By Gina Ekstam for AssuredPartners Agricultural workers know all too well the risk of trucks and tractors getting stuck in the mud or snow. Unfortunately, it’s during attempts to dislodge a stuck vehicle that serious injuries occur. Safety training is one of the best ways to avoid an accident. Techniques may vary, but all safe towing practices should consider: Soil condition How deep the truck or tractor is stuck Stuck vehicle weight Towing vehicle weight When a vehicle becomes stuck, it’s important not to rush. Mistakes are more likely to happen when workers hurry to extract the vehicle, increasing the chance of property damage and injury. Instead, assess the following: How stuck is the vehicle, and how much damage may …
PPE Hazard Assessments in Oil & Gas
By Tara Crisp-Schwartz for AssuredPartners A recent injury incident in Midland, Texas, has spotlighted a little-known hazard related to working with sodium hypochlorite, also known as, bleach. An employee, who was performing water treatment duties in conjunction with the water transfer department, violated the standard operating procedure when working with sodium hypochlorite and suffered second and third degrees burn on his backside. The pump that the employee was utilizing to inject the sodium hypochlorite into the water manifold would not prime. The employee deviated from the standard operating procedure and inadvertently broke the line that contained 12.5% sodium hypochlorite. The employee was wearing the required PPE [issued by the employer and recommended on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)]; goggles, face …
Changes Announced by U.S. Department of Labor to OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program
By Tara Crisp for AssuredPartners On September 15th, 2022 the U.S Department of Labor announced changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Severe Violator Enforcement Program. OSHA has changed the requirements for placement into the program in order to strengthen the enforcement while improving compliance. The changes reflect a more serious violation offense for those that show up as repeat offenders and according to OSHA, “focuses on employers who repeatedly disregard workers’ safety, health” (Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], 2022) According to the press release released by OSHA, the program features these updates: Read the program feature updates here>>>
The State of Commercial Insurance
The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB) recently released The State of Commercial Insurance report, in collaboration with EY, one of the largest professional services firms in the world. This report highlights the current pressure points at play in the market as well as premium pricing, economic conditions, and geopolitical risk. The video from Leaders Edge offers a high-level overview, while the full report is also available for a more detailed depiction of the state of the market. Read the full report here>>>