Compliance Safety Training

Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases 2007 Workplace Fatality Data

A preliminary total of 5,488 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2007, a decrease of 6 percent from the revised total of 5,840 fatal work injuries reported for 2006. Based on these counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. employees last year was 3.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000 employees, down from the final rate of 4.0 recorded for 2006, and the lowest annual fatality rate ever reported by the BLS fatality census. “We are pleased to see both the number and rate of fatal work injuries continue to decline,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. “These numbers show that OSHA’s balanced approach to improving safety is working. However, we will continue to work to eliminate all fatalities since one fatality is one fatality too many.” The final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009.

14th Victim of Imperial Sugar Co. Explosion Dies in Hospital

On Aug. 22, the fourteenth victim of a Feb. 7, 2008, explosion at the Imperial Sugar Co. plant in Port Wentworth, Ga.

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Conducting safety audits is one of your most effective strategies for catching safety deficiencies that could result in accidents and injuries … or costly OSHA fines.

With J. J. Keller’s Safety Audit Customizer software, you can conduct detailed safety audits faster and more easily than ever before! This program includes pre-written audit checklists covering OSHA and EPA topics like …

• Chemical Storage
• Confined Spaces
• Forklifts
• Shipping/Receiving
• Excavation Areas
• Electrical Systems Read more…

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has issued a safety alert that may impact employers and employees at propane cylinder exchange and filling stations, as well as response personnel involved in methamphetamine raids and cleanup operations. The alert addresses the hazards of cylinders used in meth labs to store and use anhydrous ammonia. When the cylinder’s valve comes in contact with anhydrous ammonia, a “violent, unexpected expulsion of the valve” may occur, resulting in serious injury or death. Refer to the alert, or contact your local OSHA office for more information on properly handling and disposing of these cylinders.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has alleged serious safety violations and seven repeat violations at Fort Richardson’s Directorate of Public Works near Anchorage, Alaska.

OSHA’s inspection found alleged serious violations involving: lack of forklift training; improper grinding wheel maintenance; lack of inspection on high voltage poles; lack of assessment and use of electrical personal protective equipment; open electrical wiring; and lack of annual safety inspections to correct hazardous conditions.

OSHA previously had cited the facility for violations at Fort Richardson involving hazards on walking working surfaces, exit signs missing in the pa Read more…

Approximately 3,800 high-hazard worksites are on tap for inspection under OSHA’s 2008 Site-Specific Targeting Program, as of May 19. This year’s program will initially target sites that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate). The list will also include sites that have a days away from work injury and illness (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher. The program stems from the agency’s Data Initiative for 2007, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2006.

Here is new Video/DVD series from Medcom:

. Medical Errors, Part 1: New Approaches to an Old Problem
. Medical Errors, Part 2: Prevention Practices
. Medical Errors, Part 3: Preventing Medication Errors

SERIES OVERVIEW

In 2000 the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report, To Err is Human estimated that one of every 20 Americans who check into a hospital will be the victim of a medical error, and that up to 98,000 patients will die from all types of medical errors in a single year. Since that time, professional organizations for healthcare workers and facilities, including the Joint Commission, have worked diligently to develop strategies to reduce these numbers and make patient safety a primary healthcare concern.

This three-part series is designed to provide healthcare workers with background information on the extent of the problem of medical errors, and describe specific strategies and practices aimed at reducing medical errors. Read more…

NHTSA announces annual safety awards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently honored 14 individuals and groups from across the country for their achievements in highway safety at the 26th Annual Lifesavers conference.

More than 2000 participants attended the three-day Lifesavers conference, which focused on common-sense solutions to critical highway safety issues and is considered the leading event of its kind in the United States. Topics on this year’s conference agenda include child passenger safety, occupant protection, impaired driving, and new vehicle safety technology. At the conference NHTSA presented public service awards to 14 individuals and organizations, as follows: Read more…