OH&S SafetyPod

Occupational Health & Safety’s Executive Editor David Kopf and Content Editor Robert Yaniz, Jr. kick off the new year by talking about a few safety initiatives and trends that will impact the next 12 months. Those developments, include efforts to combat workplace overdose deaths, address worker mental health, child labor investigations and more “tailored” PPE design. Additionally, Kopf and Yaniz also preview some of the editorial efforts OH&S has in the works for 2024, including our webinar programs, event coverage, online features and more.

Ergonomics continues to get increased attention in the workplace, but worker safety and health professionals face a number of challenges when trying to ensure good ergonomics. Sofia Kiriukhina, the Head of Customer Success at TuMeke Ergonomics, joins the OH&S SafetyPod to discuss the role of ergonomics in full-circle employee health. It turns out that the ergonomics challenges facing businesses might also open the door to some new opportunities through innovations, technologies and rethinking previous approaches to ergonomics and assessments.

Sponsored by TuMeke Ergonomics:

Reduce injuries and sustain productivity by automating ergonomic risk assessments with TuMeke Ergonomics. Born out of a collaboration between experts in technology and ergonomics, the company has grown to become a standard tool in the U.S. workers’ compensation insurance industry and among the world’s largest industrial firms. We are on a mission to eliminate workplace musculoskeletal injuries. No wearables, only video-based technology. To learn more, visit tumeke.io

Every section of a Safety Data Sheet is important, but there are several sections of SDS that often get less attention than they should. Well-known workplace safety expert Stephen E. Badger, CSP, OHST, WCP, manager of loss control for The MEMIC Group, joins the SafetyPod to share his insights on four key SDS sections employees and employers need to follow more closely and why. Badger focuses his attention on sections 8, 9, 7, and 11 and digs into the crucial details of each.

Sponsored by Scraper Systems™ by Rite-Hite®:

Scraper Systems™ by Rite-Hite® is North America’s leading name in automated rooftop snow removal from truck fleets. Safely clear 24 inches of snow and ice in less than 30 seconds. Scraper Systems’ fleet plows help reduce winter risks, protect your brand, and get your fleet on the road quickly after a snowstorm. Scraper Systems are ready to ship for this winter. Contact us at Scrapersystems.com or 888-340-4344 to learn more today!

The winter months are now upon us, bringing in a range of seasonal safety hazards and risks that businesses and industries have to deal with in order to keep workers safe. Brendan Moriarty, Vice President, Casualty Executive Field Specialist, North America Risk Engineering at Chubb, joins the podcast to discuss several winter hazards impacting many businesses across a variety of industries and how those businesses can address those hazards and keep workers safe. From frostbite and hypothermia to slips and falls to vehicle risks, Moriarty offers a wealth of winter safety solutions.

Sponsored by NFPA® Global Business Solutions: 

Operate your organization at a higher level with NFPA® Global Business Solutions.

Developed by leading experts, NFPA products and solutions help your business improve performance to complete more projects, retain top talent, increase profits, and help reduce loss or damage to people and property. Contact an NFPA Global Solutions Specialist today for a customized recommendation of the best NFPA products and services to help meet your business goals. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-type/Onsite

Regular readers of Occupational Health & Safety’s website, enewsletter and social media accounts saw our regular updates from the show floor and key conferences sessions at NSC’s Safety Congress & Expo 2023 in New Orleans, but we wanted to use this episode to hit on some key highlights. Executive editor David Kopf and content editor Robert Yaniz, Jr. discuss NSC’s new Respond Ready Workplace program; the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion panel; the Campbell Institute Forum discussion on training multi-generational workforces; and OSHA’s annual Top 10 violations announcement.

Connected safety is coming — are you ready? Every business is responsible for employee safety, but that has become challenging in today’s business climate due to reasons that most people couldn’t have foreseen even a few years ago. However, connected safety offers a multi-faceted set of solutions for overcoming those challenges. Shawn Gregg, Vice President of Global Safety for Wesco, and Lorenza Ordonez, Global Director of Safety Sales & Strategy for Wesco, join the podcast to discuss how connected safety solutions can help your business mitigate risk, manage compliance and protect your workforce. 

Special Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsors: Wesco

Your company is responsible for getting your employees home safely every day, no matter where they work or what they do. Still, building and maintaining your safety program can be a challenging task. New technologies have emerged to help solve this problem, and connected safety solutions are making it easier than ever for businesses to protect their bottom line. To learn more, visit Wesco.com/safety.

Columbia Southern University has unveiled a new program to help safety professionals take their expertise to the next level. CSU’s new Doctor of Occupational Safety and Health program helps workplace safety managers build strong analytical skills to help them apply safety statistics, data and research to their real-world jobs. Dr. Dan Corcoran, the Academic Program Director of Occupational Safety and Health and Environmental Management at CSU, joins the podcast to discuss the new program, why it was created, how it helps safety managers, and how it helps workplace safety.

Special Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor, Columbia Southern University:

Columbia Southern University is dedicated to advancing the safety profession through education. Our newest safety degree program, the Doctor of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) gives you the opportunity to capitalize on years of experience while making lasting contributions in the field of safety. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/OHS to learn more.

Public Works workers are often first on the scene at public emergencies and last to leave. Moreover, on any given day, they can be exposed to 50 different types of hazards or potential exposures. Well-known industry speaker, educator and writer Dr. Dennis Terpin joins the podcast to discuss the role of public works employees in emergency management; the common safety and health challenges facing them; and the need for designated safety officers in the realm of Public Works.

Sponsored by NFPA® Global Business Solutions: 

Operate your organization at a higher level with NFPA^® Global Business Solutions.

Developed by leading experts, NFPA products and solutions help your business improve performance to complete more projects, retain top talent, increase profits, and help reduce loss or damage to people and property. Contact an NFPA Global Solutions Specialist today for a customized recommendation of the best NFPA products and services to help meet your business goals. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-type/Onsite

Body: Fall protection consistently ranks first on OSHA’s Top 10 safety violations, with many falls occurring from rooftops. Understanding these risks and implementing safety measures is crucial. In this episode, Daniel Huntington, General Manager at Kee Safety Inc. and a seasoned compliance educator and rooftop safety trainer, delves into the four primary danger zones on rooftops and how safety professionals can better protect workers in these areas.

Special Thanks to This Episode's Sponsors, Kee Safety:

Kee Safety is the leading expert and global manufacturer of safety components and fall protection systems. They are fully committed to Separating People from Hazards. Established in 1934, Kee Safety has a proud history of engineering, manufacturing, and supplying the most trusted fall protection solutions, safety railing systems, and safe access equipment for working at height. To learn more, visit www.keesafety.com

Our cast of editorial characters is slightly changing here at Occupational Health & Safety magazine. Associate Content Editor Alexandria Saurman will be moving to another department at our parent company, 1105 Media, and business journalist Robert Yaniz, Jr. has joined our team to continue her work. Learn more about Robert, what he will be doing here at OH&S, and more about Alex's new role. 

In the last decade, the U.S. has seen much change when it comes the rules and laws about drugs.

As the conversation around this topic—be it legalization, decriminalization or approved testing methods—grows, so will the discussion on workplace drug testing.

In this episode, Bill Current, considered one of the foremost experts on workplace drug and alcohol testing and the employee screening industry, talks about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent final rule on oral fluid drug testing, urine versus oral fluid testing and much more.

Download or stream this episode today at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and more. 

Zach Pucillo, the EHS compliance Manager with KPA, joins the SafetyPod to discuss the top five OSHA violations in construction. Pucillo answers pertinent questions such as: What are those violations? How many are perennial problems? What are the key safety issues that result in violations? What steps can be taken to reduce, mitigate and protect against them?

Sponsored by NFPA® Global Business Solutions: 

Operate your organization at a higher level with NFPA^® Global Business Solutions.

Developed by leading experts, NFPA products and solutions help your business improve performance to complete more projects, retain top talent, increase profits, and help reduce loss or damage to people and property. Contact an NFPA Global Solutions Specialist today for a customized recommendation of the best NFPA products and services to help meet your business goals. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-type/Onsite

OH&S Executive Editor David Kopf sits down with OH&S Associate Content Editor Alex Saurman to discuss one of his key takeaways from the American Society of Safety Professionals' Safety 2023 Conference and Expo held from June 5 to 7, 2023.

Lester Tiro of SafetyLine Lone Worker joins the podcast to talk about various issues and challenges of lone worker safety, as well as strategies and tools for enhancing lone worker safety. Additionally, Tiro shares a sneak peek of some findings uncovered in a forthcoming study that SafetyLine Lone Worker will release later this year.

Sponsored by NFPA® Global Business Solutions: 

Operate your organization at a higher level with NFPA^® Global Business Solutions.

Developed by leading experts, NFPA products and solutions help your business improve performance to complete more projects, retain top talent, increase profits, and help reduce loss or damage to people and property. Contact an NFPA Global Solutions Specialist today for a customized recommendation of the best NFPA products and services to help meet your business goals. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-type/Onsite

Business and safety are two topics that go hand-in-hand. Yet, the business side of safety is not something that’s often discussed.

In this episode of the OH&S SafetyPod, Gavin Coyle, a Global Safety leader, CEO, safety influencer and business Board Advisor with over 25 years of experience holding safety leadership and business consulting positions, sheds light on this subject and talks about how looking at finances can benefit both a company and its employees.

Electrical safety expert Zarheer Jooma, P.E., IEEE (SM’17), an electrical engineer with e-Hazard, which provides arc flash and electrical safety training, shares insights into adequate risk assessment, the kinds of necessary PPE, common human errors that often lead to arch flash incidents, and key elements that go into effective electrical safety training programs.

Sponsored by NFPA® Global Business Solutions: 

Operate your organization at a higher level with NFPA^® Global Business Solutions.

Developed by leading experts, NFPA products and solutions help your business improve performance to complete more projects, retain top talent, increase profits, and help reduce loss or damage to people and property. Contact an NFPA Global Solutions Specialist today for a customized recommendation of the best NFPA products and services to help meet your business goals. To learn more, visit www.nfpa.org/Training-and-Events/By-type/Onsite

Construction Safety Week runs May 1-5, and a big component of this year’s event is how everyone involved in a construction project can own and act on safety to positively impact the mental health safety of their coworkers. Ralph Blessing, a professor at Columbia Southern University, discusses the importance of safeguarding mental health in the workplace.

A special thank you to Columbia Southern University:

For 30 years, Columbia Southern University has been a leader in occupational safety and health education. Taught by experienced safety experts, CSU’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in occupational safety and health are recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as Graduate Safety Practitioner® Qualified Academic Programs. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/OHS or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.

In this episode, Sydny Shepard says farewell and ushers in a new era of editorial leadership for Occupational Health & Safety.

Happy New Year! Listen in as Editor Sydny Shepard discusses ways to prioritize health at work in 2023.

2023 is upon us. Editor Sydny Shepard talks all about making New Year's Resolutions for safety and how to stick with them.