Ergonomics, the science of fitting jobs and workplaces to the people who perform them, has gained significant recognition in Lone Star State, Texas. It is becoming an integral part of workplace design and organization due to its effectiveness in preventing workplace injuries. One of the critical elements aiding ergonomics in Texas is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training. This blog post delves into ergonomics, its impact on workplace injury prevention in Texas, and the essential role that OSHA training plays in this context.
Understanding Ergonomics and Its Importance
Ergonomics involves designing and arranging workspaces to enhance efficiency and reduce health risks. For example, when work environments are not ergonomically optimized, workers may develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and back injuries. These conditions lead to worker discomfort and lost productivity and can result in significant medical and compensation costs.
In Texas, a state known for its vast workforce engaged in diverse industries – from oil and gas extraction to information technology – ergonomics is paramount. As a result, companies across the state embrace ergonomic principles to comply with regulations and protect their most valuable asset – their employees.
Preventing Workplace Injuries in Texas Through Ergonomics
In Texas, adopting ergonomic principles has proven effective in preventing workplace injuries. For instance, in the construction industry, characterized by physically demanding tasks and high injury rates, companies have begun using ergonomically designed tools and equipment to reduce strain on workers. These changes have resulted in fewer musculoskeletal disorders, increased productivity, and decreased workers' compensation claims.
Similarly, ergonomic interventions like adjustable workstations, ergonomically designed keyboards, and task rotation are becoming commonplace in the burgeoning tech industry. These measures help prevent repetitive strain injuries in sedentary, computer-oriented work environments.
The Role of OSHA Training
OSHA training is crucial in promoting and ensuring workplace safety in Texas. It gives workers and employers the knowledge and skills to recognize, avoid, and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA offers a variety of training courses and educational programs that cover a wide range of topics, including ergonomics.
OSHA's ergonomics training helps workers understand the risks associated with poor ergonomic conditions and teaches them how to identify and implement solutions. This training provides valuable insights into creating safer, more productive work environments for employers.
Moreover, OSHA's General Industry Training Program – a comprehensive safety program designed for Texas industries – covers ergonomic safety measures. This program has modules on identifying and controlling ergonomic hazards, proper lifting techniques, workstation design, and more. It emphasizes the importance of a proactive approach to ergonomics, encouraging employers to identify potential issues before they lead to injuries.
In addition to OSHA's standard training programs, the administration also offers an Outreach Training Program that includes an OSHA 10-hour course for general industry workers and an OSHA 30-hour course for supervisors and safety personnel. These courses cover various safety topics, including ergonomics, and provide participants with an OSHA card upon completion.
OSHA also works with companies to develop and implement effective ergonomics programs. In addition, it offers resources, guidelines, and consultation services to aid companies in pursuing workplace safety.
Conclusion
The movement towards safer and more ergonomic workplaces is underway in the Lone Star State. With the help of OSHA training, Texas companies are becoming more adept at identifying, mitigating, and preventing ergonomic hazards. This shift benefits workers by reducing the risk of injury and improving their overall well-being. It also helps companies by increasing productivity and reducing workplace injuries and illness costs.
Ergonomics in Texas isn't just a trend – it's a commitment to worker safety and health. It's a recognition that every worker deserves a safe, comfortable work environment and that maintaining such an environment is good for business. With a growing number of Texas companies investing in ergonomics and availing themselves of OSHA's extensive training resources, the state sets a strong example for the rest of the nation.
In conclusion, ergonomics is more than just a buzzword in the Lone Star State. It is an integral part of workplace safety and health, and it is helping to make Texas workplaces safer and more productive. Moreover, with OSHA training providing the necessary knowledge and skills, Texas workers and employers are well-equipped to continue this vital work. From the oil fields to the tech startups, ergonomics is making a difference in Texas, and it's a difference that's worth celebrating
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).