things you should know

Tool to help combat musculoskeletal disorders

Canada’s Ontario's Ministry of Labour has an online tool that provides information on musculoskeletal disorders. It helps employers and employees identify movements and tasks that may cause MSDs through an interactive tool that allows users to click on body parts to get information and offers ways to reduce potential hazards. They also offer a prevention guide, resource manual and toolkits.

Motor carriers can now enroll in pre-employment screening program

Enrollment in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) pre-employment screening program (PSP) is now available, as Phase 1 of the program. The program aims to help motor carriers make more informed hiring decisions by providing electronic access to a driver’s crash and inspection history from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Motor carriers have the opportunity to visit the Website and pre-register for the program by submitting company contact information. In accordance with federal privacy laws, drivers first must give written consent for their records to be released to a prospective motor carrier employer. FMCSA expects to fully launch the program this summer.

Online curriculum in violence and injury prevention

TEACH-VIP E-Learning is a free online self-paced curriculum in violence and injury prevention, designed for employers, health and public professionals and educators.

It addresses a broad range of issues pertinent to understanding and preventing injuries, violence, and suicide. It offers 20 lessons that can be customized and includes extensive content on using data to understand injury problems and create programs to address these problems.

OSHA recommendations for late night retailers

While deaths in late night establishments such as gas stations and convenience stores have declined, it is still relatively high. OSHA recently updated its guidance document on how to protect late-night workers from violence. Although not exhaustive, these workplace violence guidelines include policy recommendations and practical corrective methods to help prevent and mitigate the effects of workplace violence in late-night retail establishments. You can download a copy of OSHA’s guidance document Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments here.

OSHA publishes etool for electric power industry

Approximately 80 workers die from electric shock each year while working on electrical equipment or related utility operations. To help prevent such deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently published the "Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard eTool.