Safety/Health

OSHA steps into center ring in unusual accident probe

04/28/2015

Most OSHA accident investigations involve fairly mundane workplaces, such as construction sites, factories and farms. But last spring, OSHA investigators were called to look into safety issues in one of the world’s most unusual work environments—the circus.

The risk of ignoring safety risks: 15-year prison term for owner

04/20/2015

Want to hammer home to company execs the need to enforce on-the-job safety? Make it personal.

Violence hits hard in health, service settings

04/14/2015

OSHA has released updated guidelines on workplace violence in health care and social services settings. Here’s how to download the new publication.

Patient suicide raises staffing issues at St. Peter, Minn. facility

04/13/2015

The union representing workers at the Minnesota Department of Human Services mental hospital in St. Peter has criticized staffing levels after a patient committed suicide by hanging himself. Part of the union’s evidence of understaffing: Patients had to help employees cut down the man’s body.

Safety first if you opt out of workers’ comp

04/13/2015

Employers that opt out the Texas workers’ compensation system may be liable for negligence and face potentially lengthy and complex litigation when an employee is hurt on the job. The best defense may be to follow all OSHA and state workplace safety rules.

Unless required, consider dropping drug tests

03/27/2015

For many employers interested in maintaining a safe and productive workplace, it doesn’t make sense to require pre-employment drug and alcohol screening or randomly make current employees provide urine or blood samples. That was the contrarian advice attorney James P. Reidy offered March 24 at the Society for Human Resource Management Employment Law & Legislative Conference.

Workplace suicide rate up

03/27/2015

Incidents of on-the-job suicide have increased since 2003, according to research by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Between 2003 and 2010, 1,719 suicides occurred at work.

If you provide on-site housing, any injuries may go beyond workers’ comp

03/23/2015

Some employers provide rental housing so employees can live near their work sites. If you do, be aware that employee injuries that happen near that housing can open a legal can of worms that will leave you wishing you only had to deal with a workers’ compensation claim.

Wellness: Big benefit or Big Brother?

03/19/2015

For several years, proponents have touted wellness programs’ success in lowering health care costs, decreasing absenteeism and raising employee morale. But those laudable goals haven’t insulated wellness programs from controversy.

Why your wellness program probably isn’t working

03/16/2015

When it comes to workplace wellness programs, the old adage that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink is true. Only about 24% of those who work for large employers that offer wellness programs actually participate in them.