OSHA Region 2 to hold inaugural Amputation Safety Stand-Down

Posted September 3, 2021

During September, employers and workers in OSHA Region 2 – New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands – are participating in a month-long series of virtual events to prevent workplace amputations. Each week will have a specific focus:

• Week 1, Sept. 8: Kickoff with statistics, success stories, worksite analysis
• Week 2, Sept. 14: Machine guarding
• Week 3, Sept. 21: Lockout/tagout
• Week 4, Sept 30: OSHA Amputation National Emphasis Program, resources review, Q&A

Work-related amputations resulted in 6,200 cases with days away from work in 2018. More than half of these (58 percent, or 3,580 cases) involved some type of machinery. Parts and materials were involved in 15 percent of amputations. Tools, instrument and equipment, including powered and unpowered hand tools, were involved in 7 percent.

This article was written by Rachel Krubsack of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.