Here at Circle Safety & Health, we share in the sadness of John Meola passing away. He was a great man, whose affable nature and exceptional dedication to safety was noted throughout the community. In remembrance of him, we wish to share these kind words from our local chapter of ASSP. From the American Society… [Read More]
News
Rise in Trench-Related Fatalities
August 17, 2022 By
Only six months into the year, 2022 has seen a 68% increase from 2021’s trench-related fatalities. In response to this increase, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released new enforcement initiatives to prevent incidents. Penalties for trenching- and excavation-related incidents will be evaluated and, in some cases, include criminal… [Read More]
National Safety Stand-Down (Construction Falls)
April 10, 2022 By
Did you know that 7 million U.S. construction workers visit job sites each day? While safety protocols and procedures have improved across nearly every category, construction workers still face many risks on a day-to-day basis. Check out this great new Safety Guide from the Lanier Law Firm for more info and tips on keeping construction… [Read More]
Executive Directive 18
August 31, 2021 By
On September 1, 2021, Executive Directive 18 (ED 180) will take effect. Due to the growing threat from the highly contagious Delta variant, Governor Northam issued ED 18 to help protect Virginia’s workforce. ED 18 addresses disclosure of vaccination status, testing, and masking. These directives are directly applicable for state employees, and your organization could… [Read More]
What is Safety Leadership for Supervisors Training?
August 25, 2021 By
Safety leadership is the process of defining an organization’s desired safety values and creating a team that can effectively implement those values. It also includes a range of specific efforts intended to engage employees in maintaining the behaviors needed to reach the organization’s safety goals. Safety leadership training is an essential component of an… [Read More]
How Rivanna Authorities Implemented Affordable Engineering Controls That Improved Worker Safety and Eliminated Enrollment in a Costly OSHA Program
February 12, 2021 By
Rivanna Authorities handles the water, sewer, and solid waste management for the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Project Highlights Client: Rivanna Authorities Application: The client needed help getting in compliance with the OSHA Hearing Conservation Program (HCP). Challenge: Full implementation of such a program is an annual expenditure that can be quite costly, challenging… [Read More]
Changes to Inspection Practices for Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
January 4, 2021 By
The U.S. Department of Labor is updating their practices for inspections of workplace injuries and illnesses. The Site-Specific Targeting Directive will now look at the employer-submitted Form 300A for the three previous years. Reviewing data collected over three years can help identify patterns that lead to illness and injuries. These changes can also allow for… [Read More]
Remembering Dr. Jan Thomas, CSP
August 20, 2020 By
It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Dr. Jan Thomas, CSP, a long-time friend and business associate on the weekend of August 14, 2020. Her sudden passing has been a shock to me and all who knew her. The first time I met Jan, she was a Virginia OSHA inspector inspecting… [Read More]
Statewide Emergency Workplace Safety Standards
July 27, 2020 By
The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board held a series of emergency meetings to create a Statewide Emergency Workplace Safety Standards. Circle Safety’s Managing Director Anna Jolly is a board member and helped develop these guidelines for safer workplaces. These measures have been adopted by Governor Ralph Northam and can found on the Department of… [Read More]
Amy Daniell, CIH Interviewed for Article on Restaurant PPE
May 28, 2020 By
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every industry faces questions regarding the safety of their workers, clients, and community. One of the most affected industries is restaurants. Caroline Hatchett, a restaurant industry writer, recently interviewed Circle Safety and Health Consultant’s Senior Occupational Safety and Health Consultant Amy Daniell, CIH for an article on PPE as restaurants… [Read More]
Surface Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
May 19, 2020 By
Recently published studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) may remain viable on different surfaces for up to 72 hours. This emphasizes the need for companies to ramp up their cleaning and disinfecting protocol to minimize the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak at their facility. Cleaning… [Read More]
AIHA’s Back to Work Safety Initiative
May 15, 2020 By
The AIHA’s Back to Work Safety initiative offers education and guidance for numerous business sectors to safely re-open. These efforts have been recognized by the CDC and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR, Washington Examiner, and CNBC, among others. The AIHA’s COVID-19 Re-Open America Guidelines Task Force has developed documents for the… [Read More]
Reopening of Restaurants During COVID-19
May 13, 2020 By
Tired of carry out? Cold food? Eating at home…again? Everyone wants our restaurants to reopen so that they can support the local economy by enjoying a meal outside the home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this must be accomplished carefully to minimize the health risks to restaurant workers and customers. The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)… [Read More]
Order your company’s COVID-19 written program today!
April 1, 2020 By
Contact Bob Thompson at 804-355-7255 or bob@circlesafety.com for additional details.
Respiratory Protection Training and Qualitative Fit Tests
March 17, 2020 By
“If you use a respirator at work, you must be trained at least every 12 months. This annual retraining will refresh your memory on the information and skills you need to use a respirator correctly. It gives you a chance to practice with a respirator and to ask questions and discuss worksite-specific respirator use with… [Read More]
Top Ten Violations for 2019
November 11, 2019 By
Every year, OSHA publishes a list of its top ten most frequently cited standard violations. Even though these numbers only reflect the violations as of August 15th this year, there have already been over 245 respiratory protection violations and 140 PPE violations per month in 2019. Most companies think that they have sufficient safety practice;… [Read More]
Interview with Anna Jolly, JD, CHMM
July 30, 2019 By
Photo of Anna’s father John Jolly’s work badge. Interview conducted by Pauline Kerwath How did you get started in occupational safety & health? Why did you decide to pursue a career in it? A billion years ago my undergraduate degree was in environmental health, and we did a class in Industrial Hygiene, which was pretty cool. Then… [Read More]
What Is Hazard Communication Training?
January 28, 2019 By
Hazard communication training is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). This standard has been in effect since 1994 and specifies the management of hazardous materials on a work site, including their identification, labeling, handling, use, and disposal. In 2012, this standard was updated to integrate international requirements found… [Read More]
What is Fall Protection Safety Training?
December 17, 2018 By
Falling is a major occupational hazard in many industries, especially construction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates worker safety in the United States, including regulations that specifically address falling. Many vendors also offer safety training in fall protection that follows OSHA guidelines, including basic and advanced courses. This training provides multiple benefits for… [Read More]
Fact Sheet on VOSH Penalties for State and Local Government Employers
December 3, 2018 By
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOU) operates the Virginia State Plan for Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). VOSH has exclusive jurisdiction over private… [Read More]
What is Electrical Safety Training?
November 19, 2018 By
What is Electrical Safety Training? Electricity is one of the most serious workplace hazards because falls can cause injuries in a variety of ways, including electrocution, burns, explosions, and fires. Workers safety with the handling of electricity requires workers to understand how it works and how to direct it. They must also understand the hazards… [Read More]
How Much Does OSHA Training Typically Cost?
March 23, 2018 By
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the Department of Labor. It was created in 1971 due to the Occupational Safety and Health Act signed by President Richard Nixon. OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by enforcing standards and providing training. OSHA also enforces a variety of… [Read More]
New OSHA Electronic Record Keeping Requirements Are In Effect
January 18, 2018 By
With December 15, 2017 just passing on the calendar the new The Occupational Safety and Health Administration electronic record keeping requirements are now in effect. Most employers are already required to log and post injuries and illnesses on OSHA Injury and Illness (300) forms. Now they are also required to upload this information electronically to… [Read More]
How Does Your Safety & Health Management System Measure Up?
November 16, 2017 By
The need for written safety programs has been identified since OSHA began in 1970, but over the years this need has gradually become much more formalized. Many OSHA Standards do require the development and implementation of written programs for specific topics, but a fully written and implemented Occupational Safety and Health Management Program is not… [Read More]
Virginia Governor McAuliffe Appoints Anna Jolly To Administration
November 11, 2017 By
Current Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, recently announced appointments to his administration including Secretariat of the Commonwealth – Safety and Health Codes Board. Governor McAuliffe appointmented Anna Jolly from Circle Safety and Health Consultants and Courtney M. Malveaux, Esq. to the board in order to focus on guiding the Virginia economy and creating more jobs across… [Read More]
Is Your Team Ready For OSHA’s Electronic Filing Deadline?
November 8, 2017 By
If you haven’t already heard, several industries including construction, manufacturing and building materials must submit their 2016 injury and illness data from OSHA Form 300A by Dec. 1. Read the details in this article from ConstructionDive.com. Not sure if your organization is OSHA compliant or following all the regulations? Get in touch with Circle Safety… [Read More]
Anna Jolly Recognized by VOSH
October 30, 2017 By
Congratulations to Anna Jolly who was recently recognized for her service to VOSH and the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry. Anna was one of two individuals recognized for volunteering or dedicating time to all of the 22 VOSH Conferences.
Chemical Exposure And Management Worries Workers
September 25, 2017 By
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) recently released their first-ever State of the EH&S Industry report. Survey results showed a significant number of concerns regarding exposure and management of chemicals. Those whose provided additional details cited their top concern was exposure, followed by ergonomic stressors, chemical management, air quality and a variety of other hazards…. [Read More]
Are You Prepared For New Crystalline Silica Standards in Virginia?
August 16, 2017 By
What Is Silica? Silica occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, most often in the form of Quartz, and is present in sand, rocks and stones, bricks and concrete. Materials that contain silica are often found on construction sites or used in the construction process. On their own the materials are not dangerous or hazardous… [Read More]
New VOSH Penalty Increases As of July 1, 2017
August 4, 2017 By
As of July 1, 2017 Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) implemented an increase in maximum penalties by more than 78%. The changes were implemented as part of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act which mandates agencies, such as OSHA, adjust their penalties. Of course no company wants an OSHA penalty but now more… [Read More]
Can Safety Staffing Deliver Better Talent?
July 16, 2017 By
Have you been wondering if utilizing professional occupational health and safety staffing save your organization money? Can it bring more qualified talent to your business than you could identify and hire on your own? The answer to the two questions is a resounding yes. How can utilizing safety staffing deliver more qualified talent? Speaking in general terms,… [Read More]
Why Is An ABIH Certification Important?
June 24, 2017 By
The goal of industrial hygiene (also known as occupational hygiene) is to protect the health and safety of people in the workplace and the community – which is no small task. An industrial hygienist performs and manages services including: Evaluating your workplace and surrounding community for chemical, physical and biological hazards Developing recommendations and a… [Read More]
New Construction Standards for Crystalline Silica in Virginia
June 15, 2017 By
The Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has announced new construction standards for Crystalline Silica scheduled to take effect in Virginia June 23, 2017. Circle Safety and Health Consultants can help your organization understand these new regulations and implement a training program to ensure compliance. Learn more about the new Crystalline Silica Standards… [Read More]
Get The Facts on Falls
May 9, 2017 By
This week begins OSHA’s 4th annual National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down initiative to raise awareness and help prevent falls in the construction industry. The week long initiative encourages employers and workers to discuss common fall hazards, safety measures and how to prevent falls from from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. OSHA provides a variety of educational… [Read More]
The Difference Between Safety Culture and Safety Climate
March 7, 2017 By
The difference between safety culture and safety climate: A glimpse beneath the surface of your operation. The first time the term safety culture appeared it was in a report written by the International Atomic Energy Agency following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The term was used to collectively describe the catastrophic failures in company-wide attitudes… [Read More]
What Is Industrial Hygiene?
January 10, 2017 By
Industrial Hygiene refers to the practice of evaluating a work environment to anticipate and prevent factors that could cause sickness, stress or negatively impact an employees health and well being. Industrial Hygienists, like those at Circle Safety & Health Consultants, will analyze exposure levels, worker’s tasks and where they are performed to identify potential risks… [Read More]
Workplace Safety Culture: Why It Matters
December 12, 2016 By
Creating a positive workplace culture can have a big impact on your business. Reports indicate companies with happy employees outperform their competition by as much as 20%. Happy employees are also more productive and likely to help a company reach their strategic goals. But safety culture is just as important to creating a happy, healthy work… [Read More]
