Construction noise risks
While many professions in Oklahoma can involve significant exposure to loud noises, one of the most serious and complicated settings is the construction site. Construction workers who operate loud equipment might be able to use earplugs or muffs to protect themselves from permanent damage. However, some situations can be more dangerous when such equipment is […]
Oklahoma health care workers and OSHA guidelines
Oklahoma health care workers and their employers should be aware of a recent OSHA initiative that focuses on improving working conditions in inpatient care facilities. It applies to nursing homes, psychiatric care facilities, substance abuse clinics and any other institution that admits patients for residential or inpatient care. These changes were introduced in a Guidance […]
The dangers of combustible dust explosions
According to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, there were 281 combustible dust explosions in workplaces around the country between 1980 and 2005. These accidents killed 119 workers and injured 718. In order to reduce the number of such incidents in Oklahoma and across the United States, the National Fire Protection Association has released a new […]
Filing workers’ compensation claims
Oklahoma workers who have been injured on the job need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to filing workers’ compensation claims. While the right to compensation for work-related injuries is an important benefit, it is up to the employee to ensure that claims are appropriately filed within the state’s two-year […]
More hours may mean more risks for EMS workers
EMS workers in Oklahoma and throughout the country who work long shifts might be more likely to be injured or become ill at work. A study that was recently published in a peer-review journal found a link between longer shifts and increased injuries and illnesses among workers in emergency services. Furthermore, the risk appears to […]
Cost of hand injuries high for oil and gas industry
The oil and gas industry is a major employer in Oklahoma, and safety experts have identified it as one of the riskiest for workers. With a fatality rate eight times above the national workplace average, the oil and gas industry places workers in difficult environments filled with chemical hazards and heavy machinery. Aside from fatal […]
OSHA updates procedures, policies for amputations
Workers in Oklahoma may want to know about the revisions that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has made to its National Emphasis Program regarding amputations. The document includes a record of the industries that have a high number of these types of injuries. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the industries with a […]
OSHA cites Ashley Furniture for workplace accident
Ashley Furniture, with retail locations in Oklahoma and around the country, has recently been charged with nearly $1.8 million in fines. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for failing to report a workplace accident at its Wisconsin factory in which an employee’s right finger was severed. The incident occurred in March […]
Avoiding injuries from robotics at work
Oklahoma workers whose jobs entail being around robotics may be interested to learn about the safety regulations that have been enacted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Injuries involving robotic equipment often occur when workers are maintaining them, repairing them, adjusting them or otherwise using them. There are several precautions employers should take to […]
OSHA’s fall protection policy
OSHA’s fall protection standard is designed to protect iron workers at construction sites from injuries. It is a broad policy, encompassing many different types of structures. Some structures are exempt, such as tanks, electrical towers and broadcast towers. The OSHA standard is a national standard, so it is applied at construction sites in Oklahoma and […]