Reducing Safety in the Name of Efficiency

Cost of living prices have skyrocketed across the country within the past few months. In this economic recession, we have seen major reductions to bureaucratic staffing due to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). One significant administration that was gutted was the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH was responsible for significant research initiatives, health and safety standard development, and chemical regulation. Without NIOSH, we will notice these programs falling to pieces, and the research placed on hold.

In health surveying and industrial hygiene, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  regulations can point to NIOSH to help solidify a quantification for how dangerous a chemical can be when exposed to it in an occupational setting. NIOSH’s pocket guide to chemical hazards can be your best friend when dealing with chemicals that you and your team are unfamiliar with, as it is an in-depth composition of chemical and substance group hazards. NIOSH updates the pocket guide roughly every 5 years with new exposure limits on hazardous chemicals that are constantly reduced as we learn more about adverse effects of exposure. These critical updates could halt the new research and guidelines that provide information on worker health and safety. 

Research is already a field that has a hard time completing projects due to a lack of funding. There are many industries that have had their research halted due to this recent NIOSH cut. According to the Center for Disease Control, some high-risk industries that have a significant positive impact on the community, yet lost their research, include:

• The National Firefighter Registry was keeping track of all participating firefighters to determine cancer risk in the field and to understand what can be done to prevent developing cancer. This program was initiated following the long-term effects of the September 11th attacks. The Registry was recently halted and interaction is no longer active between the public and the registry officials.

• The Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance program was also put on hold. This program gives free black lung screening for coal miners, certifies respirators, and generally monitors the development of disease in the industry. 

• The Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Program conducts research on fatalities and serious injuries in these high risk industries to help decrease exposure to occupational hazards, as well as provide training for employees and employers. 

What you can do as a proactive employer:

• Continuously reevaluate Job Hazard Analysis’ (JHA’s)

  • Reevaluating JHA’s helps you keep tabs on all your workplace hazards. Sometimes minor issues become major simply because it wasn't taken care of initially.

• Ensure the hierarchy of controls is used in the implementation of all hazards

  • Using the hierarchy of controls after a hazard is identified is the number one way to reduce employee exposure. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a last resort, and long term elimination projects need to have an active timeline.

• Read up on standards and help your team understand the hazards

  • This significantly improves the safety culture of your organization. Safety needs to come from the top. Your entire office team should be active participants in the safety program.

• Purchase the 2023 NIOSH pocket guide

  • This will not only help support NIOSH, but it will keep you informed on the job.

• Hire a safety team

  • Having a safety team helps show your commitment to a safe workplace and ensures your team has a strong base for EH&S compliance.

NIOSH significantly boosts the knowledge and influence of your team when they are exposed to in-process chemicals. You need to determine their exposure, choose the right PPE, and determine if medical surveillance is necessary, all of which can be learned from NIOSH research. These can not only negatively affect the business when ignored, but can have significant life long impacts on the life and well-being of your affected employees. With NIOSH research being slimmed down significantly, it puts a larger responsibility on employers to ensure workers are safe from various hazards. A small cost upfront could prevent a massive reactive cost down the road, and could help your team members live long and healthy lives. Employers must do their due diligence to ensure health and safety standards are both in process and in practice in their workplace.

About the author:

Jackson Khoury - Lead Safety Inspector

Jackson is an established Environmental Health & Safety professional with a strong background in manufacturing. He earned a degree in EH&S and has been promoting and teaching safe work practices ever since. Jackson specializes in finding solutions to cultural issues, and creating training programs to ensure all levels of employees can recognize and avoid hazards.

Phone: 517.881.1208

Email: Jackson@SafetyBrothersLLC.com​​