Health and Safety: Younger People Have More Workplace Injuries

(Note: Studies show that over 50% of the workforce will be under 35 within the next five years.  Evidence that younger workers suffer greater workplace injuries is a significant fact for employers, and they should plan accordingly.  Mary Wright, Editor)

By Bill Hendrick

Younger people in America’s workforce are twice as likely as older workers to suffer an injury on the job that requires treatment in an emergency room, a new CDC report suggests. … Continue Reading

Health & Safety: Practical Preparedness for Workplace Violence, Part 4: Top 10 Action Steps

By Laura Walter

In this final installment in EHS Today’s special workplace violence series, Brent O’Bryan shares 10 action steps employers can take to address workplace violence.

During his presentation at an April 9 workplace violence seminar in Cleveland, Brent O’Bryan, SPHR, vice president of learning and development at Allied Barton Security Services, outlined 10 clear action steps employers can take to address and prevent workplace violence. … Continue Reading

Health & Safety: Practical Preparedness for Workplace Violence, Part 3: When Domestic Violence Becomes Workplace Violence

By Laura Walter

Domestic violence isn’t just a personal problem – it bleeds into the workplace, too. In the third installment of this workplace violence series, a legal expert explains why domestic violence is a threat to the American workplace.

Employers who view domestic violence as a personal problem unrelated to the workplace are dead wrong. In addition to impacting the victim’s productivity, absenteeism, health and emotional well-being, domestic violence can become workplace violence if the abuser seeks out the victim at work. This is a serious workplace safety concern that might be more prevalent than you think. … Continue Reading

Health & Safety: Practical Preparedness for Workplace Violence, Part 2: Disciplinary Mistakes

By Laura Walter

In the second part of this workplace violence series, an expert outlines six common mistakes employers make when disciplining or terminating employees.

If an employee is in any way susceptible to becoming violent in the workplace, a company is never more vulnerable than after this worker has been terminated or disciplined. During an April 9 workplace violence seminar, Brent O’Bryan, SPHR, vice president of learning and development at Allied Barton, outlined the common mistakes employers make when disciplining or terminating employees. … Continue Reading

Health & Safety: Practical Preparedness for Workplace Violence, Part 1: Warning Signs

By Laura Walter

Watch for these warning signs to protect your business from workplace violence.

In an April 9 workplace violence seminar hosted by Allied Barton Security Services in Cleveland, Brent O’Bryan, SPHR, offered an overview of workplace violence categories and potential warning signs. … Continue Reading

Health and Safety: California Bill Battles Workers’ Comp Claims from Athletes

By Insurance Journal

A California legislator has introduced a bill that would address a “loophole” in which pro athletes, mostly National Football League players, are getting workers’ compensation benefits despite having played on teams in other states. … Continue Reading

Health and Safety: Fire if necessary: Complaining about bias doesn’t earn free pass to terrorize co-workers

Don’t let past discrimination complaints by an obviously troubled employee keep you from ensuring workplace safety. Even vague threats can justify firing a potentially dangerous employee. Few judges will see that as retaliation. … Continue Reading

Health and Safety: 4 Ergonomic Tips to Keep Employees and Workers’ Comp Budgets Healthy

Workers’ Comp: NFL Players Challenge Comp Ruling in Federal Court

By Jonny Bonner

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – Dozens of former NFL players claim in court that an arbitration award barring them from seeking workers’ compensation in California “offends” state public policy and ignores Supreme Court precedent. … Continue Reading

Top Five Myths About the Drug-Free Workplace Act

By Kimberlie Ryan, Esq.

Headlines screamed across the country when Colorado became the first state to recognize the Constitutional right to use marijuana for any reason by adults ages 21 and older.

One headline reported a CEO’s panic that “legal pot will make it hard to hire, devastate the economy.”  This CEO claimed that “if you sell to the federal government or state government, you are required to certify that you have a drug-free workplace,” so “if you smoke pot, I still can’t hire you.” … Continue Reading