Workers/Safety/OSHA:


  Don’t let Your Grinder Bite the Hand that Feeds It - Reducing hazards that accompany pallet grinding is a manageable task. Learn to identify hazards unique to your company’s pallet grinders and reduce the risks employees face.  (9/1/2009)

  Firestorm: Fire Marshals Clarify Wood Pallet Concerns - Pallets & Warehouse Fire Safety: Controversy over composite pallets in warehouses erupts; overview of the issue as well as next steps for the industry.  (4/1/2009)

  Protecting Workers in Cold Environments - Winter Weather: Keep your workers warm this winter using these cold weather safety tips.  (12/1/2008)

  Tips to Comply with OSHA’S Safety Gear Payment Rule - Worker Safety: Personal protective equipment required under OSHA standards usually must be provided free for employees; a critical first step in compliance is to conduct a hazard assessment.  (10/1/2008)

  Wage Changes in the Pallet Industry - Wage Changes in the Pallet Industry: A new human resource survey for 2008 in the pallet industry was just completed; one question on wages is presented here.  (10/1/2008)

  Combustible Dust Becomes National Target - Wood Dust Target: OSHA targets combustible wood dust after a refinery accident; learn what you need to do to mitigate your exposure to this risk.  (8/1/2008)

  Forklift Safety: Protect Visitors to Your Plant - With visiting pedestrians at your location, educating them is not practical. Warning them is an improvement but is only minimally effective. You need to find ways to control or eliminate the risk to them.   (3/1/2008)

  Anthony Forest Products Saves Big $$ With Safety Initiative: Learn How You Can Reduce Insurance Premiums - Safety Pays: Anthony Forest Products participates in a federal workplace safety program that improved safety and enabled the company to reduce insurance premiums by about two-thirds.  (11/1/2007)

  OSHA Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment: Are Your Employees Wearing The Right Stuff? - Work Safely: Personal protective equipment is required for many functions in pallet and lumber operations. What you don’t know could cost you big time in terms of lost production or fines. Use these tips to ensure compliance and improve safety conditions at your facility.  (10/1/2007)

  Forklift Safety: Conduct Pre-Shift Safety Inspections - One of the most challenging issues regarding forklift safety is dealing with pre-shift safe operation inspections. Contrary to popular belief, OSHA does not require these checks to be made in writing.  (9/1/2007)

  Forklift Safety: Drivers Must Qualify for the Application - There is no ‘instant’ forklift operator, no matter how badly the production department would like to have him up and running. And rushing the training process can spell disaster for the operator or a co-worker.  (6/1/2007)

  First Aid Training And Supplies Are An Important Part of Safety Program - Emergency Response: Learn basics of how to respond to a workplace emergency. OSHA expects businesses to plan for incidents and prepare employees so that they can aid a stricken co-worker.   (6/1/2007)

  Betting on Safety: Escalating Costs Forced California Pallet Company to Take Riskier Insurance, Institute New Safety Initiatives - Betting on Safety: Faced with rising costs for workers compensation insurance, Commercial Lumber & Pallet changes its approach to insurance and ramps up safety efforts.  (11/1/2006)

  Forklift Safety: Pedestrians Need Training, Too - Pedestrians are involved in up to 40% of all forklift accidents, many of which involve very serious or even fatal injuries.   (9/1/2006)

  HOLA AMIGOS! How to Manage the New Hispanic Workers - Managing New Hispanic Workers: Phillip Perry’s suggestions on managing Hispanic workers is timely information for pallet plants and sawmills.  (6/1/2006)

  OSHA Enforcement Director Discusses the Realities of Inspections - OSHA Inspections: How can you survive an OSHA inspection? Knowing what they will look for and being in compliance with federal safety regulations is the key.  (6/1/2006)

  Lockout/Tagout Law Basics: NY Recycler Fights Fines - Safety on the Job: Lock-out and tag-out procedures are fundamental to helping ensure safety in industrial plants; a look at how these procedures can help keep employees working safely.  (4/1/2006)

  Learning Cultural, Language Differences Helps Managing Hispanic Workforce - Working with Hispanics: Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries bring their unique ways of life; understanding basic differences in language and culture can help in managing Hispanic workers.  (4/1/2006)

  Forklift Safety: Is Your Trainer Really Qualified? - When you are driving down the road and a large truck comes up behind your car, it is comforting to know the truck driver has the necessary skills to operate his vehicle, and that the people who qualified him took that job very seriously before issuing the license.  (12/1/2005)

  Forklift Safety: Material Handling Hazards in the Workplace - Even with good training, how safe can a workplace be if serious material handling hazards are present and not addressed?  (9/1/2005)

  Forklift Safety Taking Training Seriously - Even with recent updates to training requirements across the world, I still question whether those charged with training forklift operators really take the job as seriously as they should. Periodically, I audit other training programs and see people with little or no forklift experience successfully completing programs and being turned loose to operate a forklift with no supervision. Many times the driving test amounts to no more than moving some empty pallets around in a parking lot or weaving through a course at a forklift dealership. Most written tests consist of 15 or less questions that the average 10-year-old could easily pass.   (6/1/2005)

  Transitional Duty Helps Control Workers’ Comp Insurance Costs -   (5/2/2005)

  Safety Pays at Pallet Manufacturing Plant Operated by Sheltered Workshop - Mid-Valley Wood Products Eyes 12 Years Without Time Loss Accident  (4/1/2005)

  Control Losses Is Key to Control Worker’s Compensation Rates - Insurance Column  (2/7/2005)

  Health Savings Accounts May Help Tame the Health Insurance Monster - Highlights from 2004 Articles  (1/3/2005)

  Understanding, Managing Hispanic Workers Goes Beyond Language Barrier - Highlights from 2004 Articles  (1/3/2005)

  Keep Four Habits, Follow Safety Rules When Using Power Fasteners - Trade Association Recommends Safety Measures for Pneumatic Fastening Tools  (11/8/2004)

  NWPCA Develops Workplace Safety Alliance with U.S. Government - Cooperative Effort Seeks to Develop Guidelines to Improve Employee Safeguards  (8/1/2004)

  Trade Group Stresses Four Work Habits for Safety When Using Power Fasteners - The International Staple, Nail and Tool Association (ISANTA) recommends a number of safety measures related to safe use and operation of pneumatic fastening tools.  (11/3/2003)

  OSHA Inspectors Must Follow Own Regs When It Comes to Bandsaws - Citations Must Reference Federal Standard  (8/1/2003)

  Careful Planning, Preventive Steps Can Reduce Fire Risk - This is the second article of a two-part series on fire and fire safety. Gordon outlines what you can do to help prevent fire from breaking out in your plant.   (7/1/2003)

  Escalating Worker''s Compensation Insurance Rates Can Be Reined In - High insurance rates are affecting everyone, the Enterprise looks at what you can do to lower your costs.  (6/2/2003)

  Standard Urges Safety Messages, Symbols on Power Nailing Tools - Trade association representing manufacturers of nailing tools and fasteners revises safety standard, recommending safety messages and symbols to be included on tools.   (6/1/2003)

  Blazes Strike Even Plants That Are Careful About Fire Safety - Not all fires are preventable, but planning for safety can help reduce risk. Learn from other plants that have had to deal with life after a fire.  (6/1/2003)

  Clearing the Air on Wood Dust - Government declares wood dust a carcinogen; classification impacts MSDS paperwork  (3/1/2003)

  Labor—A Major Problem for Pallet Companies - Survey Provides Some Insights  (2/1/2002)

  Going Up In Smoke - The Impact Pallets Can Have On A Warehouse Fire  (10/1/2001)

  New Year's Resolutions For The Pallet Manufacturer - Eye on Safety: New Year's Resolutions for the Pallet Manufacturer - Deal Constructively with Winter's Burdens  (12/1/1999)

  Recognizing, Appreciating Workers Will Help to Keep Them Motivated - Keeping employees motivated  (10/1/1999)

  Answer These Questions Candidly for New 'Road Map' to Effective Safety Program - Eye on Safety by Donald R. Rung  (10/1/1999)

  On-Site, In-Service Training Favored For Meeting New OSHA Regulations - Response to Regs: Pallet businesses plan to turn to on-site or in-service training to meet new federal regulations mandating new forklift operator training.  (7/1/1999)

  New OSHA Regs Specify Forklift Training Measures - Eye on Safety: New OSHA regulations spell out in greater detail what training is required for forklift operators.  (4/1/1999)