Roasting coffee beans has been linked to a severe health hazard known as bronchiolitis obliterans, sometimes referred to as obstructive lung disease or popcorn lung.
This condition came to prominence decades ago (more…)
We are all born with instincts – those “gut reactions” that tell us what is right or wrong, safe or dangerous, good or bad. They’re vital to our survival and help us navigate through life. Even though this is a natural reaction produced without any effort, these feelings can be ignored. In a high-stress situation, we may overlook the safest option in favor of a quicker alternative. Sometimes this results in an unsafe situation for ourselves or those around us. This becomes especially dangerous in the workplace. (more…)
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordkeeping regulation (29 CFR 1904), certain covered employers are required to prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses using the OSHA 300 log. This information is important in evaluating workplace safety, understanding industry hazards and implementing worker protections to reduce and eliminate hazards. Workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction must post their OSHA 300A form which is a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2014 as indicated in their OSHA 300 log form. The 300A summary form must be posted between February 1 and April 30, 2015. (more…)
If you’ve ever applied for workers compensation insurance, you might remember that one of the questions on the application asks whether a written safety program exists for your business. But what is a proper written safety program?
In its simplest form, a written safety program consists of the written policies, procedures and work rules at a business. This program is then provided to employees upon hire and is regularly updated as work conditions change. These are the work practices you expect employees to follow in order to stay safe on your job-site, or in your store or restaurant. Topics include when and where to use eye protection, the use of non-slip footwear, how to handle chemicals safely, how to guard machinery, how to lift safely, and more. (more…)
