OSHA reminds employers of the dangers of heat in the workplace
It’s no secret that summer temperatures in Oklahoma and across the nation can get pretty high. That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiates a campaign each year designed to educate employers and outdoor workers about the dangers of heat-related injuries and illnesses. Data compiled by the agency reveals that heat stroke claimed the […]
Opioid prescriptions decline for injured workers in Oklahoma
After analyzing the data from approximately 1.9 million prescriptions linked to more than 337,000 nonsurgical workers’ compensation claims across 25 states, the Workers Compensation Research Institute calculated a drop in the amount of opioids prescribed to workers in Oklahoma and several other states. The study compared 24-month periods ending in March 2012 and March 2014, […]
Teens new to workforce at risk for work-related injuries
Many Oklahoma teenagers take summer jobs so that they can earn their own money. For teens who are new to the workforce, however, taking on a first job can be difficult. They may feel required to complete every task that they’re assigned, even if there’s a significant risk of injury. In fact, younger workers are […]
GAO says meat, poultry worker injuries underreported
Workers in the meat industry in Oklahoma and throughout the country might be facing injury at higher rates than are being officially reported, according to the Government Accountability Office. While injuries are down overall, the GAO identified a number of factors that may be keeping those rates underreported. One is that meat and poultry workers […]
Statistics backs idea that some jobs are deadlier than others
People may not be surprised to learn that certain industries are more hazardous than others. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in May 2016 makes it clearer which modern careers are actually the most dangerous. For Oklahoma workers, this data could provide some insights into the kinds of jobs and workplace factors that contribute […]
Some employers will have to publish individual data
Oklahoma residents may soon be able to look up their employers or prospective employers to see the number and types of injuries and illnesses employees have experienced. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has finalized a rule that will require employers to make that information public in a searchable database. The database will be comprised […]
Avoiding workplace injuries
Each year, many Oklahoma residents are injured while they are working at their jobs. People can be injured at work while performing a variety of different tasks. Even things that might seem innocuous can lead to workplace injuries. Workers and their employers should take steps to minimize the risk of them occurring. According to the […]
Good work boots are important
Having good footwear can help with protecting Oklahoma workers in a variety of occupations from being injured on the job. When employers are considering the kind of work boots they should supply or ask their employees to purchase, they should take steps to make certain they are choosing brands that meet federal and state safety […]
Deaths related to workplace injury increase
Regardless of the emphasis government agencies and employers place on eliminating conditions that could cause a workplace accident, workers in Oklahoma and in other parts of the country remain at risk of suffering an on-the-job injury that could kill them. Workplace fatality figures have now been revised for 2014, and they contain some sobering information. […]
Reducing workplace accidents with a positive safety culture
Many Oklahoma residents remember the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. It was a human tragedy of enormous magnitude, killing many and condemning an entire region to decades of cancer diagnoses and birth deformities. However, the Chernobyl accident, which occurred due to a total breakdown in safety awareness and responsibility, helped create the concept of “safety culture.” […]