Archive for 2020
Revised standard improves safety of construction and demolition workers
Construction and demolition sites are among the most hazardous work environments, especially when multiple contractors and employers introduce operational complexities to a job site. A newly revised standard from the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) helps employers keep construction workers safe by describing best practices they can implement…
Read MoreProtect Workers with Zoneworks® EZ Employee Separation Barriers
Floor and table top barriers help keep employees safe when social distancing isn’t possible Zoneworks® by Rite-Hite has developed EZ Employee Separation Barriers for workers who cannot socially distance more than 6 feet. There are two basic types of these customizable barriers – a floor unit model and a table top unit. “We wanted to…
Read MoreNanoVapor Biotech Launches OMNISOL® Product Line – New Environmentally-Friendly Products that Make Surfaces Self-Disinfecting to Help Keep Businesses Virus-Free
OMNISOL® goes beyond simply disinfecting to provide long-lasting protection from dangerous pathogens during the pandemic, flu season and beyond NanoVapor Biotech, an innovative technology solutions company focused on eliminating bacteria, microbes, fungi and mold in workplaces and businesses, today announces the launch of OMNISOL®, a unique new line of spray-on anti-microbials that provide businesses with…
Read MorePlastic Makers Applaud Governor Wolf for Signing Advanced Recycling Legislation Into Law
Legislation Could Help Pennsylvania Increase Recycling, Bring New Jobs Today Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 1808 into law, which will enable greater adoption of advanced plastics recycling. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) welcomed the legislation and issued the following statement, which may be attributed to Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics for ACC: “The American…
Read MoreWhy employers find it so hard to test for COVID
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance to employers to include COVID testing, and it advised that people working in close quarters be tested periodically. However, the federal government does not require employers to offer those tests, according to KHN TV San Francisco. But the board overseeing the California Division of Occupational Safety and…
Read MoreOSHA COVID-19 Violations Pass the $3-Million Mark
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 12, 2020, OSHA has issued 232 citations arising from inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,148,452. OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to: Implement a written respiratory protection program; Provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit…
Read MoreOSHA: companies can legally impose vaccine requirements
As we get closer and closer to a COVID-19 vaccine, employers are now weighing whether they should make it mandatory for their staff, according to Yahoo News. According to OSHA, companies can legally impose a vaccine requirement. OSHA has stated that employers can legally impose a flu vaccine requirement on their workforce, but employees have the right…
Read MoreEPA won’t require industry to guarantee funding for toxic waste cleanups
EPA is declining to require oil and gas, coal, chemical and mining companies to have insurance to cover major spills and accidents, according to The Hill. Critics say the final rule, announced by the agency Wednesday, poses the greatest risk to communities of color and low-income communities that most often live in the shadow of…
Read MoreOSHA inspector numbers increase for first time in Trump’s term
For the first time in President Donald Trump‘s term in office, the number of OSHA inspectors increased from the previous year’s staffing level, according to newly released agency data, according to a Bloomberg Law report. OSHA ended fiscal year 2020 on Sept. 30 with 790 compliance and safety officers, numbers Bloomberg Law obtained through a Freedom…
Read MoreAmazon workers across the world protest on Black Friday
Amazon workers across the globe banded together in a series of coordinated Black Friday protests over workers’ rights and environmental justice, according to a Fox Business Report. Using the hashtag #MakeAmazonPay, employees in 15 countries, including the U.S., Europe, Mexico and Bangladesh, called on the e-commerce giant to raise wages, end union-busting, stop circumventing tax laws, rehire workers fired after they complained about workplace safety and pledge to reach…
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