SafetyBlog

When you think of a hazard workplace, a restaurant probably isn't the first place to come to mind. However, a waitress has recently died after sustaining severe head trauma while working at a Fountain City, Wisconsin restaurant.Officials say the 21-year-old waitress sustained severe trauma while working a day shift on December 1, 2014. The restaurant in question had used a food elevator system to transport food between the different levels, which OSHA says is a serious safety violation due to it …

With summer right around the corner, we thought it would only be fitting to discuss the dangers of occupational heat exposure. As the temperatures begin to rise, so does the risk for conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), thousands of workers succumb to heat stroke each year, attesting to the need for greater awareness. So, what steps can you take to reduce the risk of occupational heat illness?Occupational heat may occur either indoor …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new memo on whistleblower investigations. A "whistleblower" is defined as anyone who steps forward to report an employer for a safety violation or hazard. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for employers to hire or issue other consequences to such whistleblowers, discouraging other employees from reporting safety violations in the future.There are currently more than 20 whistleblower protection laws recognized by OSHA. When a …

Due to their height and complexity, communications towers pose unique risks to workers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 11 workers lost their lives while working on cell towers in 2011. OSHA hopes to turn these numbers around by raising awareness to the dangers of communications towers and how to prevent injuries and fatalities.It's important to note that communications towers are relatively new. It wasn't until the 1980s when TV, radio and cellular service …

A new study has found that mindfulness workplace intervention can significantly lower stress levels in workers who are exposed to otherwise stressful environments. Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center placed members of a surgical intensive care unit in either a stress reduction intervention or control group, paying close attention to how they responded. Throughout the course of the 8-week study, participants in the mindfulness intervention program were asked to perf …