Safety/Health

With flu outbreak spreading fast, recommend vaccine

12/23/2014

The Centers for Disease Control’s latest weekly report on the 2014-15 flu season notes widespread flu outbreaks in 29 states. That’s a twofold jump in just one week, with Southern and Midwestern states particularly hard-hit.

Cigarette giant to ban employees from smoking in most areas

12/22/2014

Starting Jan. 1, employees of the company that makes Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes will not be allowed to smoke at work.

Employee is returning from Nigeria: Can we request she stay out of the office for 21 days?

12/04/2014

Q. We have an employee traveling to Nigeria for a family gathering. Even though Nigeria is Ebola-free at this time, we are considering requesting that she stay out of the office for 21 days upon return to eliminate panic among employees. Due to the nature of her job, she cannot work from home. Do we legally need to pay her for this time?

Webinar Wisdom: HR and Injury Management – ‘I’ve Fallen and I Won’t Get Up!’

12/02/2014

A quick summary of a recent training webinar hosted by Business Management Daily.

Ergonomics

12/01/2014

HR Law 101: In 2009, OSHA said it plans to propose a rule requiring employers to report work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in a new column on their Form 300 workplace injury logs. Some believe the move is a precursor to reintroducing ergonomic standards.

Mandatory morning stretching reduces stress-related injuries

11/21/2014

With hard hats on, Skanska Construction Group crews all over the country start their day by stretching in 15-minute group exercise classes right on their job sites.

Workplace deaths decline, except for Hispanics

11/07/2014

According to new federal data, 4,405 people suffered fatal work-related injuries in 2013, down from the 4,628 fatal injury count the previous year, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics stats.

Replace Ebola panic with solid plan to deal with epidemics

11/05/2014

The threat of an Ebola outbreak has dominated the news for months. With the possible exceptions of health care-related organizations, it’s unlikely that most employers will ever have to deal with the disease. However, it’s a timely reminder that even relatively common maladies (such as the flu) can wreak havoc on business operations.

Is ‘safety concern’ a legal reason not to hire a woman?

11/05/2014

When a Virginia supermarket manager rejected a woman for a van driver position, he pointed to safety as the reason—female drivers are more vulnerable to assaults.

OSHA wants employer input on chemical exposure levels

10/28/2014

OSHA has issued a request for information seeking employer input on permissible exposure limits for hazardous chemicals, along with chemical management methods to promote workplace safety. It’s part of the agency’s ongoing review to identify “more effective and efficient approaches” for managing chemical exposures at work.