SafetyBlog

Lawmakers in Connecticut are pushing for greater regulations to improve the safety of its train systems.According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there have been 139 train crashes deemed "preventable" in the U.S. The crashes led to the deaths of 288 people, caused 6,500 non-life threatening injuries, and damaged $300 million worth of property. While train accidents have occurred throughout the country, Connecticut remains a leading state in terms of incident ra …

Last month, approximately 84 workers at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were exposed to the potentially deadly bacteria Bacillus anthraci (anthrax) when a researcher unknowingly sent samples to another CDC facility. Thankfully, no illnesses occurred as a result of workers' exposure to anthrax, but this incident begs the question: how safe are these viruses and bacteria maintained by the CDC?Following the incident at CDC's headquarters, an internal investigation was cond …

An emergency eyewash station is an otherwise simple device that can protect workers against chemical-related eye injuries. While there are many different types, ranging in size, design, features and function, most emergency eyewash stations feature a shower-like sprayer that, when pressed, sprays water down on the worker's eyes; thus, flushing away any chemicals. Drains are typically installed directly below or nearby to prevent buildups of water and chemicals on the floor.According to the Cente …

Workplace stress is a major problem that's compounded by longer work weeks. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLR) 83% of Americans say they are stressed out by their jobs. But a recent study conducted by the University of Florida suggests the solution to workplace stress is laughter.The study found a direct link with workplace "joking" and lower stress levels among employees. It's a common assumption by employers that laughing and joking equates to a lack of producti …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a safety campaign in West Virginia to protect summer construction workers against on-the-job injury.Year after year, construction remains at the top of the list in terms of work-related injuries and fatalities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that 4,628 construction workers were killed on the job in 2012 -- roughly 89 construction worker fatalities per week or 12 per day. Granted, this is the second lowest number sinc …