From all of us at Gibson, we wish you peace, prosperity, and a happy new year!

In November 2016 OSHA issued a final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal fall protection systems. Most provisions of the new rule become effective on January 17, 2017. Is your workplace ready to comply with the updated OSHA standard?

A nonprofit’s board of directors sets the organization’s direction. They set the tone and directly impact the organization’s ability to live its mission. So if they aren’t operating effectively, your organization’s risk of doing something wrong or even failing increases.

Each year OSHA releases the 10 most frequently cited standards. Many of the same standards have found themselves on this list in recent years. For the sixth year in a row, Fall Protection (Standard 1926.501) tops the lists. And the only change from 2015 to 2016 is the Machine Guarding and Electrical Wiring swapped spots. 

Are you taking proper precautions to avoid these hazards in your facility and promote workplace safety?

It can be a challenge in of itself to find quality talent. But once you hire those individuals, do you struggle with retaining them? Employee retention is a costly issue facing many contractors.

Are your workers safely entering and exiting vehicles or equipment? Especially in wet, snowy, or icy conditions, the process of entering or exiting can be quite dangerous. Workers can get injured when mounting and dismounting trucks, forklifts, heavy equipment, and aerial work platforms.

What is the safest method for entering and exiting a vehicle or equipment?

The recommend practice is the 3-point rule. This means always having at least three points of contact with the equipment - two hands & one foot or one hand & two feet. Following the 3-point rule will provide you with the most stability, and therefore reduce the risk of slips and falls.

In the span of just 60 seconds...

• 120+ new LinkedIn accounts are created
• 38,194 photos are posted to Instagram
• 347,222 tweets are tweeted
• 701,389 logins to Facebook

With the continual rise in technology and social media, reputational risk management remains a top concern for many businesses.

Halloween is a time to watch scary movies, visit frightening haunted houses, and dress up as ghosts, witches, and zombies. As we prepared for this day of spooky things, we asked our team to share what they consider the scariest risks facing businesses today.

Every organization is different. What you consider the biggest risks will vary from industry, size, and region. While not all inclusive, here are 7 scary risks currently haunting many businesses:  

In May 2016, a final rule was issued to improve the tracking or workplace injuries and illnesses.

Aside from the new reporting requirements, the rule also contains anti-retaliation provisions. Though originally scheduled to become effective on August 10, 2016, OSHA has delayed the enforcement twice, with a new effective date of December 1, 2016.

Every month, 2 workers are killed in trench collapses.