The Mine Safety and Health Administration is planning the release of two final rules this year, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has plans to release eight new rules, all by years end. Mine operators have been critical of some of these proposed changes for fear that fines will be higher. MSHA plans to release a final rule addressing fees for testing, evaluating, and approving mining products this August. Find more information here on the proposed MSHA, OSHA plan to release new rules and target release dates.
Safety culture at work
When getting ready to head to work each day, safety culture is probably the last thing on your mind. You do everything possible to get yourself to work safely-driving and stopping at appropriate times-but how do you handle working safely at the office or in the field? Building and sustaining an effective safety culture thrives when those working within the organization make it a focus. It is the best way to proactively prevent accidents from occurring. It also better prepares you to respond to them when they do. Learn more about evaluating your safety culture and taking the next steps to create and measure your plan with this article from EHS Today.
Heat Safety Tool app helps combat heat exposure and stress
According to OSHA, thousands of workers suffer the effects of heat exposure each year. Those who work outdoors or in hot indoor environments are at particular risk for heat stress. In collaboration with National Weather Service, OSHA is continuing a summer-long campaign to promote heat safety and awareness. Part of this campaign includes updates to the Heat Safety Tool app, which allows both workers and supervisors to keep track of the heat index at their worksite and displaying a risk level for outdoor workers. Learn more about the campaign and app here.
Top 10 causes of non-fatal workplace injuries
The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index ranks the top 10 causes of disabling workplace injuries as follows (ranked by direct cost):
10. Repetitive motion involving micro-tasks
9. Struck against object or equipment
8. Caught in/compressed by equipment or objects
7. Slip or trip without fall
6. Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle
5. Other exertions or bodily reactions
4. Struck by object or equipment
3. Falls to lower level
2. Falls on same level
1. Overexertion involving outside source
The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index helps identify critical risk areas so that business leaders can better allocate safety resources in order to make workplaces safer. It is important to understand the safety protocol on any job whether it be for a small company or a large one. Accidents happen. But when jobs are completed, exercising safety, they happen less often.