Imagine that you’re a supervisor at a construction site, in a state where marijuana is legal. As you begin the day, you notice that one of your employees, Mike, doesn’t look like himself. His eyes are red, and he’s moving more slowly than usual. You think he might be under the influence of marijuana. Mike operates heavy machinery, and you’re worried about his and others’ safety. To play it safe, you follow company policy, have Mike get a urine test, and send him home until the test comes back three days later.
Not Just Drugs: Taking a Broader View on Workplace Impairment
Jan 31, 2020 7:00:00 AM / by DEKRA OSR Communications posted in Serious Injury and Fatality, safety, organizational safety, DEKRA, workplace injuries, Opiod Crisis
Only Human: New Neuroscience Uncovers Workplace Hazards
Jan 17, 2020 7:00:00 AM / by DEKRA OSR Communications posted in Making Safe Decisions, safety, DEKRA, Brain-Centric Reliability
Workplace hazards can be obvious as well as hidden, with immediate impact as well as delayed consequences. Workers can slip and fall in an instant or develop lung cancer from asbestos exposure over years. Recent neuroscience research has identified new hazards that come with the limitations of just being human. The way the human brain naturally works doesn’t always mesh well with processes that aren’t designed optimally. Real, identifiable latent conditions, if left uncontrolled, can and do result in injury, illness or organizational accidents.
When Is Taking Initiative Going Too Far?
Dec 20, 2019 9:00:00 AM / by DEKRA OSR Communications posted in Making Safe Decisions, safety, DEKRA, Brain-Centric Reliability
While moving a new car up a ramp onto a payload bed for delivery, something goes wrong. The car starts to roll back down the ramp. Workers nearby run forward and secure it. The program manager presents the workers with awards at the next all-hands meeting for their quick response, preventing the car from possible damage. Does this send the right message? Would they have gotten awards if someone’s hand or foot had been crushed in the process?
Top 10 Safety Topics: See What Your Peers in Safety Have Been Reading
Dec 6, 2019 5:00:00 AM / by DEKRA OSR Communications posted in DEKRA OSR, Making Safe Decisions, Serious Injury and Fatality, safety in action, safety, organizational safety, DEKRA, workplace injuries, Brain-Centric Reliability
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Listen up--before it's too late
Oct 25, 2019 12:01:00 AM / by DEKRA OSR Communications posted in DEKRA OSR, safety, organizational safety, DEKRA, workplace injuries
When we think of workplace injuries, we often think of accidents—unexpected events where someone gets hurt. The danger of workplace hearing loss is that it can be so gradual that we don’t even know it’s happening. While it’s natural to be startled at an abrupt, loud noise, we can learn to ignore more consistent exposure, like a loud work area. Certain solvents and chemicals can also cause or lead to hearing loss. Impaired hearing can lead to reduced awareness, concentration, and fatigue, all of which can lead to greater risk of injury.