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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
FEATURED NEWS
2025-05-20T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsTrainingTrainingSafety & HealthFall ProtectionFall ProtectionMiningSpecialized IndustriesEnglishMine SafetyFocus AreaUSA
Falls from height prompt MSHA safety alert
A number of recent falls from height incidents prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to issue a safety alert advising miners to use fall protection.
The most recent incident occurred on March 13 when a miner fell from the deck of a bulldozer. From 2022 to 2024, seven miners died after falling from heights, and during this same time frame, MSHA issued 767 violations for failure to follow fall protection standards.
Mine operators should develop fall prevention and protection programs and provide adequate training for miners. Mine operators should also:
- Provide and maintain safe access to all working places.
- Use lifts or ladders to access elevated work areas safely.
- Install adequate warning signals and barricades for openings above, below, or near travelways where miners or materials may fall.
- Ensure miners wear slip resistant footwear and use three points of contact when accessing mobile equipment and elevated surfaces.
- Conduct workplace examinations to identify and correct unsafe work conditions.
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RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2025-05-19T05:00:00Z
NewsAlaskaChange NoticesWage and HourChange NoticeAssociate Benefits & CompensationMinimum WageEnglishFocus AreaHuman Resources
Alaska minimum wage increase
Effective date: July 1, 2025
This applies to: Employers with employees in Alaska
Description of change: Alaska’s hourly minimum wage will increase from $11.91 to $13 effective July 1, 2025. This change also affects salaried employees who are exempt from overtime requirements under Alaska Statute 23.10.055(b). The minimum weekly salary for these workers will increase from $952.80 to $1,040.
View related state info:Minimum wage - Alaska
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2025-05-19T05:00:00Z
NewsDistrict of ColumbiaChange NoticesChange NoticeWage and HourAssociate Benefits & CompensationHR GeneralistMinimum WageHR ManagementEnglishFocus AreaHuman Resources
District of Columbia minimum/living wage increase
Effective date: July 1, 2025
This applies to: Employers with employees in D.C.
Description of change: Effective July 1, 2025, the District’s hourly Minimum Wage and Living Wage will increase from $17.50 to $17.95.
View related state info: Minimum wage – District of Columbia
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2025-05-19T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsSafety and Health Programs and TrainingSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyGeneral Industry SafetySafety and Health Programs and TrainingIn-Depth ArticleEnglishFocus AreaUSA
From bites to barks: Fighting plants and animals ‘tooth and nail’ at work
Heat isn’t the only hazard outdoor workers face. As temperatures rise, it’s not uncommon to stumble on harmful plants and animals when toiling on a construction site, maintaining lawns or landscapes, or performing other outdoor tasks.
When assigned at sites with woods, bushes, tall grass, rock piles, wood piles, or leaf litter, workers may risk exposure to poisonous plants, insect bites, venomous snakes, and other hazards. Critters can also lurk in outdoor tanks, electrical boxes, and waste dumps.
What regulations apply?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.21 for construction operations, says: “In job site areas where harmful plants or animals are present, employees who may be exposed shall be instructed regarding the potential hazards, and how to avoid injury, and the first aid procedures to be used in the event of injury.”
Although there’s no similar general industry regulation for outdoor settings, workers should be trained on this recognized, serious hazard, too.
Insects
OSHA has no specific elements that must be covered when training on insect-related hazards. However, you may wish to share best practices when your crew is working in areas where ticks, spiders, bees, hornets, wasps, fire ants, and other insects may be present:
- Wear long pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts, and tuck pants into boots or socks.
- Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing.
- Avoid swatting a flying insect. Instead, gently brush it aside or wait for it to go away.
- Use insect repellents according to product instructions.
- Avoid wearing sweet-smelling colognes and deodorants.
- Avoid eating in areas where insects are gathering.
- Check skin and clothing for ticks daily and remove ticks using fine-tipped tweezers.
- Remove a stinger by scraping it. Wash the affected area with soap and water or an antiseptic towelette. Do not scratch a sting.
- Treat bites/stings by evaluating the affected area and applying cold water or ice for pain. If not allergic, over-the-counter products may relieve pain and/or prevent infection.
- Seek prompt medical attention if new, severe, or persistent symptoms are experienced after a bite/sting. These may include swelling and pain at the bite/sting site, body/muscle aches, fever, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, rash, stiff neck, and/or paralysis.
Rodents and other animals
Bites and scratches from wild animals can cause injury and spread germs, even if the wound doesn’t seem deep or serious. Have your workers:
- Avoid contact with rodents or rodent-infested areas. If this isn’t possible, wear protective gloves and wash hands regularly.
- Avoid contact with wild or stray animals.
- Wash scratches or bites with warm soapy water immediately. Bandage the wound. Seek medical attention if the wound is serious; the animal looks sick or acts unusual; or if the wound becomes red, painful, warm, or swollen.
Plants
Plants like poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac have poisonous sap in their roots, stems, leaves, and fruit. If the stems or leaves are damaged, the sap may get on the skin through direct contact with the plant or by contaminated objects such as clothing, shoes, tools, and animals. Signs of an allergic reaction include itching, redness, a burning sensation, swelling, blisterings, and/or a rash.
To combat these plants on the job, share images of poisonous plants workers may be exposed to. Also, urge your workers to:
- Wear cloth or leather gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants tucked into boots.
- Apply barrier cream/lotion to uncovered skin.
- Keep rubbing alcohol accessible to remove the oily resin up to 30 minutes after exposure.
- Wash an exposed area with cold running water if a worker has possible contact with a poisonous plant. Do not use soap since it may spread the oil.
- Wash contaminated clothing, handling it as little as possible until it’s soaked.
- If a rash develops, avoid scratching the area.
Snakes
Venomous snakes in the U.S. include rattlesnakes, coral snakes, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and copperheads. Workers should understand their exposure risk, how to prevent and protect themselves from snake bites, and what to do if they’re bitten. Share images of the types of snake(s) in your area, so workers understand how to spot a venomous snake. Safety tips include:
- Watching for snakes sunning themselves on fallen trees, limbs, or pathways.
- Wearing heavy gloves when removing debris and, if possible, not placing fingers under debris when moving it.
- Wearing leather boots at least 10 inches high.
- Stepping back and allowing a snake to move away. Snakes bite only when they feel threatened or trapped.
- If bitten, allowing the bite to bleed for 15 to 30 seconds. Clean and disinfect the area. Seek medical attention.
Key to remember: Outdoor workers exposed to plants and animals should be trained in hazard recognition, how to protect themselves, and what first aid measures to use. Construction workers must have that training when harmful plants or animals are present.
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2025-05-16T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsHazmat SafetyFire Protection and PreventionHazmatFocus AreaCombustible liquids - HazmatEnglishFire Protection and PreventionTransportationUSA
CSB calls for improved heater safeguards at chemical facilities
After concluding its investigation of a California chemical facility fire, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is calling for improved heater safeguards to prevent similar incidents and ensure worker safety.
The November 2023 fire was caused by an overheated refinery furnace. As the furnace malfunctioned, a worker was sent to turn off part of the machinery. However, a metal tube in a fired heater ruptured, resulting in dangerously high temperatures and the release of renewable diesel and hydrogen that ignited the fire.
CSB recommends these safeguards at chemical facilities:
- Establish requirements “for when troubleshooting in close proximity to fired heaters should be stopped and other actions.”
- Configure process equipment with safe operating limit/not-to-exceed limit alarms that alert workers when equipment has reached an unsafe condition.
- Ensure fired heaters are adequately protected from operating with low flow.
- Implement “walk the line” practices such as verifying valve positions before starting up a unit, understanding operating procedures and equipment routings, and properly communicating and documenting shift turnover information.
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2025-05-16T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsAt-Will EmploymentTerminationHR GeneralistIn-Depth ArticleUSAWrongful TerminationEnglishTerminationHR ManagementFocus AreaHuman Resources
Virtual conference participants share termination tales
Terminating an employee is never fun and must always be handled with care. That’s why J. J. Keller recently hosted an interactive virtual conference called “Termination Talk.”
After a keynote presentation about termination that was led by two J. J. Keller HR experts, about 40 conference attendees were asked to share their termination experiences with one another in small breakout groups.
The keynote presentation focused on:
- What is meant by wrongful termination,
- When HR should skip discipline and move right to termination, and
- How to terminate as smoothly and safely as possible.
Presenters shared these 3 “Bs” of terminating:
- Be fair, to ensure the termination can’t be viewed as discriminatory;
- Be sure, and have plenty of documented information backing up the decision to terminate; and
- Be safe, meaning if you have any thought that the employee could become violent during or after the termination get security or even local police involved.
Termination challenges
During the interactive portion of the event, J. J. Keller invited the HR professionals in attendance — some with decades of HR experience — to share stories about terminations they’ve handled, as well as any related questions.
Participants mentioned the risk of wrongful termination claims being filed when employees over age 40 must be let go, or when firing someone who has filed a workers’ compensation claim or requested Family and Medical Leave Act leave. The consensus was that these tricky situations required thorough documentation showing that the terminations were based on poor performance or improper conduct.
“You can’t show favoritism,” said an attendee. “If you discipline one employee for something, you have to discipline all employees who have the same performance or conduct issues.”
What has worked
Because terminations often involve sticky issues, one attendee suggested all managers be encouraged to bring in HR sooner rather than later during the discipline process. Another tip shared was to be sure all employees (including frontline supervisors) are trained in company policies and procedures, and that policies and procedures are implemented consistently.
3 keys to smoother terminations
Avoiding termination troubles was summed up by virtual conference attendees in three words:
- Consistency. Policies must be enforced equally for all employees.
- Respect. Employees should be treated with respect throughout the disciplinary process.
- Documentation. Performance records, disciplinary measures that have been implemented, and conduct issues must be thoroughly documented to mitigate the risk of wrongful termination claims.
Key to remember: Virtual conference attendees came away with the message that they are not alone when it comes to termination challenges, but that through respect, consistency, and documentation, they can reduce the risks involved when an employee must be let go.
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.