Work and Machinery

Accident and Physical Hazard | Work and Machinery

Lockout Was Not Even Attempted in Most Fatal Machine Maintenance Accidents. Most of Them Were Cleaning Jobs.
BySeung Hyoun Kim September 3, 2026October 4, 2026

OSHA investigation records show lockout was not attempted at all in at least 59% of fatal machine maintenance incidents, and a national audit of 2,632 machines explains why: procedures were posted at 9% of them. What the evidence says about guards, locks, and the short jobs that kill.

Read More Lockout Was Not Even Attempted in Most Fatal Machine Maintenance Accidents. Most of Them Were Cleaning Jobs.
Accident and Physical Hazard | Work and Machinery

9,377 Workers, Two Years, and the Back Belt Made No Difference. Neither Did the Lifting Training.
BySeung Hyoun Kim August 29, 2026October 4, 2026

The largest prospective study of back belts found 17.1% back pain among daily wearers and 17.5% among those who never wore one. What the evidence supports instead is changing the task.

Read More 9,377 Workers, Two Years, and the Back Belt Made No Difference. Neither Did the Lifting Training.
Accident and Physical Hazard | Work and Machinery

Every 3 Decibels Halves the Time. That Is the Whole Rule, and Almost Nobody Knows It.
BySeung Hyoun Kim August 29, 2026October 4, 2026

Hair cells do not grow back, and the safe exposure time halves with every three decibels. At 100 dBA – earbuds near maximum – the daily allowance is fifteen minutes; venues average 104 to 112 dB. The exposure table, the evidence on temporary threshold shift, and the protection actually worth buying.

Read More Every 3 Decibels Halves the Time. That Is the Whole Rule, and Almost Nobody Knows It.