More than a third of workplaces did not submit... Are you on the naughty list?

By the end of 2017, select employers were required to submit 300A forms containing 2016 data. Unfortunately for OSHA, only two-thirds of the anticipated 350,000 submissions were recorded. These organizations are now facing potential scrutiny and fines for these "other-than-serious" citations, and will be conducting inquiries until June 15, 2018.

Did you find yourself on the OSHA target list for not submitting? As a reminder, establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses are required to submit. 

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist

In lean we talk about “seeing the waste” and using visual tools. Many of us that use these terms  have had a lot of training in engineering, manufacturing and other highly technical areas. However, the skills needed to “see” problems may lie more firmly in the study of art.

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist and OSHA Authorized Trainer

UPDATE (12/1/17) – OSHA has extended the deadline to December 15 for electronic reporting of injuries and illnesses.

ATTENTION: The OSHA electronic reporting of injury and illness records has gone into effect!

Certain employers are required to submit information from their completed 2016 Form 300A electronically from July 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017. Establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. Most manufacturers fall into those certain industries.

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist

October is National Fire Prevention Month -- a great time to ensure your workforce is prepared for all types of emergencies. Start by reviewing any emergency procedures and documentation you have for the organization. Are they up-to-date? Do your staff know how to respond in the event of an emergency?

Fire in a business setting can cause an interruption in production, loss of revenue, and even worse, it could put your team at great risk. Understanding a few simple preparedness techniques may save you from a future catastrophe.

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist and TWI Certified Trainer

Training Within Industry (TWI) is a proven job training methodology that has been implemented successfully by companies for decades. Given the challenges of today's skills gap, it is critical to have systematic approaches to train and retrain staff. Yet, we hear plenty of myths about TWI… allow me to help dispel the myths and set you on a path to TWI success.

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist and OSHA Authorized Trainer

Posture, Positioning and People Movement

When we focus our time and efforts on making safety corrections we often focus on machine guarding, lockout/tagout and some of the other programs that require written programs, and regular documented training. However, a good deal of injuries and costs are caused by injuries on walking surfaces or due to ergonomic issues in our work. 

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist and OSHA Authorized Trainer

Falls from heights and from the same level happen at workplaces more often than you might think. Injuries from falls are a leading cause of serious workplace injuries and deaths. OSHA has recently updated their walking-working surfaces and fall protection standards for general industry. Make today the day to consider training so your employees are aware of these workplace hazards.

Written by Mary Hallock - IMEC Manufacturing Specialist

Every day people are busy at work - our minds become cluttered with information from one source or another; some of it's important and some is just noise. Do yourself AND your co-workers a favor and remember these nine simple rules for reducing email waste.

• Rule 1 – Limit “CC’s” to only those that are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Make a rule that employees can choose to BLOCK all CC e-mails.
• Rule 2 – No more than two “cycles” back and forth between correspondents. If the issue is not resolved by that point, USE THE TELEPHONE!

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist 

Continuously improving your company and eliminating waste includes the environmental and energy wastes that are being generated in your facility. Perhaps you should do as one company does and think of it not as waste, but EXCESS. Excess isn't garbage that needs to be thrown away, but extra materials that should be used.

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist 

Small Steps to Save Energy 

The IMEC blog recently posted a report link titled “Energy Efficiency and Cook County Manufacturers." The report, sponsored by the Delta Institute describes energy efficiency recommendations that are commonly recommended to manufacturers and discusses why the most cost effective measures are often NOT implemented.