MEMIC Safety Experts

In 2020, Fall protection was once again, number one of OSHA's Top Ten most frequently cited standards. On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Steve Badger, CSP, OHST, and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC breaks down OSHA's Top 10 and how it can be used as a tool for continuous improvement of your safety program.   Peter Koch: [00:00:03] Hello, listeners, and welcome to the MEM...

According to the Pew Research Center , during July 4 and 5 more than 90,000 people visit hospital emergency rooms for treatment of injuries sustained during the holiday. This episode will cover safety issues that are not just workplace related, and explore the Top 5 injury causes that center around the 4th of July holiday, as well as share some tips on how to not become a statistic this summer. Pe...

Heat stress is no joke.  Exposure to excessive heat and working in hot environments can cause Heat Exhaustion, Heat Cramps, and even Heat Stroke. The stress that heat puts on the body can be deadly if not identified and addressed.  On this episode, Thomas Bernard, PhD, CIH, CSP, and PE talks about heat stress, its effect on the body and how to prevent it.  Tom is a professor at the University of S...

In 2018, BLS data shows hand, wrist, and finger injuries comprise more than 43% of all upper extremity injuries that caused days away from work.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Al Brown, MEMIC's Director of Ergonomics takes a look hand injuries causes and some strategies for prevention including MEMIC's E-Ergo™️️ tool, use of gloves, and tool and workplace design.   Peter Koc...

Workers today face many physical challenges, from a demanding pace to heavy loads and static postures.  While the demands may not be at the same level as a professional athlete, a certain level of fitness and preparation is necessary for any worker to stay healthy or recover if an injury does occur.  Athletes at all levels benefit from functional movement training and proactive prevention that com...

In 2019 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 190,000 slip and fall events that resulted in time away from work.  60% of those were falls on the same surface.  Any surface is the interface with our shoes and together they provide stability for our base of support while moving. The surface composition and condition are key to the efficiency of our movements.    A stable surface compati...

Falls in the workplace are one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities.  Citations around the OSHA standards for fall protection have made the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards for the last decade. Fall hazard exposures exist in almost every industry and finding the right fall protection solution for your situation is not always easy.  There are many factors that should...

Most of us want to be excellent drivers.  But being one is not as easy or as common as you would think.  Stats from 2019 and 2020 show more than a 20% increase in driving related fatalities, the highest it's been in more than 10 years.  Many of those fatal accidents are caused by a momentary or possibly habitual lack of attention to the roadway environment.  What is driving us to distraction when...

Workplace injuries have been around as long as humans have been at work.  Prior to 1970 and the promulgation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act there had never been a baseline for workplace safety in the United States.  Beginning in 1971, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA has been a key partner with business and employees for workplace safety.  Health and Safety Stan...

Safety integration is a term tossed around in most industries.  But not all companies have it wired.  Integrating safety is not just making safety THE priority, but by recognizing it as "a living breathing thing".  Something that you need to feed and care for as your business changes, as exposures change, and as your employee team shifts. On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I spea...

When something goes wrong in the workplace, who is responsible for the safety of the worker?    Safety should be the priority, right?  Who's priority?  What level of priority?  Should it be a higher priority for the manager or supervisor than the employee?  Some have the opinion, that safety should not a priority at all, profit is what should drive a business.  Many say, safety should be first, it...

Data is a big part of how we make decisions.  As a safety professional, I know that understanding the data can make the difference between suggesting a possible control and implementing the right solution.  Finding the right data or conducting the right research also in the outcome. On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Luis Pieretti, Manager of Industrial Hygiene here...

Studies show that our work has shifted from a 50/50 balance between sedentary and active work to 80% sedentary and 20% active.  Overall that shift has led to a negative effect on our general health and in particular, our knees.  Our knees can play a big part in workplace safety as they form a critical link in our kinetic chain, connecting us to the ground and allowing freedom to move.  They can be...

"There are no bad teams only bad leaders." This is a quote from Leif Babin in chapter 2 of the book, "Extreme Ownership, How Navy Seals Lead and Win".  This gets to the heart of Ownership as a leader.  Success for a team, no matter how large or small, will rise and fall on how well a leader own's the mission, decisions, and outcome for their team.   On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podc...

Festivities during the holiday time tend to increase the number of hazards we are exposed to.  We set up decorations, hang lights, bake, depending on the industry, put in more hours at work, and overall burn the candle at both ends just to get it all done so we can relax and ring in the new year. Couple that with cold weather, the season of getting new toys for the holidays or sales between Thanks...

There are multiple risk factors associated with shoulder injury including repetitive work, elevated arm posture, and constrained work spaces.  If you don't think it's a problem, think again.  According to a new study published in Human Factors, shoulder injuries cost industry in western countries $29 Billion dollars a year.  Not only is shoulder injury prevention a smart safety practice, but it's...

Ever been right in your head, but wrong out loud because everyone else seemed to think it wasn't a good idea?  In 1977, Jerry B. Harvey, professor of management science at George Washington University, outlines the Abilene Paradox which describes how the inability to properly manage agreement can be an indication of dysfunction within an organization.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts P...

Slip and fall injuries always increase in the fall and the winter months.  Especially during those weather days when there are rapid or significant temperature changes.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, we have another installment of our Fractional Safety Series where we take a quick, but detailed look at a narrow topic.  The focus today is on how temperature affects surface co...

The road to becoming a safety professional can take many directions.  Certifications like CSP, ASP, or OHST, experience in a particular field, or assumed responsibilities on a job can all lead to a career as a safety professional.  Knowing that you have a group to help you sort our choices can be a powerful boost.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Alexis Flink, outgoing Preside...

The overall health of a person can have a significant effect on their ability to work safely and produce a quality product in a timely manner.  Many of our migrant and seasonal farm workers bring with them similar baseline health issues as their local counterparts.  Combine this with language, cultural, and transportation barriers you have a particularly challenging problem.  Enter the Maine Mobil...

Opioid addiction and use in the workplace have been on the rise in the US.  Employers should have a solid opioid prevention and response plan in place if their circumstances warrants.   On this Episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I talk with Shelby Pedersen, Licensed Athletic Trainer, ASP, and Safety Management Consultant with the MEMIC Group about the effects of opioids in the workplace...

According to a 2018 research paper published in Sage Journal's Workplace Health and Safety, citing numbers from NIOSH, the number of individuals aged 65 and older is projected to double by 2030, hitting 20% of the total US population. And the US Census Bureau projects that older adults (65 and older) will out-number children (18 and younger) by 2034. Americans are staying at work longer than in an...

Indoor air quality can make or break a workplace. Understanding some basic concepts around air movement,  ventilation system, off gassing, and fresh air vs re-circulation can help you identify potential problem areas in your facility. On this Episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I talk with Luis Pieretti, phD and Manager of Industrial Hygiene here at MEMIC.  Together we will dig into indoo...

Commercial Kitchen, Kitchens, Restaurant, hospitality, safety, HACCP, Hazards Analysis Critical Control Points, equipment safety, burns, cuts, material handling, Fryer, Slicer, Mixers, Slicers, and Fryers!!  Oh My!!  Inside the commercial kitchen lurks a myriad of hazards that workers can be exposed to.  Trouble is, some aren't always a hazard, some aren't always visible, and many are so common we...

Chainsaw safety is more than just a pair of chaps and safety glasses. The PPE is only there to help reduce the effect of the mistake you make. To be a competent sawyer or to consistently use a chainsaw safely takes knowledge of the tool, the tree, and the environment.  These combined with good body position, control of the saw, and saw maintenance can delver quality and productivity when you are w...