EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JIM MCCANNEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: FIONA HERNANDEZ OFFICE MANAGER: SHARON CONNELL Safety Alert for Supervisors (ISSN 1541-7379), March 9, 2026, Vol. 23, No. 546, is published 24 times per year by Institute of Business Publications, P.O. Box 1340, Havertown, PA 19083; PHONE : 484-472-8227; FAX : 484-472-8708. Phone: 866-572-1352 Web: iobp.com Subscription Rate (for 24 issues): Users Annual price Users Annual price 1-5 $265 flat 25-29 $44/user 6-9 $53/user 30-34 $43/user 10-14 $49/user 35-40 $42/user 15-19 $47/user 41+ Call 20-24 $45/user 866-572-1352 Survey reveals extent of risk from chemicals that cause hearing loss Now you have another reason to safeguard your crew members from the hazards posed by toxic chemicals: Exposure to certain substances could significantly increase their risk of hearing loss. That’s your takeaway from a recent survey of 18,000 U.S. workers conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. According to the survey results, 13% of respondents said they’re exposed to toxic substances that can damage hearing – so-called ototoxic chemicals. And 11% of respondents said they have difficulty hearing. Based on the responses, researchers suggested that as many as 1.4 million U.S. employees suffer from hearing loss that can be attributed to exposure to ototoxic chemicals such as heavy metals, pesticides, engine exhaust, industrial glues and solvents. Moreover, employees in certain industries reported higher levels of exposure to these harmful substances. For instance, nearly half of respondents in the mining industry said they often work with ototoxic chemicals. Increase in number of worker deaths caused by slips, trips and falls Consider a helpful reminder to your workers to always make sure walking and working surfaces aren’t cluttered with debris that could create a tripping hazard. Here’s why: There’s been a jump in the number of staffers suffering fatal injuries after slipping, tripping, or falling on the same level. The increase was revealed in the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2023, according to the data, there were 140 deaths linked to slips, trips and falls. In 2024, the number of fatal slips, trips and falls shot up to 150, an increase of 7.14%. Note: The jump happened at the same time the overall number of employee deaths dropped to 5,070 in 2024 from 5,283 in 2023. No eye protection for employees who were using pneumatic tools Do your crew members routinely put on safety goggles before operating nail guns or other tools that could produce dangerous projectiles? If you’re not sure, you should be aware of the recently proposed fine of $128,345 against Shrader Homes Inc. by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division. The agency cited the employer for multiple violations of safety regulations at a job site in White City, OR. Among the citations was a penalty for failing to ensure staffers using pneumatic nail guns wore safety gear to protect their eyes. safety news for supervisors 2 Safety Alert for Supervisors March 9, 2026 Drivers of utility terrain vehicles should slow down when turning Users of utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) can significantly lower the chances of suffering an injury by following safe operating procedures. For instance, they should slow down at turns because UTVs typically have high centers of gravity. And UTV drivers should use four- wheel drive if it’s available, slow down on slippery surfaces to prevent skidding, confirm that the payload is secured for travel, and increase the braking distance and decrease the speed of the vehicle when they’re transporting heavier payloads. Statistics reveal two industries with significant fatigue problems If you don’t think worker fatigue is a significant job hazard, consider these facts: In the construction industry, 65% of employees report feeling tired at work, and 61% of construction employers said they’ve found staff members asleep on the job. In the transportation industry, 70% of employees report feeling tired at work, with long shifts and sleep loss cited as the most common causes of worker fatigue. Remind your crew members not to tie electrical cords in knots This could be a good time to remind staffers that they should handle electrical cords carefully. Example: They shouldn’t tie cords in knots, because doing so could cause short circuits and electrical shocks. Instead, they should loop the cord or use a twist-lock plug. Crew members should also recognize that nails and staples can damage cords. Better: Use tape to secure cords to walls or floors, or suspend cords over aisles or work areas to eliminate tripping hazards. SafetyAlert FOR SUPERVISORS Click Here to Subscribe Now Copyright © 2026 Institute of Business Publications. Reproduction of this material is prohibited without prior permission. All rights reserved in all countries. quick ideas