On January 26, 2023, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an expansion of how they apply citations for serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).  The goal of this new guidance, which takes effect on March 27, is to increase enforcement and strengthen compliance to help prevent workplace…

Deadlines…. Distractions…. Fatigue….. workers not aware of their surroundings, especially in a setting where machinery is used is extremely dangerous and puts themselves and their teammates at risk.  Situational awareness in a work setting is critical as one mistake can lead to serious injury or even death. Many workplaces improve situational awareness through the implementation…

Safety culture is the collection of beliefs and values that employees share in relation to the risks present within the workplace. A strong safety culture is promoted by management and empowers individuals to take ownership of their well-being and have important conversations related to hazards shared across the workplace. Workplace disasters are commonly tied to…

What is an Arc Flash? NFPA 70E defines an arc flash as the sudden release of unexpected heat and light energy produced by electricity passing through the air, similar to lightning.  Simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized the Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention (SCCAP) rule, which amends its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases at chemical facilities and improve emergency response activities if/when those releases occur.  This provides additional protection to those living near facilities with high…

Brian Dunagan, Managing Consultant and Chief Investigator at IFO Group was recently featured on the Dust Safety Science podcast to discuss his experience with combustible dust investigations.  Brian is a certified fire and explosion Investigator and a certified fire investigator instructor who has led and managed multiple, extremely large-loss process safety incidents investigations. During this interview, he answers…

Did you know that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has more than 100 standards that contain training requirements? Quality safety and health training is an important element of a workplace safety program as it helps prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. Effective training also encourages workers through educating and empowering to advocate for safer…

We are often called to assist after a catastrophic accident, especially those involving a fire, explosion, structural collapse, toxic chemical release, pipeline failure, occupational fatality and/or major injury. These types of incidents trigger immediate cascading consequences including intense regulatory and media scrutiny, notifications to insurers, and the involvement of numerous affected stakeholders.  All of this…

In light of recent “active shooter” incidents occurring around the country, employers need to strongly consider improving their planning and preparation for an active shooter or other violent incidents in their workplaces.  For many organizations, workplace violence planning starts and stops with telling their employees to dial 911 and let law enforcement deal with any incidents.   Unfortunately,…

As consultants, we are frequently asked to conduct a variety of third-party audits ranging in scope from corporate management systems to process safety management compliance and an incredible diversity of topics in between.   A question that we are frequently asked is: Why should we invest time and financial resources into third party auditing?  Some typical…