Author: Paul Bernier

Growing up, I remember climbing ladders all the time, never worrying about safety, and never being told how to use them correctly. I believe this is the case with most people, right?But, in the workplace, ladders are widely considered the MOST dangerous tools we use. In fact, in 2024, ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053) were the #3 most sited OSHA violation. Not only that, but OHSA’s #7 most cited violation is fall protection training, which can be considered ladder safety as well, since ladder use requires training.LADDERS ARE DANGEROUS. VERY!On average in the US, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor…

SIZE MATTERS!      By Paul Bernier, ASP Providing proper PPE (personal protective equipment) to workers has recently become more challenging because of the new OSHA “fit” requirements in place. We are all familiar with approved safety gloves, glasses, hard hats, respirators, etc., but now there is an amendment to the existing PPE standard, effective January 2025, requiring employers to ensure the PPE fits correctly for each employee. WHAT ARE OSHA PPE REQUIREMENTS? 29 CFR 1926.95 explains the responsibilities of employers to provide proper PPE for their workers and who is responsible for paying for the equipment. The standard specifically…

One of the most common injuries on a worker’s body is related to the hand. We use them nonstop in almost every industry, especially ours. From administrative workers to drivers and cylinder fillers, we depend on our hands to get the job done. However, even knowing how important our hands are, they are injured all the time and in situations that can almost always be avoided. In fact, accidents involving hands are the second leading type of injury on the job. Here are some recent statistics: Annually, there are approximately 110,000 lost time cases due to hand injuries. More than…

By Paul Bernier, ASP In 1970, President Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and since then, OSHA has become a main driver in advancing workplace safety in the United States. Before the formation of OSHA, there was very little legislation to protect workers and the workforce was often likened to the “the wild west.” OSHA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of America’s workers. The OSH Act states that workers have the right to a safe and healthy workplace and that it is the employer’s responsibility to provide those working conditions. OSHA has…

In Your Eyes By Paul Bernier, ASP Each day, there are approximately 2,000 worker eye injuries in the U.S., and nearly 20,000 per year that necessitate lost time from work. These injuries cost employers and insurance companies millions of dollars per year. In fact, these injuries cost more than $924 million annually in worker’s compensation, and almost $4 million in wage and productivity losses according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although these losses are expensive, the devastation to the worker can be life-changing. And yet, it is estimated that 90% of these injuries could have been prevented by…

By Paul Bernier, ASP Over the last several years, OSHA has worked to create awareness of the “Fatal 4” to decrease the injuries and deaths caused by the following: Falls Struck-by Electrocution Caught in-between The fatal four account for more than 30% of all workplace fatalities. Approximately 10% of the fatalities are due to flying objects, falling objects, swinging objects, and rolling objects or, more simply put, “struck-by.” “Struck-by hazards” are the number one cause of non-fatal injuries in the workplace. Struck-by hazards also account for almost 10% of fatalities, which is the second leading cause of worker fatalities. Here…

The Right to Know The Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard ranked as the second most frequently cited violation by OSHA in 2023, with a total of 3,213 citations issued to non-compliant workplaces. In the United States, more than 43 million workers are regularly exposed to hazardous materials, contributing to 15% of all workplace injuries and fatalities, according to OSHA reports.  OSHA’s HazCom standard addresses chemical hazards in workplaces and the communication of these hazards to workers. It specifies the responsibility of the chemical manufacturer or importer, as well as employer obligations for implementing the HazCom plan.  Commonly referred to as the…

According to OSHA, the most common work-related injuries are from slips, trips, and falls. Statistics show that more than 25% of all injuries across all industries are caused by slips, trips, and falls. Also, falls are the second leading cause of death across all industries and leading cause of death in construction. In 2020, 805 workers died in falls, while 211,640 were injured badly enough to miss work. Most people assume that deaths from falls only happen from heights. However, in 2020, 136 workers died in falls from the same level. TRIPS: What is the definition of a trip? A…

While construction activity often takes place year-round, it truly ramps up in Spring in the U.S. This is often the time that construction companies outfit their employees with proper PPE and training. According to OSHA, falls are the number one cause of death in construction and almost all of them could be prevented with proper PPE and fall protection training. Did you know that the number one cause of construction injuries is also falls? Again, most can be prevented with the right equipment and training. At General Air, we conduct the required fall training for our customers at no charge.…