OSHA Celebrates 40 years!

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in 1971. Since then, OSHA and our state partners, coupled with the efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety. Fatality and injury rates have dropped markedly. Although accurate statistics were not kept at the time, it is estimated that in 1970 around 14,000 workers were killed on the job. That number fell to approximately 4,340 in 2009. At the same time, U.S. employment has almost doubled and now includes over 130 million workers at more than 7.2 million worksites. Since the passage of the OSH Act, the rate of reported serious workplace injuries and illnesses has declined from 11 per 100 workers in 1972 to 3.6 per 100 workers in 2009. OSHA safety and health standards, including those for trenching, machine guarding, asbestos, benzene, lead, and bloodborne pathogens have prevented countless work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. This timeline highlights key milestones in occupational safety and health history since the creation of OSHA.

Have a safe Workplace!

Drive Safely Work Week October 3-5, 2011

This is Drive Safely Work Week. It is a good time to review your company's rules and safety guidelines with all employees as transportation accidents are a leading cause of on-the-job fatalities.

There are many reasons for driving, whether it be commuting to and from work, making a sales call or delivering a product or service. Driving can seem routine, but roads create many hazards. Every five seconds an automobile crash occurs, every ten seconds an injury occurs from a crash and every twelve minutes someone dies from an automobile crash. Most of these incidents occur during the work day. As a driver you are responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner

Here are some simple yet effective safety rules to follow:

• Check tire pressure before driving

• Make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelt

• Adjust all mirrors, seat, and other instruments before starting to drive

• Familiarize yourself to the steering of the vehicle

• Don't drive when fatigued or frustrated

• Do not allow yourself to be distracted while driving

• Do not eat, text,apply make-up, read, work on laptops or tablets or any other device while driving

• Obey the speed limit and other laws

• Drive appropriate speeds for the type of weather

• NEVER drink and drive or drive while under the influence of any type of medication which might impair your thinking or motor skills

Always remember to take driving seriously. Pay attention at all times. You are not only protecting your life and safety but those in the vehicle with you and those in the vehicles around you.

OSHA Safety Products has a Driving Safety Training Program available to assist you in becoming a safe driver or to help you train your employees. We