Workplace scissor lift safety tips
Several Oklahoma companies require their employees to operate scissor lifts as part of their job. In one year, there were 20 investigated injuries and 10 fatalities resulting from preventable workplace scissor lift-related accidents around the country, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA found that employers were to blame for the majority of […]
Shift work and its impact on health
Many people in Oklahoma have work schedules that do not include typical nine-to-five days. Shift work, or work that is performed outside of regular working hours, usually requires them to alter their sleep schedule. Some shift workers must begin work before 6 a.m., and others must get all of their sleeping done during daylight hours. […]
High rate of musculoskeletal injuries in construction
Construction workers in Oklahoma and around the country are more vulnerable to injuries called work-related musculoskeletal disorders than workers in other industries according to a study that appeared in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. WMSDs are caused by overwork and overexposure to vibrations. Actions such as twisting, holding awkward positions and bending also contribute to this […]
Updated beryllium exposure standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is tasked with regulating workplace standards in the United States. Oklahoma residents who work in the construction, shipyard or general industries may be interested in knowing that OSHA recently issued a final rule reducing the occupational exposure limits for beryllium. The agency claims that the rule will prevent 46 […]
Suspension trauma following a fall
When Oklahoma employees are required to work at great heights, they are always at risk for falling. To prevent accidental falls, fall arrest personal protective equipment, which often include full-body harness systems, are used. While these systems can save a worker’s life, they often leave users suspended, potentially leading to suspension trauma and orthostatic intolerance. […]
Smartphones could lower workplace repetitive injuries
Many Oklahoma residents use their smartphones to stay in touch with their friends, family members and acquaintances and browse the internet, but these devices can also be used to improve safety in the workplace. Modern smartphones contain high resolution cameras and powerful processors that can analyze video footage quickly and easily, and these features are […]
Safety matters for an aging workforce
While experience can come with age, Oklahoma employers must also consider the challenges of hiring elderly workers for certain types of tasks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 25 percent of the workforce will be at least 55 years of age in 2024. As people continue to work during their golden years, they […]
What employees must do when injured on the job
With only a few exceptions, employees who are hired and subsequently injured while on the job in Oklahoma are covered by the state’s workers’ compensation laws. Under these laws, employers are protected from certain liability lawsuits, and workers have the right to receive benefits for compensable injuries and related disabilities in turn. However, workers’ compensation […]
Truckers miss more work days due to illness, injury
In August 2016, an Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulation went into effect that requires certain employers to submit on-the-job injury and illness information electronically. Although it generally applies to employers who have at least 250 employees, companies in specific high-risk industries that employ a minimum of 20 workers are also affected by the ruling. […]
On-set injury reports increase, some cases go unreported
Entertainment insiders have indicated that safety risks are increasing on TV and film sets. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also received more reports of serious accidents on sets since 2014. This increase might be a surprise to Oklahoma movie fans, because the industry promised to improve safety awareness after the deadly crash on […]