The 2 Violations You Should Never Get
February 20, 2013
When it comes to safety, you have a whole lot to do and many bases to cover. But even with all of this responsibility, you need to make sure you never get two types of Cal/OSHA violations in particular. . . . more »

5 Safety Committee Don'ts
February 13, 2013
If you have a safety committee or are thinking of starting one, you should watch out for some missteps that can derail your committee's effectiveness. Here's how to avoid a few of them. . . . more »

Important Points for Behavior-Based Safety
February 6, 2013
In the last 10 years, behavior-based safety (BBS) has gained steam as the go-to safety program in workplaces that are proactive about safety. BBS has produced dramatic successes in many workplaces across a variety of industries. . . . more »

What Not to Wear
January 30, 2013
When you look at your personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, you'll likely notice that it's a list of what to wear. But there's also likely something missing--a list of what not to wear. In some instances, what an employee is wearing can create a hazard. Here are some examples. . . . more »

Get Ready for Visiting Workers
January 23, 2013
You're about to do a facility remodel or simply some long-overdue repairs. If you hire a contractor, that means you're going to have another employer's workers at your facility. Those employees' actions can affect your workers and vice versa. Before they ever set foot on your site, you should make sure that you take care of some safety issues that are basic to multiemployer worksites, including the following. . . . more »

4 Key Steps for Protecting Your Workers' Hearing
January 16, 2013
As an employer, you want to protect your employees from workplace noise that can damage their hearing, which means instituting an effective hearing protection program. Here are some steps that can help you keep your employees' hearing sharp. . . . more »

A Comfort or a Fire Hazard?
January 9, 2013
During the winter months, companies often attempt to save money on heating costs by turning down the thermostat. Unfortunately, this can cause comfort issues, and some employees respond by using portable space heaters. While the heaters can help alleviate the issue without significantly increasing costs, they also pose fire hazards. . . . more »

5 Recordkeeping Resolutions for the New Year
December 19, 2012
As you take stock of the past year, one thing to consider is your safety recordkeeping. If your records are a mess, it might be too late to fill in the gaps--but you can make sure you won't be in the same boat next year. Here are some resolutions you can make today to improve your recordkeeping in the new year. . . . more »

5 Keys to an Effective Safety Committee
December 12, 2012
When done right, a safety committee is a valuable asset to your safety program and your overall organization. When done wrong, it's a painful waste of an hour or more of the committee members' time each month. . . . more »

4 tips for fighting back injuries
December 5, 2012
Back injuries are some of the most expensive and difficult to manage when it comes to workers' compensation cases. They also are high on the human cost scale--once a back injury occurs, it's often a long-term issue for the employee. For these reasons, it's important to prevent back injuries before they occur. . . . more »

Take some of the dread out of that Cal/OSHA visit
November 28, 2012
It's become beyond cliché to joke about how feared a visit from Cal/OSHA is. But because humans aren't perfect, you probably won't ever be in compliance with every standard 24/7, so your fears are justified. You can approach a Cal/OSHA inspection with greater confidence, though, if you address some key areas. . . . more »

PPE: 4 Commonly Overlooked Body Parts
November 14, 2012
Hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves are common workplace personal protective equipment (PPE). But there's more to the body than just the head, eyes, and hands. To ensure you have your employees fully protected, you need to look beyond the basic three. . . . more »

4 Tips for Protecting Non-English Speakers
November 7, 2012
Many workplaces employ workers whose first language is not English, and as an employer, you're charged with keeping all employees safe--regardless of the language they speak. This can be challenging, especially in workforces with multiple languages in play. . . . more »

Will You Be Able to Shut It Down in an Emergency?
October 31, 2012
During an emergency, it's often necessary to shut down all or part of a facility--and your emergency response plan needs to explain how. Unfortunately, emergency response plans often pay only cursory attention to the details behind a facility shutdown. . . . more »

4 Ways Worker Wellness Affects Workers' Compensation Costs
October 24, 2012
Wellness programs have long been viewed as a tool for reducing businesses' health insurance costs. More recently, the connection between wellness and workers' compensation costs has come to the forefront. . . . more »