Safety Update November 2021

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BWC News 

2021-2022 Safety Services Catalog The 2021-2022 edition of the Safety Services Catalog is now available for download. The catalog covers the last three quarters of the state fiscal year. In addition to describing the safety services and programs available, the catalog contains links to detailed descriptions of all safety-related course offerings and lists and describes safety-related DVDs and streaming videos.         Reducing Overexertion Injuries Overexertion injuries cost Ohio employers nearly $1134 million and accounted for almost 24% of accepted BWC claims in 2019. This blog discusses overexertion injuries and how you can reduce them in your facility.

OSHA News

OSHA Top 10 List

For the 11^th year, Fall Protection – General Requirements was OSHA’s most frequently cited standard. The data spans the time frame of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021. The list was unchanged from FY 2020 other than a few changes in the order. This article in Safety + Health has the entire list.

Driver Safety

OSHA revised its Driver Safety Brochure. The updated document encourages employers to keep drivers safe on the road by stressing the importance of motor vehicle safety. Texting while driving is a matter of life and death. No employer should condone any employee texting while driving.

NIOSH News

Law Enforcement Agencies: How to Prevent Motor Vehicle Collisions 

Law enforcement officers are at risk of motor vehicle collisions from many preventable factors. This new NIOSH fact sheet highlights results from a study evaluating the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s safe driving program. It also includes recommendations for agencies and safe driving messages for officers.

Hearing Protection Study

“A new study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that over half of noise-exposed workers didn’t use hearing protection “always” or “usually” when exposed to hazardous occupational noise.” Read the abstract on the NIOSH website along with links to information on noise and hearing loss prevention.

Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE)

NIOSH released an updated edition of the RNLE Applications manual corrects typos and is now searchable. Download the manual and the mobile app from the NIOSH site.

New CDC Hearing Loss Website

Loud noise can cause hearing loss. Learn more about hearing loss and how to prevent it on CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health’s new hearing loss website.

NIOSH Blog

This blog post from NIOSH celebrates the 15th year of the Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) Sector Program at NIOSH including links to guidance documents and a discussion of key accomplishments.

Other News

Construction SmartMarket Report

A new report by construction data company DodgeData & Analytics, Safety Management in the Construction Industry 2021 addresses changes in safety management in the construction industry. The report describes the analysis of survey responses about practices, impacts, training and communication, technology, and health and wellness.

Hazard Communication Program Webinar

Join Safety+Health on November 4^th at 12:00 PM ET for a free webinar on Building Blocks of Effective Hazard Communication Programs. As part of the agency’s list of “Top 10” most cited violations for fiscal year 2020, OSHA’s standard on hazard communication (1910.1200) ranks No. 2. Employer compliance with the standard can fall short for any number of reasons, so during this webinar Safety+Health will review the basics of what you need to know and how to build an effective hazard communication program.

Engagement and Turnover Webinar

Join OH&S on November 17^th at 2:00 PM ET for a free webinar on Engagement & Turnover: Today’s Biggest Safety Issues. Developing and executing a plan to create higher levels of employee engagement in an organization is the single best tactic for combating turnover. More importantly, improving engagement and lowering turnover are essential to achieving any safety related goals. When it comes to safety, you can’t rely on your HR team to solve these problems, you need to take it on directly from a safety perspective. This presentation will show you how.

Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season

Holiday safety is an issue that burns brightest from late November to mid-January, when families gather, parties are scheduled and travel spikes. The National Safety Council created a page with tips for a safe holiday season, including an archived webinar, decoration safety tips, fire hazard considerations, and food poisoning safety.

Prevent Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever This Fall

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is caused by an infection with a bacterium called Rickettsia rickettsii.  In Ohio, R. rickettsii is transmitted to humans through the bite of the infected American dog tick. American dog ticks are the most commonly encountered type of tick in Ohio, and they are found throughout the state. They live in areas of tall grass and in clearings that have little tree cover. Learn how to protect employees by visiting the Ohio Department of Health’s Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever resource page, which lists signs of infection, prevention, and offers downloadable handouts/fact sheets.

Diabetes Awareness

November is not only the start of the holiday season, but also diabetes awareness month. Over 1 million Ohioans have been diagnosed with diabetes and 1 out of 3 adults in the United States are prediabetic. It is likely that we know someone with diabetes or who is pre-diabetic. Whether for prevention or maintenance, acting early can help us avoid poor health outcomes like stroke, kidney failure, or heart attack. Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week and finding healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to prevent and manage diabetes. To learn more about diabetes prevention, 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

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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, serving 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,600 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.