The Synergist

Protecting Wildland Firefighters in an Extreme Environment

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in the United States, but in many areas, our cumulative risk management choices over the last century have contributed to crisis conditions that make fires more severe and far-reaching. On the front lines of wildfire response are wildland firefighters, who do arduous work under difficult conditions, frequently in remote locations.

A Model for Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposures at Construction Work Sites

Construction companies are primarily small businesses, and many do not have access to occupational hygiene data or expertise. The Silica Control Tool, developed by the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance, uses a database of respirable crystalline silica exposure measurements from construction work sites to help employers generate RCS exposure estimates for their work activities and environments.

Exploring the Complexities of OSHA Recordkeeping and Workers’ Compensation

OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements and workers’ compensation involve two distinct bodies of laws and regulations. Recordable injuries or illnesses are those that employers are legally required to document via OSHA forms 300, 300A, and 301. For most employers, workers’ compensation is regulated by state law. An injury or illness may be OSHA recordable but not be accepted as compensable.

How to Consider Differences in Risk Perception

Have you ever had a conversation with a worker who didn’t want to wear their personal protective equipment? How about someone who was panicking due to an odor in the workplace, even after you demonstrated extremely low levels of exposure? The disconnect between your perspective and the worker’s can be viewed through the framework of risk perception.

Numbers Reveal the Workplace Experiences of Women and Minority Groups

Although significant progress has been made in diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is still a long way to go before these won’t be goals to be met but achievements to celebrate. In addition to the gap in demographic representation, there is another gap between the average salaries and wages paid to employees of different genders, races, and ethnicities.

What to Include in Your IH Field Sampling Kit

Being prepared to collect data is vital. The better prepared an IH is, the more thorough an evaluation they can make. A more thorough evaluation yields a better assessment so the workers they protect will go home to their loved ones each day healthier and happier.