Rate of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Lowest On Record

OSHA Statement

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao On 2005 Workplace Injury and Illness Rates

Overall Rate is Lowest on Record

WASHINGTON -- The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in the private industry declined in 2005 for the third consecutive year, the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Thursday, Oct 19. The BLS Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2005 report noted that nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses declined from the previous year—to 4.6 cases per 100 workers in 2005, compared to 4.8 cases in 2004. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement about the report:

"The announcement that workplace injuries and illnesses in 2005 were at an all-time low is more good news for America's workers and reflects the department's effective worker health and safety strategy: 1) compliance assistance; 2) health and safety partnerships with labor, and; 3) targeted, aggressive enforcement against bad actors.

"As encouraging as the report is, there is more to do and the department is working hard to make workplaces even safer and healthier for America's workers."

OSHA Cites New Hampshire Logging Company

OSHA Region 1 News Release

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Cites New Hampshire Logging Company after Worker's Death

CONCORD, N.H. -- A Webster, N.H., logging company faces $44,850 in fines from the U. S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the death of a worker who was apparently struck by a tree while working in the woods off Henniker Rd. in Warner. Chuck Rose Logging was cited for 30 alleged willful, serious and other violations of safety and health standards in connection with the July 3 accident.

"By many measures, logging is the most dangerous occupation in the United States," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's area director in New Hampshire. "Preventing accidents and fatalities among loggers requires a combination of effective training, safe work practices, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and properly maintained tools."

OSHA's inspection found that "danger trees," those that present a hazard to employees working in close proximity to them, were left standing while workers felled nearby trees. OSHA's logging standard requires that such trees be felled and removed by safe means before employees work in their vicinity.

OSHA also determined that employees wore neither leg protection while operating chainsaws nor head protection while felling trees. Other violations cited at the jobsite included lack of employee training, using the domino method to fell trees, improper backcutting, damaged or defective skidders, lack of first-aid training and kits for all workers, an unguarded chipper, failure to assess worksite hazards, excess noise levels and failure to ensure that all loggers were in visual or audible contact while felling trees.

Other hazards identified during the inspection included an unguarded grinder, improper storage of oxygen cylinders, lack of a written hazard communication program and lack of a bloodborne pathogen exposure control program, training and personal protective equipment for first aid providers. The company also was cited for not notifying OSHA of the worker's death within eight hours.

Detailed information about logging safety, including an interactive e-tool is available on OSHA's Web site at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/logging/index.html.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm are likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Concord area office, telephone (603) 225-1629.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

NFPA 70E Blog

While I'm mentioning other blogs I've been hired to maintain, I should mention the NFPA 70E Blog (Arc Flash Safety) at http://www.labelprinters.org/blog/ . NFPA 70E is another area in which no one seems to be compiling current information and news, so that's why this blog was started.

The Label Printers web site is about NFPA 70E labeling, as well as safety labeling in general. However, the blog covers all topics related to NFPA 70E and arc flash safety.

Voluntary Protect Program Blog

As I surf the web I've not seen any source of current information and news about the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Now there is a place you can go for this information. The Safe Workplace website has a VPP blog that provides news and links about the VPP program, as well as safety related information. The blog is about three months old and has regular posts. (Disclosure - I've been hired to keep the VPP Blog on www.safe-workplace.com up to date.)

Use this link to go to the Safe Workplace VPP Blog.

In addition to the blog, the Safe Workplace web site has an overview of the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program, as well as safety related labeling topics. You'll find a complete navigational system on the blog pages that will take you anywhere you'd like to go in the Safe Workplace web site.

OSHA Makes the Business Case for Safety and Health

OSHA Press Release: October 5, 2006

OSHA Makes the Business Case for Safety and Health
Agency Unveils New Safety and Health Topics Page

WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today launched a new topics page on its Web site aimed at demonstrating that investment in workplace safety and health makes good business sense.

Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, a new Safety and Health Topic, is a product of several Alliances with OSHA, including the American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Society of Safety Engineers, National Federation of Independent Business, among others. Information on the page focuses on how a comprehensive safety program can help an employer save money and improve business.

"OSHA continues to seek ways to offer services and programs that assist and guide employers on the responsible path to occupational safety and health," said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke. "This new Safety and Health Topics page serves as a ‘one stop shopping’ tool for information on how investing in workplace safety and health can improve a company’s productivity and bottom line."

The Making the Business Case for Safety and Health Topics page contains direct links to resources showing the costs of workplace injuries and illnesses, economic benefits of workplace safety and health, and how accounting for employee safety in the design stage of a project can result in fewer injuries and illnesses and increased productivity.

The Topics page has a number of additional resources, including success stories, case studies and tools for getting started on improving safety and health in the workplace.

OSHA's Web site includes approximately 200 Safety and Health Topics pages on various workplace issues—from accident investigation to workplace violence. The subjects of the pages include specific workplace hazards, as well as individual industries, and provide assistance for complying with OSHA standards.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.