High heat conditions present a real danger to employees. Even worse…the risk of heat-related illness becomes greater as the weather gets hotter and more humid. What we know is that workers become overheated from two primary sources: environmental conditions like heat and humidity and the internal heat generated by physical labor. That’s why when it’s Read more
Mississippi has made major changes to the state’s Workers’ Compensation Law. The new law also requires all employers to post a special notice of the changes called Notice of Senate Bill 2576. The new Notice of Senate Bill 2576 gives employers and injured workers important information they need to know about before anyone gets hurt: Read more
You never want to hear about any worker getting injured on the job, but you definitely don’t want to hear about kids getting hurt! Unfortunately, a teenager in Oregon was injured when he was using a power-driven band saw. And, sadly, the entire situation never should have happened — since having the teen use the Read more
Secretary Solis of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) has kicked off commemorative events across the country to honor fallen workers on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, 2012. The events showcase the tremendous urgency and vital importance of ensuring safe working conditions for all workers. The subject is particularly timely because it is also Read more
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a memo this March to guide field compliance officers and whistleblower investigative staff regarding employer practices that may discourage employee reports of injuries and violate whistleblower statutes. Specifically, the memo reminds OSHA enforcement officials that reporting a work-related injury or illness is a core employee right. Read more
The US Department of Labor’s (DOL) challenge winning smartphone app, Eat. Shop. Sleep., is one way the DOL is sharing information with the public. Last July, the DOL launched its mobile app challenge, “informAction”, on the US Government’s website Challenge.gov. Challenge.gov is a crowd sourcing website set up so that the public and government can Read more
OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires all employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace to have a written hazard communication program. This includes labels, safety data sheets, and employee information and training. Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard: Chemicals will be classified according to their health and physical hazards. Labels will have a Read more
POOL LIFTS In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made major changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility regulations. The 2010 Standards went into effect in 2011. However, the DOJ recently clarified lift standards for pools open to the public. Under the new rules, hotels, motels, inns, and other public accommodations with Read more
Compliance Poster Company reminds employers covered by OSHA’s record-keeping rule to prepare and post the OSHA 300A “Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses” by February 1. The OSHA 300A Summary must be posted from February 1 through April 30 at all covered establishments in visible locations where notices are customarily posted so that employees are Read more
Illinois recently passed a workers’ compensation bill that makes several changes to the state workers’ compensation system. One important change involves employees’ medical provider choices in the event of injury. Under the old law, an injured worker was entitled to two choices of medical providers. Under the new law, if an employer has a preferred Read more
