☕Trick r' Treat for Safety

Good morning! Welcome to our Halloween edition 🎃 This week we look at the frightening reality that is Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory 🍫We uncover the dangers of those creepy crawlies 🪳And help horror villains with their ergonomics 🔪🩸

THIS WEEK’S TIPS

This week’s safety upgrades:

• Are those new counters really safe?

• NIOSH teams up with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

• New Tick Alert

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This Weeks Professional Development Tip

• 9 Ways to Boss Up and Crush Your Professional Development Goals

Here’s a Halloween Ergonomics Lesson

Ok, that's a joke, but if you really want to learn - check out our Ergonomics Summit, running November 11-15th

Whether looking to improve workplace safety, reduce injury risks, or enhance productivity, Ergo Summit is designed to help professionals like you advance ergonomic practices.

Visit www.ErgoSummit.com to register to help make your organization safer and healthier!

OSHA Meets Willy Wonka 

In a playful twist on workplace safety, re-examined Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory—and let’s just say, Wonka’s factory would be a compliance nightmare! With hazards around every corner, this "world of pure imagination" would likely fail any OSHA inspection. Sure, OSHA didn’t exist in the fictional world of the factory (or even in Germany, where it’s set), but it’s fun to imagine how they’d react to chocolate rivers, shrinking machines, and more.

Enjoy this humorous parody, where all voices are impersonated, and remember: it’s all in good fun! Watch here.

Gamify Your Trainings

Just look at how their eyes light up!

You could be that safety trainer!

Give them something exciting to engage with. We're talking Gamification here people. Imagine turning your training into an engaging game of Family Feud or Jeopardy. Now you can!

Check it out Here: https://oshagames.com/

Are Engineered Stone Countertops Safe? Here’s What’s Happening

You love that sleek kitchen look, but have you ever wondered if those shiny engineered stone countertops are safe? Turns out, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes with serious health concerns around silicosis—a lung disease linked to inhaling tiny dust particles from cutting these countertops. In California alone, over 180 workers have been diagnosed, and some have even died.

But Don’t Worry Just Yet…
Engineered stone companies are scrambling to make things safer. New alternatives with lower levels of crystalline silica (the culprit behind silicosis) are popping up everywhere. In Australia, these new products are kind of a big deal since the country banned traditional engineered stone. Sounds good, right? Well, it’s a start, but experts are still skeptical. Some say these new versions might still carry risks.

So, What Should You Do?
If you’re in construction or thinking of renovating, be cautious. These new “safer” stones are being marketed hard, but make sure the people installing them know what they’re doing. Proper safety measures, like dust control and wet cutting, are non-negotiable. After all, it’s your health at stake.

Quick Hit: New “low-silica” countertops sound promising, but scientists say more testing is needed. Silica-free might not mean risk-free.

Tick Alert: Babesiosis Cases Rising

Babesiosis, often called "American malaria," has been on the rise, increasing by 9% each year over the last seven years. Transmitted by blacklegged ticks, it’s most common in the Northeast and Midwest and can cause flu-like symptoms. The CDC warns that it’s especially dangerous for older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Key Facts:

• Over 3,500 cases from 2015 to 2022

• 42% of infected people also had Lyme disease

Stay Safe:
Wear long sleeves, use repellent, and always check for ticks after outdoor activities.

Boosting Brain Health in the Workplace

NIOSH is teaming up with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and other partners to promote brain health at work. Their new initiative aims to create brain-friendly environments and includes a tool called the Brain Health Best Practice Score. It helps organizations assess their efforts to support workers’ cognitive well-being.

With brain health issues costing $8.5 trillion annually in lost productivity, optimizing brain health isn’t just good for workers—it’s good for business, especially as the workforce ages and mental health concerns grow.

Want to improve brain health at your workplace? Check out NIOSH's new educational guide, Developing a Brain Healthy Workplace.

Overexertion is costing companies $12.49 BILLION each year… 

…and feeding into a much larger problem! That’s why we’ve partnered with 3motionAI to enhance workplace safety with their Risk Flashlight solution. Together, we’re empowering EHS professionals to tackle these costly problems at the root, building a safer, more equitable workplace.

Steps to Take:

1. Learn more about 3motionAI: Read, here

2. Show company leadership how you can protect the bottom line.

3. Earn the respect you deserve by making a real impact.

NEWS
Your Virtual Water Cooler

• More than half of workers worldwide have not received safety training: report

• DOL’s Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health Will Meet on Oct. 30

• A New Partnership Focuses on the Occupational Safety and Health Needs of Lone Workers

• Texas Furniture Maker Faces $257K OSHA Fine

SHARE THE NEWS

Enjoying the newsletter? Share it and earn some free Safety Knight swag. The more referrals you have the more you earn!

All you need is one to start earning.