Office environments are full of electronics, appliance, power cords, extension cords, and surge protectors. Take a look at your desk. I’m guessing you have several items just in your personal workspace, let alone the entire office.

These items have become such an integral part of our work that we don’t necessarily give too much thought to the hazards they bring with them. Electrical shock, burns, fires, and even tripping over extension cords. Electricity creates numerous hazards to your employees and your facility.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 32% of all worker injury and illness cases in 2014. And OSHA cites work-related MSDs as one of the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time.

OSHA has issued a final rule to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It is comprised of one standard for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime. 

A thorough incident investigation is critical to your organization’s safety culture. Without them, you cannot effectively manage continuous improvement to workplace safety.

Have you been following proper procedures for injury and illness recordkeeping and reporting? OSHA announced an update to the rule in September 2014 and changes went into effect on January 1, 2015. Even though it has been over a year since the rule change, it is important to take time and ensure your organization is in compliance each year.

"Host employers need to treat temporary workers as they treat existing employees. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the employee, and are therefore jointly responsible for temp employee's safety and health. It is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements."
- David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health

Each year OSHA releases the 10 most frequently cited standards. Many of the same standards have found themselves on this list in recent years. The penalty for violating these, and any, OSHA standards is about to increase for the first time since 1990.

Power tools can seem like a common part of our lives – so we often overlook the hazards they can pose. But these tools can cause serious injuries when they are not maintained or used properly.

Many of the issues stem from misuse of the tools. Whether it is from lack of proper training or perhaps the development of unsafe habits – it is a problem needing attention.