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Ever found yourself wondering why workers have absent minded accidents? It turns out our brains are engineered to optimize efficiency and respond swiftly. Most of our decisions aren't the result of careful, rational thought. Instead, 90% or more of our decisions are driven by instinct. While this might be beneficial in saving time or effort, it doesn't always result in the wisest decisions regarding our safety. Because of this, the environment and context in which we're making safety decisions plays a tremendous role in shaping our actions. This is good news! As Superior Glove has learned in their work with behavioral experts, we can reduce and eliminate injuries with tiny tweaks in workers’ surroundings—"nudges" that can sway decisions and spark positive behavior. In this webinar, Superior Glove’s Sarah Gibson and Aaron Harroch explain what nudge theory is and how to apply it to create a safer workplace that can change worker behavior. What “nudging” is and how it can be used to reduce or eliminate hand injuries How to assess work environments for place to institute nudges Practical examples that can be implemented What pitfalls to avoid when creating nudges Event type:     Live Webinar          Cost:            Free Date:                May 8, 2024             Time:           2:00 PM ET Event Host:    OH&S                        Duration:    1 hour Click here to Register

Falls can occur in the blink of an eye, even when being careful and using proper fall prevention and protection methods. If a fall does occur and a worker is suspended in a harness for longer than a few minutes, a lack of circulation can lead to nausea, unconsciousness, suspension trauma, and even death. It’s critical to have a rescue plan that includes more than just calling 911 – especially because of these time limitations. As part of this year’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are hosting this virtual event devoted to educating employers and crew leaders on how rescue planning can save lives. Attendees will learn more about identifying a competent person to lead fall prevention and rescue planning, incorporating key components of a rescue plan into the pre-job planning process, and using FREE resources and templates to tailor your plans to each unique jobsite. Event type:     Live Webinar          Cost:            Free Date:                May 7, 2024             Time:           2:00 PM ET Event Host:    CPWR                        Duration:    1 hour Click here to Register

Accidents involving forklifts, motorized pallet jacks and other powered industrial trucks contribute to thousands of injuries in workplaces each year, costing companies millions in terms of fines, workers’ comp costs and lost productivity. If your employees use this equipment, accidents and violations are a constant – and very real – threat. Join us as we answer tough questions regarding forklift safety and compliance related to: • The scope of OSHA’s PIT standard • Training – who, when, what, and by whom • Inspections and maintenance • Attachments/modifications • Operational issues • Personnel lifting platforms • And much more! Last, this event will include a live Q&A session. Bring your forklift questions! Event type:     Live Webinar          Cost:            Free Date:                May 7, 2024             Time:           2:00 PM ET Event Host:    JJ Keller                     Duration:    1 hour Click here to Register

March 6, 2024 BOSTON – Psychosocial factors can hamper recovery from lower-back pain and be a stronger cost driver than some catastrophic injuries, analysts with the Workers Compensation Research Institute said Tuesday. These risk factors, which include fear of pain due to activity, negative coping, job dissatisfaction, perceived injustice and stressful work, as well as family and support system issues, can negatively affect recovery time for workers comp claimants dealing with lower back injuries, researchers said during a panel discussion at the 2024 WCRI Issues & Research Conference. Researchers found a strong association between psychosocial risk factors and a longer duration of functional recovery after physical therapy care. Read More

March 6, 2024 A Florida court has ruled an employee working from home who was hurt when she tripped over her dog while reaching for a coffee cup in her kitchen was not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits because her injury did not “arise” out of her employment. The Case Tammitha Valcourt-Williams, a workers’ compensation claims adjuster for Sedgwick CMS, was allowed to work from her home. According to Valcourt-Williams, after working for three hours, she went downstairs for a cappuccino. As she reached for her cup, Valcourt-Williams said she fell over one of her two dogs and injured her knee, hip and shoulder.Because she had a work-from-home arrangement and because her fall occurred during working hours, Valcourt- Williams sought workers’ compensation benefits. Sedgwick denied the claim, contending Valcourt-Williams’ injuries did not arise out of her employment. Read More

March 5, 2024 The time between injury and physical therapy for workers in the workers compensation system continues to stall, according to a trends report released by MedRisk LLC. Using 10 years of data on coordinated care, comp services company MedRisk examined the lag time between injury and an injured worker’s first physical therapy appointment. It found that in 2013 26.2% of injured workers in need of therapy were seen within seven days. In 2013, that time increased by two percentage points to 28.2%. The so-called “speed-to-care” timing improved 28 days post-injury, with 60.7% of patients in 2023 receiving care by that time. In 2013, 60.7% of injured workers saw a physical therapist in that time frame. MedRisk said in its report that decreasing the time for appointments would provide better outcomes for injured workers. Read More

The time between injury and physical therapy for workers in the workers compensation system continues to stall, according to a trends report released by MedRisk LLC. Using 10 years of data on coordinated care, comp services company MedRisk examined the lag time between injury and an injured worker’s first physical therapy appointment. It found that in 2013 26.2% of injured workers in need of therapy were seen within seven days. In 2013, that time increased by two percentage points to 28.2%. The so-called “speed-to-care” timing improved 28 days post-injury, with 60.7% of patients in 2023 receiving care by that time. In 2013, 60.7% of injured workers saw a physical therapist in that time frame. MedRisk said in its report that decreasing the time for appointments would provide better outcomes for injured workers. Read More

If you are using chemicals, you will have Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available. The details of some of the information in the SDS, like the hazard classifications of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), can provide a lot of helpful information for assessing chemicals hazards and our chemical safety practices. This free webinar will review the GHS system hazard classifications. The GHS system has very defined hazard classifications, and understanding the details of these classifications is important for assessing potential hazards. The SDS also includes information on chemical and physical properties like vapor pressure, vapor density, solubility, pH, and flash point. These properties and how you can use them for your chemical safety program will also be reviewed. Event type:     Live Webinar          Cost:            Free Date:                April 4, 2024            Time:           2:00 PM ET Event Host:    OH&S                         Duration:   1 hour Click here to Register

Each year OSHA releases its top 10 most cited standards and fall protection issues claim four of the top spots! Fall Protection: General Requirements at #1 Ladders at #3 Scaffolding at #4, and Fall Protection – Training Requirements is #8 According to OSHA, Fall Protection also had the most serious violations and most willful violations. Join us as we identify the common mistakes in these areas and discuss ways to prevent them so you can avoid a possible citation – but more importantly maintain a safe workplace. Event type:     Live Webinar           Cost:            Free Date:                April 4, 2024             Time:          1:00 PM ET Event Host:    SafeX                          Duration:   1 hour Click here to Register

If an OSHA inspector knocks on your door to conduct a safety inspection, would you know why? Or how you could have prevented it? During this information-packed webcast you’ll discover: How to know is you're at risk for an inspection What the OSHA inspector wants to know What to expect during the inspection How to help with inspection go smoothly What your company's rights are How to deal with citations How to prevent an inspection in the first place Be sure to bring your questions to have them answered during the live Q&A session! Event type:      Live Webinar           Cost:            Free Date:                April 4, 2024             Time:           2:00 PM ET Event Host:     EHS Today                 Duration:    1 hour Click here to Register

March 3, 2024 An investigation is underway after a worker at a golf cart manufacturer in Georgia was caught in a conveyor belt and fatally injured. Multiple news reports said a contract worker, Alyssa Drinkard, age 21, had dropped one or more of her Apple AirPod earbuds. When she attempted to retrieve them, she was caught by a chain and was trapped beneath the conveyor belt at the facility in Evans, Georgia. Maintenance personnel attempted to stop the machine, but it was too late to save the woman, who died at a local hospital, the Augusta Press and other news outlets reported. Rescue workers had to cut a metal frame on the machine to extricate Drinkard, a sheriff’s report indicated. An employee of the facility said that workers had previously been cautioned to avoid wearing jewelry and headphones, the newspaper reported. Apple, the maker of AirPod earbuds, warns in its user guide that “Using AirPods in some circumstances may distract you or impact your awareness of your surroundings…Always remain aware of your environment during use. Obey applicable laws and regulations on the use of headphones and earphones while operating a moving vehicle or bicycle, heavy machinery, or in other situations requiring attention to safety.” Read More