Workplace injuries and the bottom line: indirect incident costs are staggering

This week the Intelex Blog introduces its newest contributor, Robert Smith. Head of Injury Management Solutions, Robert has tons of experience in Human Resource and Disability management, including a long stint with WSIB. Robert will blog on a biweekly basis on issues related to compensation, claims management, case management, and much more. This week Robert tackles the real costs of workplace injuries.

I have been directly involved in workers’ compensation issues for well over 20 years and, like many of you, I have heard the stories of the costs of a workplace injury and how important it is to implement health and safety programs and to manage claims. Yet time after time I have conversations with employers who still do not grasp the big picture. 

So what is the big picture? Most companies are aware of how their workers’ compensation premiums are calculated and that poor performance results in … Read more...

US Labor Department’s OSHA exposes safety and health hazards at construction sites through no-notice incident prevention campaign

This release has been reposted from www.dol.gov.

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has concluded its 2012 “Construction Incident Prevention Initiative,” during which it issued 243 citations and assessed a total of $658,862 in proposed fines to companies on construction sites throughout the agency’s Philadelphia Region.

The four-month campaign included 545 no-notice inspections focused on falls, trenches and silica exposure. Fifty-nine percent of the inspections revealed violations, some of the most common of which are failing to use fall protection when working on roofs, ensure that scaffolds are constructed safely and protect trenches from collapse.

“This alarmingly high number of violations underscores the need for employers in the construction industry to make a stronger commitment to workplace safety and health,” said MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA’s regional administrator in Philadelphia. “Employers are responsible for ensuring safe and healthful workplaces, and will be held legally accountable … Read more...

Alarming news on global coal consumption, a mysterious update on OSHA’s I2P2 program, EPA’s soot regulations and more on EHS This Week

What? More whistleblower news? You guessed it. Kind of a trend recently on EHS This Week, the only weekly podcast to round up the top stories in EHS news around the world. 

This week we’ve got a ton of great (and not so great) news. We discuss the emerging OSHA whistleblower committee, strange news on OSHA’s upcoming (or is it?) injury and illness prevention program, and new EPA regulations on soot. 

Take a listen and don’t forget to send your comments and suggestions to paul@ehsthisweek.com.

[audio: old/mp3/EHS This Week Jun 15.mp3]… Read more...

More whistleblower news, signs of EPA and Texas climate progress, deaths in fertilizer blasts and more on EHS This Week

This week Kristy and I discuss another whistleblower case, EPA’s work with Texas on a clean air plan, blasts at a Mississippi fertilizer plant, Mexico’s climate legislation and more.

Got an idea for an EHS story? Care to come on our program? Just write us at paul@ehsthisweek.com and we’ll make it happen.

Enjoy the show!

[audio: old/mp3/EHS This Week June 8.mp3]… Read more...