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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | VOL. 92 NO. 5 PPE: CONSTRUCTION Building the Future: Navigating Safety Hazards in the Surge of EV Gigafactory Construction With many big-name auto brands racing to manufacture electric vehicles, the construction industry is rushing to keep pace with demand, but what does that mean for worker safety and PPE needs? There are four key stages of construction to examine. Updating Helmet Standards to Address an Overlooked Danger While OSHA requires that head protection must be worn, construction workers are still at risk because employers, employees and PPE makers don’t fully recognize the nature of traumatic brain injury and how innovations can address a fundamental issue in TBIs. New standards would help. PPE: HEAD AND FACE PROTECTION Prioritizing Safety from the Top Down The world of worker safety is redefining head protection as it makes the shift from traditional hard hats to comprehensive safety helmets in construction. PPE: VISION PROTECTION Vision: A Key Piece in the Safety Puzzle Worker safety incidents are on the rise, but while significant attention is focused on high-fatality dangers such as falls, protecting workers’ vision is just as essential. Fortunately, vision protection might be having its big moment. Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com 20 18 20 22 24 FACILITY SAFETY 10 The ‘Five S’ System for Facility Safety How can you create a workplace where proper safety behavior is the default? Not just when it comes to storing ladders but also cleaning spills, stacking equipment, replacing hoses, and so on? The Five S system is about the best out there. 12 The Public Sector Side of Facility Safety Comparing the definitions of Facility Management and Public Works, we find many similar responsibilities in the public realm as we do in the private sector. Also, Facilities Management and Public Works play a critical role as disaster site first responders. What expertise is involved? How does the public sector ensure those workers’ safety? NOISE MONITORING 14 Testing Hearing to Protect Construction Workers From Invisible Dangers Despite having a duty of care to protect employees from workplace hazards that can cause injury or illness, employers in the construction sector aren’t obligated to test workers’ hearing. However, the repercussions to employers if they do not seriously consider the auditory welfare of their workforce can be significant. How can employers build a better approach to protecting hearing? 16 Shielding Workers from Loud Noises: A Three- Pronged Approach Protecting workers from hazardous occupational noise exposure requires understanding the exposure, taking the right PPE approach, and ensuring worker buy-in. 26 4 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com 26 Fall Protection: An Ongoing Conversation In 2020, 805 workers died from falls and more than 210,000 were injured so badly that they were forced to take time off. How can employers create a comprehensive training program to prevent slips, trips and falls. TRAINING: FALL PROTECTION