Geofencing: the Future of Injury Prevention

• The National Safety Council is proposing that geofencing technology more widely deployed, can prevent accidents from happening.
• The technology creates virtual boundaries, that when triggered disable machinery.
• The technology is enhanced with proximity sensors to increase its effectiveness.
• A new white paper discusses the benefits to such systems and the obstacles faced in implementation.
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Slippery Slope

• A Massachusetts roofing company is in trouble with Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after an employee looses his balance and falls to his death.
• OJR Construction Inc., is facing thousands in fines after the 2023 death. OSHA issued OJR one willful and 10 serious citations for exposing employees to numerous fall hazards and equipment that had not been properly deployed or inspected.
• In addition, OJR failed to provide adequate training and, at least once, exposed workers to fall hazards when a competent person was not on the site.
• This isn’t the first time. OJR was cited in 2017 and 2019 for similar violations.
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OSHA Restructured

• The US Department of Labor has restructured Occupational Safety and Health Administration offices to meet demographic needs.
• A new office is being opened in Birmingham, Alabama to better oversee some industries in that region, including food processing.
• OSHA is also merging two operations in San Francisco to lower operating costs.
• These changes, and others, will be completed in later fiscal year 2024.
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Too Many NC Construction Workers are Dying

• Once every 10 days a construction worker dies, according to an investigative piece
• In 2023 six construction workers died in Charlotte, NC, where the employers were cited for major safety violations.
• In addition, Hispanic workers are more likely to die.
• The investigation also finds that safety oversight has waned.
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Excessive Heat Leads to Injuries

• A new study shows that work related accidents increased by five percent when heat exceeds 90 degrees, according to research done by an east coast institute.
• The research studied heat effects in 24 states, and and found this problem is especially prevalent in the south.
• The research comes on the heels of a bill signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, preventing local governments from requiring their own heat-protections for employees.
• Supporters of the DeSantis bill say it prevents a patchwork of regulations, many of which mirror standards that already exists.
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University of New Mexico Audits Safety

• UNM targeted units on campus with the highest occupational risk, including research labs.
• The audit finds that supervisors and lab managers are prioritizing safety, but say improvements need to be made.
• There are several initiatives in the works, including initiating a university-wide EHS management system.
• It’s felt that many people in senior leadership and supervisory roles can engage more with safety.
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