OSHA’s 2026 Safe & Sound Week: How Effective Are Your Safety Programs?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Safe & Sound Week returns August 10–16, 2026. While many organizations participate through training and toolbox talks, OSHA is also encouraging employers to take a closer look at the effectiveness of...
What Makes a Hazardous Atmosphere? A Guide for Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection is an essential component of workplace safety across various industries. Whether in construction, manufacturing, or emergency response, workers often face airborne hazards that can lead to serious short- or long-term health effects. Knowing when...
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Program Development with Walden
Lockout Procedures Keep your team safe and keep machines predictable with clear, machine-specific lockout procedures that meet OSHA 1910.147. Walden’s EHS division can help by building and rolling out energy control procedures that your team will find easy to use....
Complete Your Semiannual Stormwater Sampling By 6/30!
The deadline for quarterly and/or semiannual stormwater monitoring and sampling is June 30, 2026! These requirements are set forth by your facility’s New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit. Facilities that must comply with these...
Heat Is No Longer Seasonal: What OSHA’s Updated Emphasis Program Means for You
OSHA’s updated National Emphasis Program Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards has signaled a shift from awareness to enforcement. If you still think heat stress is just a summer issue, OSHA is making it very clear: heat safety is now a year round enforcement...
OSHA Requests Input on Future Hazard Communication Changes
Hazard communication requirements are still evolving, and OSHA is reminding employers that these standards are far from static. In a recent Federal Register notice, OSHA announced upcoming public meetings related to the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of...
After the Fall: The Part Too Many Safety Programs Forget
Most folks think the story ends when the harness catches someone. I wish that were true. In my years in construction, emergency response, and now consulting, I’ve learned the hard way that the fall is only the start of the trouble. What happens in the minutes after a...
Your Fall Protection Plan Is Only Real If the Crew Can Use It Under Pressure
A well-written fall protection plan sitting in a binder is far less valuable than a practical plan that crews can actually execute on real jobsites. Too often, safety programs are designed to look good for an audit, but they fail to translate to the roof, the...
The Edge Is Not the Only Problem: Ladders, Scaffolds, and Short-Duration Tasks That Keep Hurting People
When we think about fall protection, we tend to picture high-risk scenarios: rooftop edges, open-sided floors, and steel beams. These hazards are critical, but they’re not where most incidents begin. In reality, many injuries occur during routine tasks and everyday...
Fall Prevention vs. Fall Restraint vs. Fall Arrest: Understanding the Difference
One of the most common misunderstandings in fall protection isn’t whether protection is needed; it’s whether the right system is being used. Simply wearing a harness does not equal full protection. Understanding the difference between fall prevention, fall restraint,...