BWC Safety Update August 2021

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BWC Featured Items

BWC August Safety Classes

To register Visit the BWC Learning Center

• Lockout/Tagout and Safety-Related Work Practices Aug. 4, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Work Zone Traffic Control and Safety Aug. 18, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Confined Space Assessment and Work Aug. 23 & 24, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
• Electrical Safety in the Workplace through Insight and Implementation of NFPA 70E Aug. 30 & 31, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

BWC Webinar: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Safety Teams

Thursday, August 12, 2021 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
For more details and to register click here.

BWC Blog

Back injuries account for nearly 20% of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Because of the prevalence of back-related injuries, BWC has been devoted to preventing and treating them for many years. This blog post discusses the decades-long partnership between BWC and the Ohio State University’s Spine Research Institute focused on treating and preventing back injuries.

Workplace Wellness Grant

Applications are open for the Workplace Wellness Grant Program (WWGP). The program assists employers with the creation and implementation of a workplace wellness program. Employers that do not have a wellness plan and meet other eligibility requirements may apply. Find more information on the program, including program requirements, and complete an online application here.

NIOSH/CDC News

Safe + Sound Week: August 9–15 NIOSH, OSHA, and their partners sponsor Safe + Sound Week each year in August. Safe + Sound is a nationwide event to celebrate the successful safety and health programs in the workplace. Every August participating businesses are invited to celebrate their safety successes and efforts to be #SafeAndSoundAtWork. Register to take part, plan and promote your events, and recognize participation with certificates and challenge coins.   New on the NIOSH Website NIOSH has a few new websites this month. First is a page on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals, used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products including food handling materials and firefighting foam, are linked to cancer and other health issues. A website for In-vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) describes how these systems work and includes best practices and areas for further research.

OSHA News

COVID-19 Standard, Guidance and Directive

New information is available on the OSHA Coronavirus webpage.

• Revised enforcement instructions better target those most at risk for COVID-19 exposure.
• New compliance directive provides inspection and enforcement procedures for the Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard.

Tree Trimming Enforcement Guidance

This new guidance document from OSHA outlines the hazards to workers in the tree care and trimming industry and provides enforcement guidance for compliance inspectors. For safety and health information on the tree care industry, see the OSHA topic page.

Heat Illness Prevention Materials

New to the OSHA website are these public service announcements and infographics.60-Second Audio Messages on Heat Illness Prevention

• English: Recording | Transcript
• Spanish: Recording | Transcript

30-Second Video Messages on COVID-19 and the Workplace

• Employers - English Spanish
• Workers - English Spanish

Videos and Graphics from the Heat Prevention Campaign

Fact Sheet for Insect Stings

This FatalFacts sheet describes a fatal event caused by bee stings. The document gives prevention tips for prevention of insect stings.

Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Exposure to Noise Hazards in the Workplace

OSHA created a regional emphasis program for noise hazards in manufacturing in Region V which includes Ohio.

“OSHA in Region V proposes to accomplish this through outreach and enforcement activities. Outreach activities may include letters to employers, training sessions with stakeholders, electronic information sharing activities, and news release broadcasts. Enforcement activities will begin not earlier than three months after outreach is initiated and will include, but not be limited to, the inspection and review of operations and working conditions, injury and illness records, and safety and health programs to identify and obtain corrections of workplace hazards at all applicable inspection sites.”

Other News 

2021 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index

Insurance company Liberty Mutual released their yearly study based on 2018 data of the most serious workplace injuries. They release documents for all industries, and for specific industries construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. The top cause of injuries over all workplaces was overexertion from handling objects with 22.7% of all injuries and a cost of $13.30 billion.

Five Things You Should Know

Toronto Canada based nonprofit research organization, the Institute of Work and Health published five of their most practical research findings from the past year for professionals in occupational health and safety. The 2021 edition of 5 Things We Think You Should Know is now available to download and share.

New Studies in Construction

Two new studies from the Center for Construction Research and Training

• The results of a study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk for older construction workers found that they are at increased risk.
• A recent study using data from 2004-2017 shows that minority workers in construction are more likely to suffer work-related injuries.

Keep up the Good Routines!

August is a month of transition. We end one fiscal year to begin the next, kids are preparing to return to school, and we try to soak up as much sunshine as we can. With so many moving parts, it can be easy to forget our daily routines. Don't fall short on the routines that are good for your health! Healthy habits such as a solid bed-time routine can help us get enough sleep and prevent conditions like heart disease. A morning stretching routine can increase blood flow to our muscles and give us the boost we need. For more information on how daily routines positively impact your health, click here. #BWCWellness

The Ohio BWC Library of BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene compiles and distributes this newsletter each month. 

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Vision: To transform BWC into an agile organization driven by customer success.
Mission: To deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day. Core Values: One Agency, Personal Connection, Innovative Leadership, Relentless Excellence.

Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio and serves 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,700 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.