SafetyBlog

Does your job require you to work around concrete dust? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that approximately 250,000 people work in the concrete manufacturing industry in the United States. Unfortunately, concrete manufacturing has a relatively high rate of work-related injury, with over 10% of all workers sustaining an injury. Among the most serious injuries associated with concrete manufacturing is a respiratory disease known as silicosis.What is Silicosis?Silicos …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to increase the fines it levies to businesses in noncompliance with its rules.Congress voted in favor of the penalty increase in October, just shy of the final days in the fiscal year. President Obama signed off on the bill, giving it his stamp of approval. Up until now, civil penalties for OSHA violations were capped at $7,000 for serious violations (e.g. injury that results in amputation, or work-related fatality), and $70,00 …

Overexertion injuries are among the most common type of work-related injury in the United States. According a 2007 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, employers spent more than $12.7 billion in direct costs towards the treatment of overexertion injuries. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, pulled muscles,etc. So, what steps can you take to reduce the risk of overexertion injuries in your workplace?What Causes Overexertion InjuriesThe first step tow …

While the percentage of Americans with high total cholesterol has declined over the past few decades, 1 in 8 U.S. adults still have high cholesterol, according to a new report.Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), said that roughly 12% of Americans have high total cholesterol and 18.5% had low levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind). These numbers have improved since the report was last made, but there's still room for i …

The winter season is officially here, which means the temperatures will continue to drop throughout the country. While meteorologists are predicting a "mild" winter, there's still the potential for ice storms -- a phenomenon that can wreck havoc on roads, power lines, and general infrastructures. So, what steps can you take to better prepare for an ice storm?Check the WeatherI know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning that you should keep tabs on the local weat …