Although OSHA has established many standards to protect employees in the workplace, the agency doesn’t have any official regulations regarding everyday heat exposure. According to the National Safety Council, nearly 250 people die from exposure to excessive temperatures every year, and many more experience injuries from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. As a result, over 130 organizations have recently petitioned OSHA to create a standard that provides at-risk employees with rest breaks, access to shade and other protections. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended that OSHA create a heat standard three times—in 1972, 1986 and 2016. Even though OSHA has supported NIOSH’s framework for the standard and created heat exposure guidelines, the agency can only examine heat-specific hazards under its general duty clause for employers to provide a generally safe work environment. All businesses need to take care to protect their workforces from dangerously high temperatures. Here are some strategies you can use to protect your employees from the heat: Increase ventilation at your workplace by using air conditioning, setting up cooling fans or installing insulation around hot surfaces. Encourage employees to download the OSHA-NIOSH heat safety tool on their iOS or Android smartphone. Train … Continue reading Groups Petition OSHA to Add Official Standard for Heat Exposure

The NOAA defines a Storm Surge as the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide. The surge is caused primarily by a storm’s winds pushing water onshore. The amplitude of the storm surge at any given location depends on the orientation of the coast line with the storm track; the intensity, size, and speed of the storm; and the local bathymetry.   Storm surges can be extremely dangerous as they usually happen after the area has suffered a severe weather event, that locals sometimes think that there is no more danger and they let their guard down. The “2018 CoreLogic Storm Surge Report” includes the following takeaways for insurers and their policyholders living and doing business in affected states: 9 million homes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at risk for hurricane storm surge damage Those homes have $1.6 trillion in potential reconstruction costs Florida, Louisiana and Texas top the list of states with the most homes at risk “While industry predictions for this year’s storm season indicate average activity levels, associated storm surge risk remains an important consideration for residential and commercial properties in the 19 states analyzed,” Dr. … Continue reading What is Storm Surge and How it Puts 10 States at Risk

The Importance of Being Prepared During A Hurricane From June through November, hurricanes are at their peak. During a hurricane, heavy rains and catastrophic winds barrel through coastal areas and can severely damage or destroy homes and businesses. The best way to minimize damage from a hurricane is to be prepared before one strikes.   PREPARING FOR HURRICANE SEASON During Hurricane Season: Plan evacuation routes and designate a contact person who family members know to call once the storm is over. Stock up on items such as bottled water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, nails, tarps and plywood. Keep an up-to-date log of all of your possessions with photographs and videos, and review your home insurance policy. When There’s A Hurricane Threat: Cover windows and doors and secure outdoor furniture. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Refill your prescriptions, fill up your gas tank and withdraw a week’s worth of cash so you are prepared in the event of a power outage. During a Hurricane: Listen to your battery-operated radio for instructions from the local authorities on evacuation and safety guidelines. Seek shelter in an interior room away from windows, such as a closet. If the electricity goes out, … Continue reading Preparing For Hurricane Season