SafetyBlog

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently testing a pilot program in the Department of Labor's (DOL) western region that expedites the investigation of whistleblower claims.As you may already know, OSHA prohibits employers from retaliating against workers for reporting safety violations. If a worker discovers a safety violation at his or her workplace, he can report that violation to OSHA without fear of being demoted or fired -- at least that's what OSHA's whistleblo …

It's your worst nightmare. You've always wanted to be in a movie, but you never thought it would be a horror film. How were you supposed to know some of the most poisonous gases are colorless and odorless? Besides that, it's your first day on the job. You don't want to call your boss and tell him you left behind your Draeger X-am 2500 4-Gas Detector. But then being fired might be a better option than dying. So you make the call. You're saved. Though the above scenario is mostly dramatize …

A gardener gets ready to plant new additions on a hot summer day. A food worker washes her hands in preparation to fill an order. A janitor packs up his cart to start an early morning shift at a local high school. A stay-at-home mother grabs the first aid kit to patch up yet another backyard emergency. Right before picking up that first fist of dirt, seasoning the cutlet, filling the bucket, or pulling out that Batman band-aid, they stop-and put on gloves. It's nice to have a box of dis …

Lyme borreliosis, or what's more commonly known as Lyme disease, is an infectious disease that's transmitted through tick bites. It's unclear when and where the disease originated. But what is clear is that Lyme disease rates have steadily increased over the years -- a trend that doctors believe will continue. In fact, many doctors and medical experts are sounding the alarm, calling Lyme disease a major healthcare crisis. How Serious is Lyme Disease? According to the Center …

Fatigue is something that every worker will experience at some point in time. Maybe you stayed up late the night before, or perhaps your boss asked you to work a double shift. Regardless, fatigue such as this can affect both workers' performance and their safety.Muscoluskeletal PainAccording to a recent study published in theJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, sleep deficiency is closely linked to musculoskeletal pain. Researchers from the study found that workers who were fatigu …