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Safety/Health

Workplace deaths decline, except for Hispanics

11/07/2014
According to new federal data, 4,405 people suffered fatal work-related injuries in 2013, down from the 4,628 fatal injury count the previous year, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics stats.

Replace Ebola panic with solid plan to deal with epidemics

11/05/2014

The threat of an Ebola outbreak has dominated the news for months. With the possible exceptions of health care-related organizations, it’s unlikely that most employers will ever have to deal with the disease. However, it’s a timely reminder that even relatively common maladies (such as the flu) can wreak havoc on business operations.

Is ‘safety concern’ a legal reason not to hire a woman?

11/05/2014
When a Virginia supermarket manager rejected a woman for a van driver position, he pointed to safety as the reason—female drivers are more vulnerable to assaults.

OSHA wants employer input on chemical exposure levels

10/28/2014
OSHA has issued a request for information seeking employer input on permissible exposure limits for hazardous chemicals, along with chemical management methods to promote workplace safety. It’s part of the agency’s ongoing review to identify “more effective and efficient approaches” for managing chemical exposures at work.

What’s the procedure for handling a worker’s comp claim when an employee is injured?

10/27/2014
Q. As a California employer, what should I do if one of my employees gets injured on the job or has a work-related illness?

On-set death prompts OSHA cites against film company

10/27/2014
OSHA has cited a Pasadena film production company for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to hazards that killed a camera assistant.

OSHA makes big changes to fatality, injury reporting requirements

10/08/2014
OSHA has issued a final rule that goes into effect Jan. 1. Now is the time to train for it.

New OSHA rules require more injury reporting

09/22/2014
If your workplace is prone to injuries, get ready to submit more paperwork to OSHA.

Must we have a smoking section onsite?

09/16/2014
Q. Our smoking area is outside our building, but the smoke seems to be drifting into the ventilation system. An employee who is super-sensitive to smells has complained. Can we move smokers to their vehicles? Do we even need to provide a place for smokers onsite?

How far can I go to ban guns at work?

07/31/2014
Q. As the owner of a Texas company, I want to institute a policy that strictly forbids employees from bringing guns to work—both into the office building and in the parking lot outside. Can I legally draft such a policy?