While fall protection continues to be the most cited OSHA violation, OSHA’s 1926.1053 standard (stairways and ladders) is not far behind. Ladder violations have continually ranked in the top 10 OSHA violations for the last...
Before the 1980s, communication and transmission tower work was a small, highly specialized industry. Over the past 40 years, the field has dramatically expanded, driven by demand for wireless and broadcast communications. As...
Last summer, OSHA canceled the agency’s long-standing tree care directive, “Citation Guidance Related to Tree Care and Tree Removal Operations” (CPL 02-01-045), because the administration believes these hazards are adequately...
Struck-by incidents—when an object or piece of equipment strikes a worker—are the #1 cause of nonfatal injuries and the #2 cause of fatalities in the construction industry, according to OSHA. To raise awareness about this...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration shifted priorities during the first year of President Joe Biden’s administration. The agency is expected to move forward on numerous regulatory actions and be much more active...
In 2021, the electrical/electronics industry became the leading consumer of industrial robots, beating out the reigning automotive industry. As more organizations use robots to take over dangerous or repetitive workplace...
Each year, we continue to see that fall protection is one of OSHA’s top 10 cited violations. Why is that? Is it because there is limited guidance on what is required? Is there limited availability of the equipment necessary...
Rats, mice, snakes, spiders, used syringes, raw sewage and standing water are just a few of the unsavory hazards Mike Starner encountered while working in manholes as a troubleshooter for Baltimore Gas & Electric. More...
In February, OSHA issued its long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modify the agency’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). When a final rule is released, it will mark the seventh iteration of the regulation. It is...
On Nov. 4 OSHA announced a new emergency temporary standard (ETS), aiming to protect more than 84 million workers from the spread of coronavirus in the workplace. “The nation's unvaccinated workers face grave danger from...
As part of a White House interagency effort and its commitment to workplace safety, climate resilience and environmental justice, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration posted an Advance Notice of Proposed...
Effective education and training are paramount in creating a safe work environment and establishing a safety culture. However, employers don’t always have the knowledge or familiarity with specific tools, equipment or...
To combat the hazards associated with extreme heat exposure, OSHA is in the process of expanding its efforts to address heat-related illnesses. Specifically, the agency plans to: Implement an enforcement initiative on heat...
On August 13, OSHA issued updated guidance to help employers protect their workers from the coronavirus. The updated guidance provides new and expanded information on appropriate measures that employers can take to protect...
Bringing clarity to contractors about construction safety and OSHA standards has become a quest for Palmer Hickman, director of code and safety curriculum and training at the Electrical Training Alliance, Bowie, Md. He said...
Concern grows in many sectors and industries about the toll that working in the heat—especially outdoors—can have on employees’ health and well-being. Unfortunately, the potential solutions are not necessarily simple or one...
OSHA is holding their 2021 Safe + Sound Week August 9-15 to “encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program.” This nationwide event celebrates successful workplace safety programs while providing information on...
On July 18, 2008, Deep South Crane & Rigging Co. gave just a few minutes of instruction to a crane operator unfamiliar with the controls of one of the world’s largest pedestal cranes, a VersaCrane TC-36000. Normally, training...
In 2016, OSHA published a final rule updating its more than 40-year-old respirable crystalline silica exposure limits and mitigated other silica-related hazards. Silica can cause health conditions ranging from silicosis to...
In the utility workspace, OSHA job briefings are covered in two particular standards, Code of Federal Regulations 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V, the first for general industry and the second for the construction side of the...