Top Safety News, April 2016 - Guidance for workers recovering from workplace injuries - 2015 was safest year ever for U.S. mine operations - Opioid painkiller abuse affects 80% of Indiana workplaces - Major OSHA fines topped $1.8 million in March - 2,600+ new signs and labels at ComplianceSigns.com

1. View in a Browser | Visit ComplianceSigns.com | Connection Blog | Subscription Options
Top Safety News for , April 2016
• Guidance for workers recovering from workplace injuries
• 2015 was safest year ever for U.S. mine operations
• Opioid painkiller abuse affects 80% of Indiana workplaces
• Major OSHA fines topped $1.8 million in March
• 2,600+ new signs and labels at ComplianceSigns.com
Free Resources:
National Safety Stand-Down May 2-6
OSHA has designated May 2-6, 2016, for the third annual National Safety Stand-
Down. The event is a nationwide effort to remind and educate employers and
workers in the construction industry of the serious dangers of falls. Employers are
encouraged to pause during the workday for discussions, demonstrations
and training on how to recognize hazards and prevent falls. You can download
free stand-down resources from OSHA.
Browse Fall Protection signs at ComplianceSigns.com.
Recovering from a Workplace Injury
In 2014 there were nearly 3 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses among employees
working in private industry. Over half the cases involved days away from work.
Injured employees face physical, emotional and financial challenges. Here are some
guidelines to help them cover medical bills, establish a recovery routine,
manage finances and get back to work.
Browse Digital Safety Scoreboards at ComplianceSigns.com.
What's New at ComplianceSigns.com
You'll find more than 2,600 new signs and labels at ComplianceSigns.com this month, including:
• Kansas weapons signs
• Texas concealed carry signs
• Portrait-format versions of hundreds of signs
• Carbon dioxide
• Child safety
• Diesel fuel
• Crane safety
• Cylinder safety
• and more
We also make custom signs and labels to meet almost any need.
2015 Safest Year Ever for U.S. Mine Operations
Preliminary data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration shows 2015 was
the safest year in mining history, both in terms of number of deaths and
injury and fatality rates. In 2015, 28 miners died in mining accidents, down
from 45 in 2014. The fatal injury rate (reported injuries per 200,000 hours worked)
was the lowest in mining history at 0.0096, down from 0.0144 in 2014. MSHA
reports an 11 percent reduction in the number of citations and orders issued.
Browse Mine Safety signs and labels.
Major OSHA Fines Top $1.8 Million in March
Federal OSHA investigators issued $1,824,574 in 13 major fines in March. Fall
protection and chemical hazards were among common hazards. Many smaller
citations involved amputations, fall hazards and even vinegar fumes. OSHA also
agreed to $850,000 in two settlements. Top fines included:
• $203,324 for whistleblower violations at a New Jersey bank
First Name
Page 1 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
4/25/2016

2. • $198,550 for repeat fall protection hazards at New Jersey construction
sites
• $193,600 and SVEP following ammonia release at a Kansas candy manufacturer
View Ammonia Safety signs.
Dealing with Opioid Abuse in the Workplace
Prescription painkillers have become a leading cause of drug overdose deaths,
which now exceed car crashes as the leading cause of unintentional death. But
you might be surprised to learn how pervasive opioid prescription use in the
workplace - perhaps even yours. A recent study of 200 Indiana employers
found that prescription drug abuse currently affects 80 percent of
companies. The safety experts at Safety Management Group in Indianapolis
have authored an article that defines the problem, addresses preventive
measures, identifies signs of abuse and offers advice on steps to take if you think
an employee is being impacted by prescription painkillers.
Browse Drug-free Property signs.
April Safety News and Notes
Here's a collection of recent workplace safety news and resources:
GAO Report Highlights Violence in Health Care Settings
A new Government Accountability Office report recommends actions to address
violence directed at health care workers. The GAO found workers in health care
facilities experience substantially higher estimated rates of nonfatal injury due to
workplace violence compared to workers overall. The report "Additional Efforts
Needed to Help Protect Health Care Workers from Workplace Violence" describes
violence as a serious concern for health workers, although the full extent of the
problem is unknown.
New NIOSH Web Resources on Zika
NIOSH recently released an updated mosquito-borne disease topic page that
includes information for workers and employees, including Zika. Currently, no
reported cases of Zika in the United States have been associated with local mosquito transmission, but
there have been travel-associated cases. Local transmission of Zika virus has been reported in three U.S.
territories: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
Older Drivers in the Workplace: How to Help Prevent Crashes
The NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety released a new fact sheet that
provides information on how changes associated with aging may affect older
workers' driving and ability to recover from a crash injury. Older workers bring
extensive skills, knowledge, and experience to their jobs. However, those aged 55 or
older are at a higher risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash at work than are younger
adult workers. Use the provided checklists of action steps and resources to help you,
your co-workers, and your employees continue driving safely.
New Eye and Face Protection Standards Take Effect April 25
OSHA published a final rule that updates requirements for personal protective equipment for workers in
general industry, shipyards, longshoring, marine terminals and construction. The new rule updates
references in OSHA’s Eye and Face Protection Standards to include ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010.
OSHA Quadruples Fine for Failing to Report Employee Injuries
OSHA recently issued new guidance to inspectors that can have a major impact on employers. OSHA
memorandum "Revised Interim Enforcement Procedures for Reporting Requirements under 29 C.F.R.
1904.39" raises the maximum penalty for not reporting fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations and
eye losses from $1,000 to $5,000 - a 400% increase. And area directors still have authority to raise the
penalty to as much as $7,000 if they determine the higher fine is necessary.
Did You Know OSHA Online Reporting is Finally Active?
Although it was delayed several months past the announced start date, OSHA
online reporting is now active to help employers meet the new 8- and 24-hour
reporting requirements for fatalities and severe injuries. Allow about 30 minutes
to report online. Be prepared to supply: business name; names of
employees affected; location and time of the incident; brief description of
the incident; contact person and phone number. A fatality must be reported
Page 2 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
4/25/2016

3. ComplianceSigns CONNECTION
Dave Anderson, Editor
Edit your subscription profile.
To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add
Connection@ComplianceSigns.com to your email address book.
Browse
past issues
in the
Connection
archive
within 8 hours. An in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be
reported within 24 hours.
Upcoming Safety Webinars Presented by OH&S
• April 27 - Protection from the Unexpected - Hidden Dangers for Electric Utility Workers
• May 3 - GHS and the status of the new SDS
• May 4 - Preparing your Organization for Electrical Compliance/NFPA 70E
• May 5 - Construction Safety Mistakes You're Probably Making and How to Avoid Them
• May 12 - Enhance Your Safety Culture From the Inside Out
SAFETY TIP:
Protect Workers from Mosquito-borne Diseases
Warm summer weather - and mosquitoes - are just around the corner in much of
the U.S. Many areas have recently experienced flooding that may bring bumper
crops of the pesky pests. NIOSH offers some tips to help keep outdoor
workers safe from mosquito-borne illnesses. Tips include:
• Train employees about: the risk of exposure to mosquitoes; how they
can protect themselves from mosquito bites; symptoms of diseases
spread by mosquitoes
• Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing
Browse more safety tips at the ComplianceSigns resource hub.
Customer Comments
Here's what customers are saying about ComplianceSigns.com this month:
• Great customer support. Timely delivery and great quality signs. Very happy customer. As a
property management company we will use them often from now on for all of our properties. - A.S.
• Great experience of products, ordering and delivery! I will order again. - G.S.
• They had what I was searching for at a reasonable price. The order arrived in a timely matter
and the customer was pleased with the quality of the product. I'll certainly use them again. - A.T.
• Everything arrived on time. Quality was great as always. - K.G.
Read more ComplianceSigns.com customer reviews.
Top Safety Articles Last Month
These were the most popular articles in last month's Connection:
• Free resources for Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April
• OSHA issues final rule on silica dust
• New OSHA eye and face protection standard
• 5 top workplace tool safety tips
• Heat Index worker safety sign
Follow ComplianceSigns.com on Facebook Twitter or Google +
It's easy to receive and share workplace safety news and updates from your online safety
sign supplier.
• Follow @ComplianceSigns on Twitter
• Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/ComplianceSigns
• Follow us at plus.google.com/+ComplianceSigns
Page 3 of 3ComplianceSigns Connection Newsletter
4/25/2016