Risk Tag

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On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The guidance applies to employers and employees in settings outside of the health care industry and is now focused only on protecting unvaccinated or otherwise at-risk employees in their workplaces. Employers can use this OSHA guidance to help them take the appropriate steps to prevent exposure and infection of unvaccinated or otherwise at risk employees.

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News Brief header A recent report by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that fatal traffic accidents increased 7.2% in 2020 from 2019, despite fewer drivers on the road.

According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes caused 38,680 deaths in 2020—the highest number of projected fatalities since 2007.

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Risk Insights header image Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have a lot to consider when it comes to operating their vehicles safely.

This is especially true during various seasons throughout the year—such as road construction season, which generally takes place from June through November. After all, road construction can create numerous hazards for CMV drivers, seeing as they must navigate the additional risks of driving through work zones. In fact, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an average of 700 work zone fatalities occur each year. What’s more, these incidents have increased by almost 9% in recent years. Work zones create increased hazards for drivers due to construction workers working close to moving traffic, dump trucks entering and exiting the construction area, flaggers redirecting traffic and lanes shifting unexpectedly.

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Legal Update Header On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).

The ETS was developed to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. The ETS is expected to become effective as soon as it is published in the Federal Register.

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Legal Update Header The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a memorandum providing guidance on how it plans to enforce compliance with its electronic reporting rule for establishments that fail to submit electronic illness and injury records due to operational issues with the injury tracking application (ITA).

Enforcement Guidance

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OSHA issued its final rule on beryllium, which is a metal that can cause cancer and other health issues when inhaled or absorbed into the skin, on Jan. 9, 2017.

Because the rule was initially met with opposition and controversy, the agency delayed its enforcement on several occasions. In June 2017, OSHA also announced that it would not enforce the final rule’s standards, other than the new Permissible Exposure Level (PEL)and Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL), for construction or shipyard employers. OSHA also issued a direct final rule to clarify portions of the final rule on May 7, 2018.

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News Brief header The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) recently scheduled this year’s Brake Safety Week for Aug. 22-28.

This annual event aims to emphasize the importance of ensuring sufficient brake systems in commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Specifically, the event highlights the role that brake maintenance and efficiency plays in reducing brake-related CMV accidents on the road.

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News Brief header Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Saturday, May 1, 2021. This national event is managed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and encourages people and organizations to come together to promote wildfire awareness and participate in projects to reduce wildfire risks.

In-person gatherings continue to be limited in many areas of the country due to COVID-19. As a result, this year’s event will focus on what people can do around their homes and properties to protect against the threat of wildfires.

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Risk Insights header image A wide range of industrial organizations generate waste oil—which is considered any synthetic- or petroleum-based oil (e.g., fuel oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil or transmission fluid) that’s no longer able to be used for its intended purpose—within their operations.

Such oil typically reaches this state by way of breaking down over time, possessing impurities, or becoming overly exposed to natural elements.

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Safety Matters Header image According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from elevation account for the majority of fatalities within the construction industry—with over 300 fatal falls occurring each year.

That’s why having adequate fall protection is crucial when working from height. OSHA standards require some form of fall protection (e.g., guardrails, safety nets or fall arrest systems) to be in place at construction sites with vertical drops of 6 feet or more—except for certain tasks, such as scaffolding, in which vertical drops must exceed 10 feet before protection is needed. The type of fall protection necessary depends on several site features and the nature of work being performed.