For restaurants, offering delivery service provides a convenient food option for your customers. It can also lead to increased business opportunities for your restaurant. However, delivery services aren’t without their share of risks, particularly when it comes to driver safety. When making deliveries, employees could slip, trip and fall going to a customer’s door; become the victim of a crime (e.g., robberies); or injure themselves or others in an auto accident. If your restaurant is starting a delivery service, it’s critical to keep these risks in mind and take the proper steps to safeguard your employees and prevent potential claims. Keeping Your Drivers Safe While delivery services tend to differ slightly from business to business, there are a number of general considerations to keep in mind when it comes to protecting workers: Offer training to employees to help them identify hazards and strategies they can use to stay safe when making deliveries. This could include defensiv ... [...]

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As the number of reported cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to rise, employers are increasingly confronted with the possibility of an outbreak in the workplace.

Employers are obligated to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for their employees, but are also subject to a number of legal requirements protecting workers. For example, employers must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in their approach to dealing with COVID-19.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the recent coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a global public health emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in animal species. Although most don’t affect humans, the most recent strain, COVID-19, does and can easily spread from person to person.

Coronaviruses typically cause mild upper respiratory tract illnesses, and those affected exhibit cold-like symptoms (e.g., headache, cough, fever, sore throat and runny nose). Some coronaviruses, like COVID-19, can be more severe, and individuals may experience lower-respiratory tract illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia. For the elderly, infants and those with weakened immune systems, COVID-19 can be deadly.

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Mobile technology can be a valuable tool for the construction industry, but when it comes to using it on the job site, there’s one device workers should leave behind: their cellphone.  Although cellphones can be a necessary method of communication on job sites, they distract workers from potential hazards and recommended safety practices. And, despite an absence of OSHA regulations pertaining exclusively to cellphones on the job site, OSHA can cite employers for violating the General Duty Clause, which states the requirement to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. Employers can also violate OSHA’s cranes and derricks standard by allowing cellphones on the job site, since it states, “The [crane or derrick] operator must not engage in any practice or activity that diverts his or her attention while actually engaged in operating the equipment, such as the use of cellular phones.” Phones may be used for signal communications, but OSHA requires a hands-free system for ... [...]

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As concerns about the COVID-19 continue to rise, many employers are left to wondering what they can do to protect their workforce. This Risk Insights will examine what coronavirus is, how it spreads, and what employers can do to protect their workforce. What Is Coronavirus? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Common signs of infection include headache, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Individuals who are elderly or pregnant, and anyone with preexisting medical conditions are at the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from coronaviruses. How Does Coronavirus Spread? Although the ongoing outbreak likely resulted from people who were exposed to infected animals, COVID-19 can spread between people through their respiratory sec ... [...]

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Media coverage of workplace violence tends to misrepresent the scale and nature of the problem. While the dramatic, isolated incidents often publicized are shocking, most workplace violence consists in less newsworthy – but equally worrisome – activity, including threats of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening behavior. And while failing to adequately prevent and cope with violent incidents in the workplace can lead to increased workers’ compensation costs, absenteeism, property damage and negative publicity, over 70 percent of U.S. workplaces do not have a formal policy or program addressing workplace violence, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Recognizing the risk or workplace violence and taking action is essential. The creation of a sound prevention plan is the most important and ultimately least costly portion of any group’s workplace violence program. Types of Workplace Violence Workplace violence can be defined as violent acts directed to ... [...]

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During a late 2013 inspection, OSHA’s area office in Concord, New Hampshire, identified a dolly-type roller device that must not be used for spreading flammable liquid adhesives. The device does not meet the agency’s requirements for dispensing a flammable liquid because its use creates a fire hazard for workers. The dolly-type roller device and the adhesive are manufactured by different companies and sold separately. The device is designed to spread the liquid adhesive directly onto the roof from a 5-gallon metal container. The manufacturer of the device instructs users to lay the adhesive container horizontally on its side, punch a row of holes along the center, clamp the container to the dolly and turn it over so that the adhesive flows through the holes to the roller to be spread onto the roof. This dolly-type roller must not be used to dispense flammable adhesives as currently designed because: Flammable liquids must be dispensed from a closed system or an ap ... [...]

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Electrical panels can be found in just about every business. However, because they are not typically out in the open or inspected daily, it’s easy to overlook electrical panels and the potential risks associated with them. Without the proper precautions, things like exposed wires, faulty components and improper grounding create a host of exposures—exposures that can severely disrupt or harm an organization. But of all the concerns associated with electrical panels, one common and often overlooked issue relates to maintaining proper clearances. This Risk Insights provides a general overview of the dangers associated with improper electrical panel clearances and the related Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements. Why Maintain Proper Clearances? Simply put, businesses must maintain proper clearances around electrical panels to promote ease of access during service, repair and operational procedures. The ... [...]

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Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tracks and shares its most frequently cited standards. OSHA hopes that by releasing this enforcement data, businesses will take steps to identify and address potential safety issues. For the 2019 fiscal year, the 10 most frequently cited standards from 2018 all remained on the list, although their order changed slightly. The following list includes more information on the most common citations during the 2019 fiscal year. Top 10 OSHA Violations 1. Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) Fall protection topped the list of most frequently cited OSHA standards for the ninth consecutive year. Falls from ladders, roofs and other heights continue to be the leading cause of injuries at work, so identifying fall hazards and making sure that you are doing everything in your power to protect your workers should be a top priority. Some safety precautions that you should always consider implementing include guardrails, s ... [...]

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It’s no secret that your technology company depends on the capabilities of your computer systems to function. You should be aware that simple actions your employees take could be putting your company’s equipment and networks at risk of cyber crime, including cyber attacks, cyber theft and other computer security incidents. The average cost of a single cyber attack is incalculable—cyber attacks can directly target finances and ruin a business’ reputation. Your business is at stake, and you should do everything you can to protect yourself. The Risks of Web Searches As an employer, you should educate your employees about searching for certain topics on the internet due to the risk of coming across websites encrypted with viruses or malware that could be detrimental to your computer systems. Stress that the potential for cybercrime could affect employees individually as well as the business as a whole. More than 90 percent of companies surveyed by the DOJ incurred ... [...]

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