The statistics regarding the dangers of welding are daunting to read. More than 560,000 workers are injured each year from welding accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For every 100 million work hours, approximately 1,000 workers suffer a welding-related injury. That’s 100 times worse than the average injury rate for all other workers, making welding safety all that more important. Because welding is such a dangerous activity, there’s a lot to learn about protecting workers from its dangers. We’re going to look at both the hazards of welding and how to protect workers from i ..read more

How many electrical hazards can you count around you right now? Unless you are off-grid, there’s at least a handful of electrical outlets and electrical tools nearby you right now. When functioning as they should and used correctly, they pose little risk. However, even a 120-volt household current can be deadly. Managing health and safety at any workplace requires you to account for electrical hazards. After the introduction of 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart S in 2007, electrical fatalities began to decline. But now, they have leveled off and range between 130 and 160 annually for the United States ..read more

Falls from ladders are completely preventable, yet they still occur thousands of times throughout the year. Ladder citations were number 3 in the list of top OSHA violations for 2021. Among construction workers, around 81% of fall injuries involve a ladder. The high number of work-related injuries and deaths related to falls from ladders emphasizes the importance of ladder inspections. These inspections ensure that ladders are in good working order before each use. Employers have a responsibility to train all ladder-using workers on how to inspect them. We’ll go over the requirements for ladde ..read more

Foresight Group’s $39 Million raise led by OMERS Ventures San Francisco, CA – January 19, 2022 — The buzzing insurtech movement has largely overlooked workers compensation and the millions of essential workers whose safety matters to their families, communities, and the American economy. Foresight Group set out to change that by proving that innovations and efficiencies brought on by new technologies can save lives, spur safer workplaces, and more cost-effective policies. Today Foresight Group further proved its model has merit, closing a solid Series B funding round with $39 million in new ca ..read more

The risk of chemical exposure is a part of daily life, both at home and at work. But even though we encounter chemicals all day, we should still be intentional about managing chemical hazards. Employers have an obligation to communicate chemical exposure risks and health hazards to employees. However, the obligation doesn’t end with hazard communication. You also need to manage chemical hazards through robust chemical safety programs. In this follow-up to our overview of chemicals and hazardous substances, we’ll talk you through how you can strengthen the management of chemicals in your workpl ..read more

How many hazardous chemicals do your teams encounter at work every day? The figure is almost certainly higher than you might think. When the chemicals on your premises are deemed Hazardous Chemicals, occupational safety pros have strict obligations via OSHA to protect workers from chemical exposure. At the same time, the rules around hazardous chemicals are often blurry: exposure limits are very much out of date and the safety data sheets (SDS) provided by chemical manufacturers may not always be the most reliable or easy-to-digest source of information. To understand chemical hazards in the w ..read more

With an average of 19 trench fatalities per year, protective systems are essential for trench safety. These fatalities and accidents are preventable. Sloping, shoring, shielding, and benching help prevent the collapse of trenches and other excavated areas.  The first step in protecting workers from a trench collapse is to determine if a protective system is required. From there, analyze the site conditions to determine the type of system that’s best. Protective systems should be inspected and maintained on a daily basis, more often if conditions are constantly changing.  Is a Protect ..read more

According to the CDC, tens of millions of workers are potentially exposed every year to damaging noise. Hearing loss is a preventable condition, and employers are responsible for providing hearing protection to workers to safeguard from overexposure. The threshold for providing hearing protection for workers is 85 decibels (dB). If you need to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 feet away, the noise may be over the threshold. Noise may be a problem in the workplace if you experience ringing or humming in your ears, have to shout to be heard, or experience temporary hearing loss after leavin ..read more

Industrial robotics offer automation that can enhance safety, but the robotics themselves can introduce their own hazards. According to the World Robotics 2021 Industrial Report by the International Federation of Robotics, around 310,000 industrial-scale robots are operational throughout U.S. factories. Use of robots is increasing. As robotic technology advances, the same report projects continuing increases in global annual installations of industrial robots for the next several years.  Typically, people associate the use of industrial robots with the auto industry. Still, industrial rob ..read more

The purpose of head protection is to safeguard workers from falling debris, low-hanging objects, electrical hazards, or even direct sunlight. Industrial and construction workers generally wear hard hats or safety helmets to protect the head from impact. However, there’s more to protective headwear than just wearing a hard hat or helmet. Before selecting a hard hat or protective helmet, workers and managers should know the classes and types available and their purpose. We put together this guide to help workers and managers choose appropriate protection before they make a purchase. What are the ..read more