending a grade, with a load raised up on the forks, when the forklift tipped over. The worker was killed . . . more » Trainer's Handbook: Do Your Workers Know When and How to Use Fire Extinguishers? Many workplaces have appropriately selected, properly placed, routinely inspected fire extinguishers hanging along the wall at regular intervals. But unless workers know when and how to use fire extinguishers, they could be a wasted investment. Make sure your workers have the best chance to save lives and property from small fires with extinguisher training. . . . more » News Note: Chemical Safety Board Releases Propane Safety Video The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new 23-minute safety video, "Half an Hour to Tragedy," highlighting the causes of a deadly propane gas explosion at the Little General convenience s . . . more » News Note: Certification Program For Crane Signalers Created The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators has announced a new certification program for signalpersons. The program follows the intent of the latest revision of the American Soci . . . more » News Note: CFLs May Pose Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Risk, Agency Says New research from the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency indicates that a significant proportion of the compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) currently on the market may expose people who use them to . . . more » News Note: New Federal OSHA Resource Addresses Shipfitting in the Maritime Industry A new OSHA resource addresses the hazards of shipfitting in vessel construction and repair and ways to avoid those hazards. The A href="http://www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/sltc/ships/shipfitting/shipfit . . . more » News Note: Group Issues Guidance on Contact Lenses in Industrial Workplaces The American College of Occupational and Environmental Health has issued guidelines for industrial employers on workplace use of contact lenses and personal protective equipment (including protective . . . more » Compliance Checklist: Lockout/Tagout Employers whose lockout/tagout programs are incomplete risk serious injuries to workers, and steep fines from DOSH. Use this checklist to make sure that the basic elements of your lockout/tagout program are in place. . . . more » Bulletin: Last chance to register for the California Employment Law Update conference! Time is running out to register for the third annual California Employment Law Update conference in San Francisco from Nov. 5-7. For more information, including details on the just-added session on th . . . more » More