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BWC Featured News
BWC’s Personalized Safety Services
BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene has a variety of personalized safety services to help every Ohio employer in any industry. See our at-a-glance Personalized Safety Services flyer to learn more about how BWC can help employers with no-cost options for injury and illness prevention and risk reduction, because one injury is too many.
BWC Virtual Training Classes
Electrical Safety Maintenance (NFPA 70B) - Practices for Electrical - Jan. 11-13, 2022 Safety Series Module 2: Ergonomics, Accident Analysis, and Hazard Assessment Basics - Jan. 13, 2022 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Series Module 1: Regulatory background (EPA, DOT, OSHA) - Jan. 24, 2022 OSHA Recordkeeping Half-day Workshop - Jan. 27, 2022 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Series Module 2: Chemical and Toxicological Terminology - Jan. 31, 2022
To register, visit the BWC Learning Center.
BWC Webinars
Prevention through Design – Jan. 11, 2022
Recordkeeping 101: Recordkeeping for the Safety/HR Newbie – Jan. 20, 2022
Workers’ Compensation and How Safety Affects Small Business Profitability – Jan. 25, 2022
BWC’s Ohio Occupational Safety and Health Research Program proposal deadline approaching
The deadline for proposal submission is 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, 2022. For more information, visit the research program web page, or view the FY22 request for proposals.
BWC Library Question of the Month
A question received by the library over the past month with our response.
Question:
Is there a document that shows the safety standards, such as American National Standards Institute (ANSI), that OSHA incorporated into regulations?
Answer:
These links go to lists of incorporated standards in OSHA regulations in each category: General Industry: 1910.6 - Incorporation by reference.
Construction: 1926.6 - Incorporation by reference.
Shipyard Employment: 1915.5 - Incorporation by reference.
Marine Terminals: 1917.3 - Incorporation by reference.
Also, for anyone wondering about the use of newer editions versus the editions incorporated by reference, see OSHA's letter of interpretation here: Significance of ANSI standards with respect to OSHA requirements, specifically A92.6-1999. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Many of these standards, historic and current editions, are in the BWC Library collection. If you have questions about a certain standard or edition, or any other questions, Ask a Librarian or send an email to library@bwc.state.oh.us.
New Year, New Ventures
Happy New Year! As the holiday season comes to a close and the New Year is underway, we might feel inclined to make a list of the goals we want to accomplish and healthy habits we want to start. For some of us that might mean finally cleaning out the junk drawer and organizing the items under the kitchen sink. For others, a new healthy habit may be starting a weekly exercise routine. Whether your goals and healthy habits are complex or simple, here are a few tips to help you succeed:
- Make a Plan - Write down specific information such as how often, the amount, and on what days you would like to carry out your goals and habits. This will help you stay focused.
- Find a Partner - Have a family member, friend, or other trusted person hold you accountable to your plans. Having a person to support you, can increase the likelihood you will reach your goals.
- Be Ready for Challenges - Nothing goes exactly as planned. Have multiple options in place and people and resources to support you, so that challenges don't derail your progress.
The New Year is filled with promise! Better You, Better Ohio! is a free workplace health and wellness program that gives you the resources you need to take ownership of your health and well-being. For more tips and information on reaching your goals and forming new healthy habits, click here.
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OSHA News
Winter Weather Hazards
As we enter the winter weather season be sure you are prepared. The Winter Weather site from OSHA has tips for dealing with cold stress, falls on snow and ice, winter driving, and more.
Hazardous Chemical Storage Safety Advisory
The US EPA and OSHA issued a joint Safety Advisory on Improper Storage of Hazardous Chemicals. The agencies “found that many facilities do not manage chemicals in a safe or secure manner. Complying with applicable regulations may help avoid catastrophic chemical accidents.”
Be SHARP!
Congratulations to Ohio company Derby Fabricating Company for their Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status renewal. To find out how you can participate in SHARP contact the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program. The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers free and confidential safety and health help for small to medium sized, high-hazard private employers.
Safe + Sound Campaign Newsletter
This recent Safe+Sound newsletter has links to the All in On Safety Challenge, cold stress, heat injury rulemaking, and worker participation worksheets. You can sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from the link.
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NIOSH/CDC News
Musculoskeletal Disorders Research at NIOSH
This December 2021 blog post from NIOSH outlines the history of musculoskeletal disorders research at NIOSH. From vibration research in the 1970’s to exoskeletons in the 2000’s, NIOSH research covers a wide range of ergonomics issues in the workplace.
NIOSH eNEws
The December edition of NIOSH eNews features an article on oil and gas workplace safety. The article notes that NIOSH plans a 2022 project to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in the industry. There is a call for partners in this effort. The newsletter also has new reports and links to the NIOSH Science Blog entries.
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Other News
Workplace Housekeeping Webinar
Good workplace housekeeping is more than just providing basic sanitation. Keeping not only work areas, but also entire facilities clean and neat reduces the risk of injury and illness and helps avoid violating more than a dozen OSHA standards. Join EHS Daily Advisor on Jan. 11, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time to learn how to help your company avoid common pitfalls.
OSHA Training Requirements Webinar
The National Safety Council is holding a free webinar Jan. 13, 2022 at 1pm Eastern Time on safety training requirements in some of the key OSHA regulations including hazard communication, forklifts, lockout/tagout, walking-working surfaces, bloodborne pathogens and more. To register go to Webinar Registration - Zoom
Hazard Communication – Past, Present and Future Webinar
It has been 38 years since OSHA adopted the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) for the manufacturing industry. OSHA is looking to adopt even more changes to HCS in 2022 to better protect employees in the workplace. Join OH&S on Jan. 27, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time to review the original HCS requirements, the GHS provisions added in 2012, and several of the proposed changes that could help better protect American workers.
National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries In 2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the data on fatal work injuries in 2020. There was a 10.7% decrease in overall fatalities for the year. Transportation incidents are still the most frequent source of injuries, but the number of incidents fell from 2019 levels. Transportation and material moving workers accounted for nearly half of all fatal occupational injuries.
Legionnaires’ Disease Prevention and Control
This website has resources to help the public with resources to reduce the occurrence of legionnaires’ disease. This page shows useful basic information in several infographics.
Construction PPE for Women
Women working in the construction industry often have difficulty finding personal protective equipment (PPE) to fit them. This list from the Center for Construction Research and Training has links to commercially available PPE designed for women.
Updated Ohio Job and Family Services Civil Rights Poster Package
Ohio Employers must post and make public specific State and Federal posters in the workplace. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services updated their downloadable package of State posters in October. It’s a good idea to bookmark this page in your Internet browser, so that you can download and print future updates.
Mental Health Coping Strategies and Resources During the Pandemic
The pandemic has brought with it a rise in mental health issues, particularly stress, anxiety, and panic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a page of resources with tips on reducing stress, including downloadable handouts. The World Health Organization has a page of news and resources, as does the Ohio Department of Health. The Ohio CareLine provides free, confidential emotional support 24/7.
The Ohio BWC Library of BWC’s Division of Safety & Hygiene compiles and distributes this newsletter each month.
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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, 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.
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