FOOTnotes – For Our Outreach Trainers: Information specific to OSHA Outreach Trainers authorized through the Southeastern OTI Education Center.
Lithium Battery Safety
Within a period of five years, lithium batteries have generated 25,000 overheating or fire incidents in more than 400 varieties of lithium-powered products. Many in the manufacturing workforce may be wearing some small device that contains a lithium battery in order to better perform their job duties—like a body camera or a walkie-talkie. Lithium batteries are normally defect-free but learning what to do if one malfunctions can prevent serious injury. Learn more about lithium battery safety from OSHA’s informative bulletin.
Controlling Silica
Crystalline Silica, a mineral found inside substances such as stone, sand, concrete and mortar, is known to cause serious health issues. General industry workers are especially susceptible to exposure. Silica-related diseases include: silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. To better increase your workplace safety, OSHA has answered frequently asked questions regarding silica and how to prevent silica-related disease.
Protecting the Privacy of Workers
As Americans, we maintain the 4th Amendment right to privacy, even at work. In order to better protect worker privacy, OSHA has issued its final ruling eliminating the requirement for establishments with 250 or more employees to electronically submit information for OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report). These businesses are still required to electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Illnesses). Read more about this update in OSHA’s new release.
Watch Your Step
A fall on the job could put you out of commission for weeks, months and in unfortunate cases, years. Not to mention the hoops you have to jump through in order to receive worker’s compensation. OSHA has compiled a list of resources that could better educate you on fall prevention. The resources include the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction; a series of fall safety videos; a Fall Prevention Training Guide; fact sheets in ladders and scaffolding; and a brief video, 5 Ways to Prevent Workplace Falls.
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Shelby Kimes is a Marketing Content Writer in the marketing department for NC State Industrial Expansion Solutions. She writes marketing content for various IES and media platforms to communicate the services and values of IES. She also writes the marketing material needed to alert existing and/or potential clients of any updates within IES. She previously interned with the marketing department at Greenville Parks and Recreation in North Carolina. Shelby graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Sports Studies and a Minor in Marketing/Business Administration.
