An overlooked consequence of employees working from home is you’re still responsible for their safety. Whether they’re newly working from home due to COVID-19 or seasoned telecommuters, you remain responsible for providing a safe workplace. Yet nearly all employers fail to consider employee safety—and their organization’s liability—when employees work from home. Home accidents and hazards […]
Planning
Your legal risks for COVID-19
You’re legally required by federal law to provide employees a workplace that’s “free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm” (OSH Act of 1970, Section (a)(1)). Federal standards and COVID-19If your communicable illness policies and response plan are inadequate, OSHA can cite you for violating this General Duty Clause. […]
Do you make this mistake in emergency planning?
When I enlisted in the U.S. Army, I wasn’t just issued a uniform and weapon then deployed. I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for eight weeks of basic training. In addition to weaponry training, my drill sergeants taught me the absolute need for command, control, communications and movement on the battlefield—just like your […]
Are you really ready for a pandemic?
A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a contagious disease. As of March 3, 2020, The World Health Organization has confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in 49 countries, and 122 countries have not reported any cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 60 cases of COVID-19 in 12 states. It’s tempting to think, […]
In Any Emergency In Your Workplace, You’re On Your Own
It takes up to 13 minutes for emergency services to reach you A pregnant employee falls to the floor, unconscious. The fire alarms go off and you smell smoke. You hear gunshots, then screaming, inside your building. Even if you call 911 immediately, it will take 4 to 13 minutes (possibly longer) before emergency services […]