Injury prevention - Articles - Page 5

Falls persist in comm tower industry

January 7, 2020

In Wichita, Kansas, a 25-year-old worker performing cell tower maintenance was killed when he fell 50 feet. In Louise, Mississippi, a worker installing microwave dishes on a cell tower was killed when he fell 125 feet. The worker, who was not using a double lanyard, fell after disconnecting his positioning lanyard to reposition himself. In Coats, NC, a worker performing installation services for Sprint died from a fall.

Cellphone-related head and neck injuries

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For Your Health & Wellness: Cellphone injuries

Cellphone-related head and neck injuries on the rise, study says

A. Pawlowski

January 1, 2020

People distracted by their cellphones are tripping, falling and hurting their heads and necks more often, with such injuries increasing “steeply” over a 20-year period, a new analysis has found.

National COSH calls 10-year spike in workplace deaths “preventable and unacceptable”

December 23, 2019

A ten-year spike in workplace deaths is unacceptable and calls for urgent action, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) said today. “As we prepare to gather with our families this holiday season, everyone who is committed to workplace safety will be thinking about the 5,250 U.S. workers who will never see their loved ones again,” said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of National COSH.

How to prevent cold stress among outdoor workers

December 18, 2019

Environmental cold can affect any worker exposed to cold air temperatures and puts workers at risk of cold stress. As wind speed increases, it causes the cold air temperature to feel even colder, increasing the risk of cold stress to exposed workers, especially those working outdoors, such as recreational workers, snow cleanup crews, construction workers, police officers and firefighters.

Data shows work-related fatalities in U.S. increased last year

December 17, 2019

Fatal work injuries rose by two percent in 2018, to a total of 5,250, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It is the fourth time in the past five years that fatal occupational injuries increased. The BLS fatality data comes on the heels of the department’s annual injuries and illnesses report that showed a stagnation of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2018.

How to improve safety for solo workers

Kayla Matthews

December 17, 2019

Workplace accidents are, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence. An employee is hurt on the job every seven seconds, according to one study, around 4.6 million people each year. Some common injuries include soreness, sprains and lacerations, mainly due to overexertion, slips, falls and trips. Nevertheless, reducing injuries and fatalities is a priority for many industries.

From Rockford Systems

Machine guarding named on OSHA's Top Ten Violations in 2019

December 17, 2019

Recent media reports have put a spotlight on machine shop injuries. A newly released study completed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regarding injuries in the workplace found over 34,000 people sustain a lost-time injury in the workplace annually due to machine accidents.

Five welding safety hazards

December 11, 2019

Electric shock is one of the most serious and immediate risks facing a welder. Electric shock occurs when welders touch two metal objects that have a voltage between them, inserting themselves into the electrical circuit. The most common type of electric shock is secondary voltage shock from an arc welding circuit, which ranges from 20 to 100 volts.

How to help new employees stay safer

Proper training is important for all workers, especially those who are new to your company and its unique safety standards

John Heniff

December 3, 2019

A worker who knows all the ins-and-outs of their position and has spent years on the site will be more efficient than someone who has just started. But, learning on the fly in situations like this could be riskier than you may think. Research from Toronto’s Institute for Work & Health shows that workers who had been at a job for a month or less had three times the risk of suffering a lost-time injury compared to those who had been at a job for over a year.