Amazon has responded to continued scrutiny regarding the online retailer's workplace safety practices following a report from The Center for Investigative Reporting. The report stated the company's injury rate is double the national average for the warehousing industry at 9.6 serious injuries per 100 full-time workers in 2018. The industry average is 4. “According to Amazon’s own records, the risk of work injuries at fulfillment centers is alarmingly, unacceptably high,” said David Michaels, former head of OSHA, told The Center for Investigative Reporting. “Amazon needs to take a hard look at the facilities where so many workers are being hurt and either redesign the work processes, replace the top managers or both because serious injury rates this high should not be acceptable to any employer.” A company representative replied to a request for comment about recording injuries and workplace safety. "It’s inaccurate to say that Amazon fulfillment centers are unsafe and efforts to paint our workplace as such based solely on a snapshot of injury recordings is misleading given the size of our workforce. We believe so strongly in the environment that we offer for fulfillment center employees, including our safety culture, that we offer public tours where anyone can come for themselves one of our sites firsthand," the Amazon spokesperson said. "Ensuring the safety of associates in our building is our number one priority and we invest heavily in safety." The representative added that operational meetings, new hire orientation, process training and new process development begin with safety and have safety metrics and audits integrated within each Amazon program. "Safety training is constant, both in making sure employees know how best to work with the technology in the facility and also how to prevent injuries," the spokesperson continued. "There’s a dramatic level of under-recording of safety incidents across the industry – we recognized this in 2016 and began to take an aggressive stance on recording injuries no matter how big or small which can result in elevated recordable rates and makes comparisons difficult." Let's block ads! (Why?)

Emad “Al” Shenouda has conducted over 300 active shooter training sessions and has conducted train-the-trainer programs for over 3,000 law enforcement officers. A former federal protective security advisor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he has seen the proliferation of active shooting incidents across the United States. He now provides consulting services as well as training through The Power of Preparedness, a sequence of courses designed to prepare workers for a workplace violence situation. The training program is geared towards healthcare, manufacturing and commercial industries. The program’s lessons focus on psychosocial indicators of workplace violence and cover the broad spectrum of insider, external and collusion threats. Hands-on demonstrations allow them to train staff on room barricading techniques and lockdown procedures. In an interview with EHS Today, Shenouda explains why workplace violence programs matter and what safety and human resources professionals should do to ensure workers are prepared. EHS Today: Which factors/events influenced or shaped your training course?Emad “Al” Shenouda: Virginia Tech, the DHS and FBI developed the “Run, Hide, Fight” program as the national strategy for active shooter preparedness and response. We provided classroom training, but it became impossible to scale and meet the needs of larger organization or smaller organizations that stand-up training is not suitable or possible. Based on our experience and customer feedback, we knew that people were getting killed in the U.S. because of mass casualty shootings and other active assailant attacks faster than they can be trained. We must bring basic active shooter/assailant training to 50 million people as efficiently as possible. EHS Today: Where should an EHS professional start when he/she is looking to implement a plan? Shenouda: Employers must begin by accepting and understanding that the threat of workplace violence is a significant phenomenon in the United States. No workplace is immune. It can happen anywhere, any time. Two people are killed daily in the U.S.  EHS Today: How can an EHS professional work hand-in-hand with human resources (HR) to ensure any policies/procedures are efficiently implemented?Shenouda: HR needs to ensure that they have adequate pre-employment screening and that they offer workplace violence training to all employees with emphasis on behavioral indicators and reporting mechanisms as well as an employee assistance program (EAP). Safety and security should become the field extension of HR – eyes and ears – and work with management and supervision to detect problem behavior and act on it quickly before an employee goes through a downward spiral and becomes dangerous to the workplace. EHS Today: Do you have any examples of programs/policies that could hinder emergency responders or be counterproductive in saving lives? Shenouda: Believing that it can’t happen to them – the wildebeest mentality. With more wildebeests than lions, they believe that it won’t get them, that it will be some other poor chap. EHS Today: What resources in addition to your training course can employers utilize?Shenouda: The DHS offers the “Run, Hide, Fight” video. Your local law enforcement could do some training without cost. We offer additional consulting services such as security and vulnerability assessments as well as planning and exercising workshops. Let's block ads! (Why?)

America is tired. Last month, I wrote about how safety technology should be used to combat fatigue in the workplace. However, that is only one slice of the fatigue risk management process. The National Safety Council (NSC) is once again calling for employers to assess their programs, workplace environments and culture and to integrate fatigue-reducing measures into their data-driven safety systems. This couldn’t come at a better time. America’s companies have been gracing headlines with what is being called “burnout culture.” “Don’t stop when you’re tired; stop when you’re done,” proclaimed the carved cucumbers in a pitcher of water at WeWork, a company that provides shared technology workplaces. Bring a productive, dedicated worker is admirable, but at what point does the individual begin to feel the effects? The NSC reports that 90% of America’s employers have seen the impact of fatigue on its workers. The number of hours American workers have put in has steadily increased since the 70s. While the United States does not top the number of hours worked per year when ranked globally, the laws that govern paid sick days and legally-mandated annual leave are non-existent. What does this mean? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a 400% increase in productivity among American workers since 1950, yet employees are just not taking time off, leading to burnout, fatigue and possibly more injuries. In a nutshell, America’s adherence to a “Hustle Hard” culture is hurting its very own workers, and safety professionals should implement fatigue risk management systems to mitigate it. An interruption of a worker’s Circadian cycle, or internal clock, increases the risk for safety incidents to occur. Take a look at night-shift workers who report 30% more incidents versus those who work the standard 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. work day. The facts are clear: a tired mind is more likely to take shortcuts, make poor decisions and be less alert. In addition, the NSC states that changes in a person’s sleep-wake cycle also could lead to health problems such as depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Campbell Institute states that an effective fatigue management policy includes limits on work hours as well as minimum requirements for off-duty and recovery rest periods, along with: Regular review of overtime schedules; Shared responsibilities for managing fatigue, such as Communication from the organization and the employee assuming responsibility for arriving fit for duty; Fatigue reporting system for employees; Procedures to determine whether fatigue played a role in an incident; Fatigue management training and education for employees and management; Provision of sleep disorder information and management; Continuous improvement process for managing fatigue risk. Emily Whitcomb, NSC’s senior program manager for fatigue initiatives, said it perfectly: “In our 24/7 world, too many employees are running on empty. Employees are an organization’s greatest asset, and addressing fatigue in workplaces will help eliminate preventable deaths and injuries.” Let's block ads! (Why?)

View the latest products from EHS Today's March issue. EHS Today's print edition highlights the latest personal protective equipment, software and safety products ranging from footwear to training. Our March issue features innovations from MSA Safety, Ansell, Honeywell, CEA Instruments, Tingley Rubber Corp., Pure Safety Group and ReadyMax. To view product descriptions and photos, use the arrows to move back and forth through the slideshow.

Roadway deaths in the United States are slowly declining despite hitting 40,000 the last three years, according the National Safety Council (NSC), Preliminary estimates from the NSC show that in 2018, an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives to car crashes, down 1% from 2017 (40,231 deaths) and 2016 (40,327 deaths). “Forty-thousand deaths is simply unacceptable,” said Nick Smith, NSC interim president and CEO. “We cannot afford to tread water anymore. We know what works, but need to demonstrate the commitment to implementing the solutions. Roadway deaths are preventable by doubling down on what works, embracing technology advancements and creating a culture of safer driving.” Approximately 4.5 million people were seriously injured in crashes last year – also a 1% over 2017 figures. Seven states – Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania – as well as Washington D.C. had at least a 5.8% spike in fatalities. Five states experienced declines of more than 9.4%: Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wyoming. The new figures signal a leveling off after years of consecutive rises. However, 2018’s preliminary estimates still are 14% higher than four years ago. Driver behavior is likely contributing to the numbers staying stubbornly high, the NSC stated. To help ensure safer roads, NSC urges motorists to: Practice defensive driving. Buckle up, designate a sober driver or arrange alternative transportation, get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue, and drive attentively, avoiding distractions.  Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from prescription opioids.  Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits.  Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them. Fix recalls immediately.  Ask lawmakers and state leaders to protect travelers on state roadways.  Join the Road to Zero to understand how safety professionals are addressing motor vehicle fatalities.  The NSC has issued traffic fatality estimates since 1921. Additional information can be found on the organization's website.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to improper generator use is a serious risk not just during cold weather, but all year round. OSHA is reminding employers and safety professionals to ensure workers are protected against CO exposure to the colorless, odorless gas that can cause neurological damage, coma or death. When fuel-burning equipment and tools are used in buildings or semi-enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation, overexposure can occur. The danger increases during the winter months when this type of equipment is used in indoor areas that have been sealed tightly to block out cold temperatures and wind. CO exposure is not specific to one occupation. Welders, mechanics, brewers, taxi drivers, toll booth attendants and police officers are just some of the workers who could be exposed on the job. The CO permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50 parts per million (ppm). OSHA standards prohibit worker exposure to more than 50 parts of the gas per million parts of air averaged during an 8-hour time period, according to the agency. Symptoms of overexposure include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, or tightness across the chest, while prolonged exposure can pose more dire health effects. In addition to portable generators and space heaters, sources of carbon monoxide can include anything that uses combustion to operate, such as power tools, compressors, pumps, welding equipment, furnaces, gas-powered forklifts, and motorized vehicles, according to OSHA. To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide exposure in the workplace, employers should follow 10 recommendations OSHA outlines in its Carbon Monoxide Poisoning fact sheet.  If someone has been exposed, OSHA states the following steps should be taken to save lives: Move the victim immediately to fresh airin an open area. Call 911 or another local emergency numberfor medical attention or assistance. Administer 100-percent oxygen using atight-fitting mask if the victim is breathing. Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitationif the victim has stopped breathing. However, the agency also cautions that there could be a high risk to fatal levels of CO during a rescue attempt. Rescuers should be skilled at performing recovery operations and using recovery equipment. In addition, employers should make sure that rescuers are not exposed to dangerous CO levels when performing rescue operations, the agency says.