When a workplace injury occurs, the priority is clear: care for the employee, understanding what happened and taking steps to help prevent it from happening again. In 2024 alone, private industry nearly 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. Behind each recordable incident is information that can help organizations better understand where risks may exist, and where opportunities for prevention may begin.

For many employers, workplace injuries and illnesses also bring an important recordkeeping responsibility. requires businesses to bring together information about incidents, employees, lost or restricted workdays and other details 鈥� often months after an event first occurred.

Yet those records can reveal more than what happened. Viewed together, injury and illness data can help organizations identify workplace hazards, recognize patterns and uncover opportunities for prevention. When that information is spread across multiple records or locations, however, seeing the broader picture can become considerably more challenging.

鈥淕ood recordkeeping is about much more than documenting what happened,鈥� said Brad Noe, Risk Management Manager at 糖心传媒.

鈥淚t offers an opportunity to better understand the injury experience, recognize what may be happening across operations and make more informed decisions about where to focus their safety efforts.鈥�

That鈥檚 why 糖心传媒 has introduced a new resource 鈥� the Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Data tool 鈥� within our portal. Drawing on 糖心传媒鈥檚 specialization in Workers鈥� Compensation and risk management, this tool is designed to help policyholders put the information they already have on-hand to work.

Simplifying Injury Data

Available through the Risk Management section of , this tool effectively organizes applicable claim information by calendar year, regardless of policy effective dates. Rather than gathering information claim by claim, you can access relevant data in one place as a starting point for completing their required records.

The result is a simpler way to make claims information more actionable.

Understanding Efficient Recordability

One important distinction: the Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Data report is not an official OSHA 300 Log.

Under , recordable cases can include work-related injuries or illnesses involving days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness or certain significant injuries or illnesses diagnosed by a health care professional. Policyholders remain responsible for determining whether an injury or illness is OSHA recordable, independently verifying the information provided and accurately completing their records.

Determining whether an injury or illness is recordable can require looking beyond the claim itself. OSHA provides guidance to help employers understand which injuries and illnesses must be recorded and how recordkeeping requirements apply.

For additional guidance, explore the or use the flow chart below as a quick reference when evaluating whether an injury or illness may be recordable.

Our new recordkeeping tool is designed to make this review more manageable. You can choose the format that best fits how you work: an HTML version provides an easy-to-read report with links to additional claim information and , while an Excel version offers an editable, sortable format that can make it easier to review multiple claims or organize information by location. For businesses with multiple facilities or a larger volume of Workers鈥� Compensation activity, that flexibility can help bring relevant information into clearer focus.

This makes the tool valuable, not as a substitute for an employer鈥檚 own records and judgment, but as a resource for bringing relevant information together so it can be reviewed, validated and used more efficiently.

Recordkeeping Becomes an Opportunity

Accurate recordkeeping serves an important compliance purpose. Consider the information behind the numbers: 888,100 cases involving days away from work in private industry in 2024. The median time away from work for those cases was eight days.

When organizations periodically review where injuries are occurring, the types of incidents employees are experiencing and whether certain operations or locations appear repeatedly, the recordkeeping process can become another opportunity to look more closely at workplace risk.

鈥淩ecordkeeping is important, but the real value comes from what organizations do with the information,鈥� said Noe. 鈥淲hen you can more easily see where injuries are occurring and recognize patterns across your operations, that information can lead to better conversations, more focused prevention efforts and, ultimately, a stronger safety culture.鈥�

A log is ultimately a record of what has already happened. The greater opportunity is using that information to help inform what happens next.

• Are similar injuries occurring in the same operation?
• Are certain tasks producing recurring incidents?
• Are there opportunities for additional training, jobsite controls or employee communication?

Don鈥檛 Wait Until Posting Season

For employers subject to OSHA recordkeeping requirements, preparation doesn鈥檛 have to begin when it鈥檚 time to post the previous year鈥檚 information.

Policyholders may access the Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Data tool periodically throughout the calendar year to review submitted information. We recommend beginning a review of the prior year鈥檚 data in early January ahead of the , which runs from February 1 through April 30.

Reviewing information throughout the year can give you more time to identify discrepancies, consult their own records and gather information while incidents are still relatively recent.

Looking Ahead

Are you ready to put your workplace injury data to work? Visit to access the Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Data tool, or contact your 糖心传媒 Risk Management Consultant for additional expertise and guidance.

In the latest issue of Safety Connect庐, we explore how can improve driver performance, why timely reporting supports better workers鈥� compensation outcomes, and how and can help businesses move from understanding risk to strengthening workplace safety.

Explore practical guidance from 糖心传媒 Risk Management and Claims professionals designed to help organizations protect their people, improve operations and turn insight into action.

Your Safer Workplace Starts Here

What does it take to help prevent one of the trucking industry’s most common鈥攁nd often overlooked鈥攚orkplace hazards?

Our latest workplace safety resource explores practical strategies that can help reduce risks during truck loading, unloading and cargo securement. , falls remain one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities, while industry data estimates that nearly half of all injuries sustained by flatbed drivers are the direct result of falls. Many occur during routine tasks such as securing loads, tarping trailers or performing equipment inspections.

That same challenge extends across construction, manufacturing, transportation and other industries where employees routinely work on trailers, flatbeds or elevated surfaces. Safer outcomes often begin with everyday decisions鈥攔ecognizing hazards before work begins, using appropriate fall protection systems, inspecting equipment and reinforcing safe work practices through consistent training.

Explore the full resource below for practical fall prevention strategies, cargo securement guidance and key safety considerations designed to help workers stay grounded and return home safely every day.

Essential Fall Prevention

At 糖心传媒, our Risk Management team works alongside policyholders every day to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support resilient operations built to meet the moments that matter most.聽

For some, it’s a ransomware attack that locks access to critical systems overnight. For others, it’s a tornado that leaves a facility without power, an equipment failure that stops production, or the unexpected loss of a key supplier just as customer demand peaks.

What happens next often has less to do with the disruption itself than with the preparation that came before it.

The organizations that navigate uncertainty with confidence aren’t immune to disruption. They are building the operational resilience to continue operating, serve customers and restore critical functions when conditions change unexpectedly.

Business continuity planning is the discipline behind that resilience. It transforms uncertainty into action by helping organizations identify critical operations, prepare for disruption and recover more confidently. Federal guidance from developing these plans in advance, recognizing that preparedness is one of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of unexpected events. And the stakes are significant: that 40% of businesses never reopen following a disaster, and another 25% close within a year, underscoring how preparation can influence long-term recovery鈥攏ot just the immediate response.

“The organizations that recover most effectively aren’t necessarily the ones that experience fewer disruptions,” said Justin Nance, Senior Risk Management Consultant at 糖心传媒.

“They’re the ones that have already identified what matters most to their business and invested the time to prepare before those disruptions occur. When critical decisions have already been made, leaders can focus on protecting people, serving customers and restoring operations with confidence.”

Resilience Is Earned

Not long ago, was often associated with preparing for fires, floods or other natural disasters.

Today’s operating environment presents a much broader set of challenges. Cyberattacks can interrupt operations within minutes, equipment failures can idle production without warning, and disruptions affecting suppliers, transportation networks or utilities can ripple across an organization in ways that extend far beyond the initial event. Workforce shortages, aging infrastructure and increasingly interconnected technologies have added new layers of complexity, making operational resilience an essential business capability rather than a contingency reserved for extraordinary circumstances.

Although these disruptions differ in origin, they ultimately test the same thing: an organization’s ability to continue delivering the products, services and experiences its customers depend on while adapting to rapidly changing conditions. The that some 75% of businesses without a continuity plan fail within three years of a disaster, highlighting why operational resilience is increasingly viewed as a strategic business capability rather than simply an emergency preparedness exercise.

That distinction is important because operational resilience is fundamentally different from disaster recovery. Rather than focusing solely on recovering after an event, resilience begins by understanding what must continue before disruption occurs. It encourages leaders to identify the people, processes, technology and partnerships that sustain their organization, then develop strategies to protect those functions when circumstances change.

Preparing for the Moments That Matter Most

If our business were disrupted tomorrow, what couldn’t we afford to lose?

For a manufacturer, the answer may be a production line, specialized equipment or a critical supplier. For a healthcare organization, it may be patient care systems, clinical staff or secure access to medical records. For a construction contractor, it may involve project schedules, field operations or specialized equipment needed to keep work moving safely and efficiently.

While the answers vary across industries, the objective remains the same: identify the functions that are essential to serving customers and sustaining operations, then develop practical strategies to protect operations.

That process is commonly known as a , and it serves as the cornerstone of effective business continuity planning. By evaluating critical operations, technology, facilities, personnel and third-party dependencies, organizations gain a clearer understanding of where disruption would have the greatest operational and financial impact. That insight helps leaders prioritize resources, establish recovery objectives and make thoughtful decisions before they’re forced to make urgent ones.

Building Preparation Into Action

1. Assess Operational Impact and Risk Exposure

Effective planning begins with understanding how disruption could potentially affect your organization. Consider focusing on two key areas:

Identifying critical operations

Determine the processes, technology, facilities and roles that are essential to your organization and establish which functions must remain available鈥攐r be restored within defined timeframes鈥攖o continue serving customers.

Evaluating threats to those critical operations

Assess the internal and external risks that could interrupt those functions, including technology failures, cyber incidents, severe weather, equipment breakdowns, utility outages, workforce disruptions and supply chain dependencies. Combining a business impact analysis with a thoughtful risk assessment helps organizations determine where planning and mitigation efforts should begin.

By understanding both the importance of critical operations and the threats that could affect them, organizations can prioritize resources and focus continuity planning where it will deliver the greatest value.

2. Prepare Your Response

Once critical operations have been identified, the next step is developing a documented response and recovery plan that provides clear direction during a disruption. A well-developed business continuity plan should establish:

• Ownership and accountability by identifying the continuity team or individuals responsible for activating and coordinating response and recovery efforts.
• Response and recovery procedures that outline how the organization will restore critical operations, minimize disruption and continue serving customers during an incident.
• Communication strategies that define how employees, customers, vendors and key stakeholders will receive timely information throughout the response and recovery process.
• Essential contact information for employees, emergency responders, vendors and third-party partners whose support may be required during recovery.

Organizations that answer these questions before an emergency occurs can respond with greater confidence because leadership responsibilities, communication expectations and recovery priorities have already been established.

from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) similarly recommends documenting recovery procedures, assigning clear responsibilities and reviewing continuity plans regularly to ensure they reflect current business operations and evolving risks.

3. Train for the Moments That Matter

A continuity plan is only effective if employees understand how to put it into action.

should help employees understand continuity requirements while reinforcing their individual responsibilities, escalation procedures, communication expectations and the continuity tools or workarounds they may need during a disruption.

Scenario-based exercises and tabletop simulations help organizations:

• Validate continuity and recovery procedures.
• Strengthen coordination across departments.
• Improve communication during disruptions.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the plan.
• Build employee confidence in the process.

“A business continuity plan isn’t meant to sit on a shelf until it’s needed,” explains Nance. “The greatest value comes from revisiting it regularly, exercising it through realistic scenarios and regular training. Preparedness becomes part of an organization’s culture鈥攏ot just its documentation.”

Looking Ahead

Organizations that assess operational risk, prepare response plans and train employees are better positioned to adapt when circumstances change. They can make informed decisions more quickly, restore critical operations with greater confidence and continue delivering for the customers, employees and communities that depend on them.

At 糖心传媒, our Risk Management team works alongside policyholders every day to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support resilient operations built to meet the moments that matter most.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

Some of the most important work in America happens while much of the country is asleep.

Long after office lights switch off and parking lots empty, manufacturing facilities continue producing critical components. Healthcare professionals monitor patients through the night. Maintenance teams prepare equipment for the next day’s production. Truck drivers move goods across the country, ensuring businesses have what they need before sunrise.

For many organizations, these overnight hours are not simply an extension of the workday. The equipment may be the same. The procedures may be the same. The expectations may be the same, yet night shift work presents a challenge that many businesses may underestimate.

For manufacturers, healthcare organizations, construction companies, and countless other businesses, overnight operations are essential to maintaining productivity, serving customers, and keeping critical systems moving. The employees working these shifts often operate outside the spotlight, yet their decisions can influence safety, efficiency, and business continuity long before the rest of the organization arrives for the day.

For employers, the question becomes clear: How can we help night shift teams thrive?

Where Risk Really Begins

Many workplace hazards are easy to identify. A damaged ladder can be repaired. A blocked exit can be cleared. A machine in need of maintenance can be taken out of service.

Fatigue is different. It often develops gradually, making it one of the most difficult workplace risks to recognize before performance begins to suffer.

The challenge is rooted in human biology. help regulate sleep, alertness, body temperature, and numerous other functions throughout the day. During overnight hours, those natural processes prepare the body for recovery, even when work demands concentration, awareness, and decision-making.

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) shift work and extended work schedules as factors that can contribute to fatigue because they disrupt normal sleep patterns and recovery cycles. Over time, insufficient sleep can affect attention, reaction time, memory, and decision-making 鈥� all critical elements of workplace safety.

The risks extend beyond the workplace itself. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that drowsy driving contributes to approximately 100,000 crashes annually, resulting in more than 71,000 injuries. For employees working overnight schedules, extended shifts, or demanding jobs, fatigue can affect safety both on the job and on the commute home.

The Success Framework

Businesses that consistently achieve strong overnight safety performance tend to three interconnected areas: Preparation, Visibility, and Support. Together, these elements help create an environment where employees can perform confidently and safely throughout the night.

Scheduling practices, recovery time between shifts, staffing levels, overtime expectations, and shift handoffs all play an important role in preparing employees for success. A strong shift handoff, for example, does more than transfer information. It provides crucial context. Equipment concerns, production priorities, maintenance activities, and emerging hazards can be discussed before the work begins, helping employees start their shift with greater awareness and confidence.

Federal workplace the importance of adequate rest and recovery in helping reduce fatigue-related risks. Employers that prioritize predictable schedules and sufficient recovery opportunities often create a stronger foundation for both safety and performance.

Adequate staffing levels, reasonable limits on consecutive shifts, and opportunities for recovery between work periods can also play an important role in reducing fatigue accumulation. 糖心传媒 that rely heavily on overnight operations often face some of the greatest challenges in balancing operational demands with employee recovery. Together, these twin elements help create the conditions employees need to perform confidently, make informed decisions, and work safely throughout the night.

Visibility

If preparation helps employees begin the shift safely, visibility helps them maintain that safety throughout the night. It鈥檚 about more than seeing clearly; it鈥檚 about giving employees the information they need to make confident decisions in real time.

Reduced lighting conditions can make hazards more difficult to identify and increase the importance of situational awareness. Walkways, equipment areas, loading zones, parking lots, and maintenance spaces all to help employees recognize changing conditions and respond appropriately.

In many environments, serve as important supplemental safety tools. Whether conducting a pre-trip vehicle inspection before sunrise, checking equipment in a dimly lit mechanical room, navigating outdoor work areas, or responding to an issue during a power disruption, portable lighting helps employees identify hazards before they become incidents.

Research continues to demonstrate the connection between visibility and workplace safety. NIOSH lighting that enhanced LED lighting improved the detection of trip hazards by 24%, improved the ability to identify moving hazards by 15%, and reduced glare by 45%. These improvements can be especially important during overnight operations, where workers may already be managing the challenges associated with fatigue and reduced visibility.

For employees working after dark, visibility is an principal part of situational awareness and hazard recognition. medical treatment for work-related eye injuries every day, underscoring the importance of helping employees clearly see their surroundings, equipment, and potential hazards before the work begins. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also proper workplace illumination as an important component of workplace safety, particularly in areas where employees perform detailed tasks, inspections, or maintenance activities.

The Visibility Checklist

• Carry a reliable flashlight or headlamp
• Inspect lighting before work begins
• Illuminate walkways and inspection areas
• Check equipment, exits, and workspaces before tasks begin
• Replace batteries and test emergency lighting regularly
• Conduct pre-trip inspections before overnight or early-morning driving

When the System Works Together

Even the most prepared employees benefit from strong support systems. Ongoing training can help workers recognize in themselves and others, including delayed reaction times, difficulty concentrating, drifting attention, and other warning signs that performance may be affected by lack of sleep.

Leadership engagement reinforces safety expectations across every shift, and technology provides additional visibility into workplace conditions and emerging risks. Options such as fleet telematics, AI-powered dash cameras, connected sensors, wearable technologies, and digital safety management platforms are helping organizations identify trends and address concerns before incidents occur. These tools do not replace experience or sound judgment; they serve to strengthen them. When paired with strong leadership, communication, and training, they can help businesses become more proactive in how they identify and manage risk.

The strength of the becomes clear when employees arrive informed about operational priorities, workspaces are designed to help them recognize hazards and maintain awareness; training, leadership, and technology provide additional support throughout their shifts. Over time, these systems begin to shape the rhythm of overnight work.

Inspections become more deliberate, communication becomes clearer, employees work with greater confidence, and potential issues can be identified earlier. Safety becomes less about reacting to problems and more about preventing them. In these environments, safety is not treated as a separate initiative; it becomes part of the everyday workflow.

Strengthening Workforce Resilience

The employees working overnight help keep production schedules moving, support patient care, maintain critical infrastructure, and prepare businesses for the day ahead. Their work influences far more than individual safety outcomes; when organizations create conditions that help these employees thrive, the benefits often extend well beyond injury reduction. They strengthen workforce resilience, improve operational continuity, preserve institutional knowledge, and support long-term performance.

At 糖心传媒, our Risk Management team works alongside policyholders every day to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support resilient operations built to meet the moments that matter most. Because some of the most important moments in business happen after dark鈥攁nd the people working through those moments deserve every opportunity to succeed safely.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

What helps construction projects stay strong when unexpected claims or liability issues arise?

Our latest workplace safety resource explores practical that can help contractors protect their operations before problems escalate. In today鈥檚 construction environment, tighter timelines, growing subcontractor networks, and increasingly complex projects continue to create new layers of exposure, making proactive planning more important than ever.

Why Risk Transfer Matters

That same challenge carries across jobsites every day. A subcontractor damages property. An injury involves multiple trades working in the same space. A disagreement over responsibility threatens to slow down work and impact profitability.

At its core, risk transfer helps shift financial and legal responsibility to the party best positioned to manage it. For contractors, that often begins with well-crafted contracts, indemnification provisions and additional insured requirements that clearly define responsibilities before work begins.

Often, the difference between a manageable disruption and a costly setback comes down to decisions made long before a project begins: how contracts and insurance requirements are structured with clarity, whether enforceable indemnification language is in place, and whether additional insured protections have been properly verified.

鈥淪trong risk transfer is really about creating clarity before challenges arise,鈥� said Casey Cain, Risk Management Manager at 糖心传媒.

鈥淲hen contractors take the time to establish clear expectations, verify coverage and strengthen contractual agreements upfront, they are often in a much better position to effectively transfer risk to the appropriate parties and keep the work moving forward when the unexpected happens.鈥�

Strengthen Your Strategy

Effective risk transfer begins long before work starts. 糖心传媒’s Risk Management professionals can help you evaluate contracts, strengthen insurance requirements and identify opportunities to reduce liability exposures before they become costly claims.

Explore the full resource below for expert insights and practical guidance designed to help contractors strengthen risk transfer strategies, protect project momentum, and support more resilient operations from start to finish.聽

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.

Building safety is something many people do not think about until something goes wrong.

A power outage suddenly brings operations to a halt. A leaking roof damages equipment after a heavy storm. An emergency exit blocked by stored materials becomes a serious concern during an evacuation drill.

More often than not, the disruptions that impact businesses the most begin as small issues that develop quietly over time. The safest workplaces are usually built on consistent preparation long before an emergency ever occurs.

Safety in the Workplace

Proper building safety helps reduce the risk of accidents and injuries caused by fire, structural concerns, falls, electrical hazards, and other workplace exposures. It is especially important in facilities with aging infrastructure, demanding operations, high foot traffic, or hazardous materials.

help provide guidance around fire prevention, electrical safety, emergency preparedness, and fall protection. OSHA data that fall protection, ladder safety, and hazard communication remain among the most frequently cited workplace safety concerns nationwide.

Building safety also plays an important role in business continuity. Electrical failures, fire hazards, water damage, and deferred maintenance issues can quickly disrupt operations, impact productivity, and create costly downtime if left unaddressed. the importance of facility preparedness and emergency response planning to help businesses respond more effectively during disruptions, severe weather events, and other unexpected emergencies.

The Importance of Built-In Building Safety

Creating a safer workplace often comes down to small, consistent actions that help prevent larger problems later. Businesses can strengthen building safety by focusing on the following practices:

• : Buildings should be inspected routinely to identify and address potential hazards before they worsen. Electrical systems, HVAC systems, elevators, roofs, and fire protection equipment should all be evaluated regularly to help support safe operation.
• : Employees should understand how to recognize potential workplace hazards and how to respond during emergencies. Training can include evacuation procedures, hazard reporting, proper equipment use, and workplace safety best practices.
• Clear Guidelines: Safety expectations and emergency procedures should be clearly communicated throughout the organization. This includes guidance around emergency exits, hazardous materials, contractor safety, and incident response protocols.
• Updated Equipment: Aging infrastructure and outdated equipment can increase exposure to operational disruptions and workplace safety concerns. Proactively upgrading systems can help businesses improve reliability and reduce risk.
• Severe weather, utility interruptions, and unexpected emergencies can affect businesses of any size. Developing response plans in advance can help organizations respond more confidently and decisively when conditions change quickly.
• : Employers should comply with OSHA standards for building safety. Failure to comply can result in costly penalties, fines, and preventable workplace injuries.

Building Safer, Stronger Workplaces

Building safety is about more than compliance alone. It is about creating workplaces that help protect employees, support daily operations, and strengthen long-term resilience. The strongest safety programs are built through preparation, consistency, and a proactive approach to identifying risks before they become larger problems 鈥� from routine maintenance and employee training to emergency preparedness and risk management planning.

At 糖心传媒, our Risk Management team works alongside policyholders to help identify exposures, strengthen workplace safety strategies, and support safer, stronger operations built to meet the moments that matter most.

In observance of , trenching and excavation work lay the foundation for vital infrastructure projects, but the inherent risks demand serious attention. Cave-ins, falling debris, hazardous atmospheres, and equipment mishaps rank among the most significant dangers. According to the , trenching and excavation  some of the most hazardous construction activities, with cave-ins alone responsible for dozens of fatalities annually.

The good news? These risks are not only manageable but preventable with proper planning, adherence to safety protocols, and innovative technology.

What Makes it So Dangerous?

Trenching and excavation can  deceptive dangers. Major risks include:

• Cave-ins: Soil can per cubic yard, making collapses potentially fatal. 
• Falling hazards: Workers can fall into unprotected trenches, or loose soil and debris can fall on workers inside. 
• Hazardous atmospheres: Trenches may accumulate toxic gases or have low oxygen without proper ventilation. 
• Equipment-related risks: Heavy machinery near trench edges can destabilize walls or pose struck-by hazards.聽

What Safety Planning Should Happen Before Any Excavation Begins?

Safety starts long before the first shovel hits the ground.

• Pre-job planning:  that a competent person evaluate the site, test soil stability, locate underground utilities, and establish safety protocols before work begins. 
• Locate utilities: Contact utility marking services (e.g., 鈥淐all Before You Dig鈥� / 811) so underground fuel, electric, sewer, or water lines are identified. 
• Soil and atmospheric testing: Test soil for stability and trenches for hazardous atmospheres like low oxygen or toxic gas before workers enter. 
• Daily inspections: Trenches and protective systems should be inspected by a competent person at the start of each shift and after events like rain or heavy equipment activity. 

Identifying hazards early lets you plan protection strategies 鈥� and prevents many incidents before they happen.

What Protective Systems Are Required?

When a trench is deeper than five feet (unless it鈥檚 in stable rock), OSHA standards require to reduce cave-in risks. 

Common protective options include:

• Sloping: Cutting trench walls at an angle to reduce collapse potential. 
• Shoring: Installing supports (e.g., timber or hydraulic systems) to stabilize trench walls. 
• Shielding: Using trench boxes or shields to protect workers from cave-ins. 

These systems help ensure that soil or debris doesn鈥檛 trap workers as excavation progresses.

How Should Workers Enter and Exit Trenches?

Safe access and egress are critical 鈥� especially in emergencies.

• Trenches should have ladders, ramps, or stairs installed within 25 feet of workers. 
• Ramps and ladders must be properly designed and free of tripping hazards. 
• Using a competent person to evaluate and confirm these access points is essential. 

Quick and reliable exit routes can make all the difference if conditions change rapidly. 

How Can Technology Improve Safety?

Safety innovations are helping worksites detect hazards sooner and act faster:

• Real-time soil monitoring detects instability before it becomes a crisis. 
• Advanced trench boxes combine lightweight materials with stronger protection. 
• Ground-penetrating radar and GPS mapping improve utility location accuracy. 

What Ongoing Safety Practices Should Be Part of Every Job?

Best practices don鈥檛 stop once work begins. Here are some proactive safety measures you should implement to make your jobsite stronger and more resilient.

• Keep soil, materials, and equipment at least two feet from trench edges to avoid adding pressure that can trigger a collapse. 
• Monitor atmospheric conditions continuously in deeper excavations. 
• Train workers and supervisors on excavation hazards, recognition, and response. 
• Communicate risks daily, including weather impacts and changes in soil stability. 

Want Expert Support With Your Excavation Safety Program?

If your organization performs this type of work, a structured safety program can make all the difference in preventing injuries, minimizing liability exposure, and meeting regulatory requirements.

Partnering with risk and safety advisors 鈥� like those at 糖心传媒 鈥� can help you assess your current processes, enhance planning and training, and strengthen your overall safety culture. Connect with an 糖心传媒 risk specialist today.

In recognition of , our latest workplace safety resource explores practical prevention strategies that can help teams recognize heat-related risks earlier and respond before conditions become dangerous. Federal nearly 34,000 serious heat-related workplace injuries and illnesses have occurred over the last decade alone, with construction and other physically demanding industries continuing to face elevated risk.

That same challenge carries across industries. On construction sites, in manufacturing facilities, and anywhere physically demanding work takes place, safer outcomes are often shaped by everyday decisions 鈥� how teams hydrate, recognize subtle warning signs, schedule recovery breaks, and look out for one another throughout the workday. And because within minutes if left untreated, early action matters.

Explore the full resource below for expert insights, prevention essentials, and practical first-aid response guidance designed to help support safer workplaces during the hottest months of the year.

Helping Teams Stay Safer

When an organization produces goods, the hope is that the products are fault-free. However, there may be instances when a product could become dangerous to the public and it鈥檚 the company鈥檚 responsibility to inform consumers about these risks.

This responsibility is referred to as the 鈥渄uty to warn.鈥� The duty to warn doctrine is based on the idea that consumers should be able to make informed decisions about whether to use a product. If a product is dangerous, the manufacturer has a duty to warn consumers about those dangers so they can make an informed decision about product usage.

I talk about this, among other important product liability topics, in the February 2026 Risk Management webinar presentation: .

Manufacturers must remember that the duty to warn includes products that are safe, designed and manufactured well, but normal function can still cause injuries. An obvious example is a chainsaw, but we also see warnings appearing on plastic bags, buckets or other seemingly innocuous items that may present a hazard to children.

Duty to warn covers reasonably foreseeable use and misuse. Inhaling aerosol propellants, for instance, could be considered reasonably foreseeable misuse.

Failing to warn, failing to instruct or issuing unclear warnings are among the leading allegations in product liability claims. 

• Failure to warn: No warnings are provided about a known risk.
• Failure to instruct: Instructions don鈥檛 clearly explain how to use the product safely or how to avoid foreseeable misuse.
• Inadequate warnings: Labels or manuals don鈥檛 clearly communicate the hazard or do so in a way the average user will understand. 

When warnings are inadequate, injured parties can argue that the product itself was defective because consumers weren鈥檛 informed about risks they could not reasonably anticipate.

The duty to warn is rooted in the legal principle of negligence 鈥� a failure to exercise reasonable care that causes harm to others. 

To establish negligence, a plaintiff generally must show that:

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care.
2. The defendant breached that duty.
3. The plaintiff suffered harm as a result of the defendant鈥檚 breach.
4. The harm was caused by the defendant鈥檚 breach.聽

In product liability cases based on duty to warn, a 鈥渂reach鈥� often involves failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions about risks that could have been reasonably identified through testing, research or industry standards.

There are two primary ways a business can satisfy its duty to warn:

1. Warnings on the Product Itself

Labels affixed directly to the product 鈥� especially when the user may not see packaging or manuals 鈥� need to be clear, conspicuous and understandable.

2. Warnings Through Supporting Materials

Instructions, manuals, safety guides and other product documentation can provide detailed guidance about how to safely use the product and avoid known risks. 

Effective warnings should:

• Describe the risk clearly,
• Be visible and easy to understand and
• Cover both intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse.

ANSI Z535.4-2023 is a  on the design and content of safety warnings. The standard is not legally binding, but it is widely used by businesses to comply with their duty to warn. The standard is a valuable resource for businesses that want to ensure their warnings comply with their duty to warn. It covers a wide range of topics for warning labels, including purpose, type, content, format, placement and testing.

While ANSI Z535.4-2022 is not a legal document, it is often used as evidence in product liability lawsuits. If a plaintiff is injured by a product, it may be argued that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about the dangers of the product. If the manufacturer followed ANSI Z535.4-2022 in designing and developing the warnings, this may help defend the manufacturer against the lawsuit.

Overall, ANSI Z535.4-2022 is a valuable resource for businesses wishing to comply with the duty to warn. However, it is important to note that the standard is not a guarantee of safety or immunity from liability. The standard is only a guideline and there may be cases where a manufacturer can comply with the standard and still be found liable for a product liability lawsuit.

Duty to warn should be considered early and throughout the product lifecycle 鈥� not just at launch. 

A practical approach includes:

• During design and development: Identify intended use, target users and hazards.
• Before market release: Evaluate foreseeable misuse and develop warnings/labels accordingly.
• After product launch: Adjust warnings based on customer feedback, complaints or evidence of misuse. 

Organizations should document this process and continually reassess warnings as new information emerges.

Failure to warn can expose a company to liability even when the product itself is safe by design. Providing clear, effective warnings helps:

• Reduce risk of injury and liability claims
• Demonstrate reasonable care in product development
• Build customer trust and safety reputation
• Support defense in litigation by showing adherence to industry best practices

A strong duty-to-warn strategy is an essential component of an overall product liability risk management program.

If you manufacture or distribute products, taking a strategic approach to warnings and instructions can significantly strengthen your product safety posture.

Working with experienced risk advisors 鈥� like those at 糖心传媒 鈥� can help you evaluate warning requirements, apply best practices and align your product liability program with real-world risks.

In his current role at 糖心传媒, Eric assists with the review of manufacturing accounts, the products produced, and coordinates with underwriting teams on potential issues identified, while helping to coach risk management consultants prior to visiting prospective accounts. Eric has been a featured speaker for the National Pool Builder鈥檚 Association meeting, providing safety instruction to company ownership personnel. Additionally, he created the widely successful . Eric was named 糖心传媒鈥檚 Loss Control Consultant of the Year in 2012 and 2023, and has been nominated for this honor two other times. He has been published in Safety and Health Magazine, as well SafetyInfo.com鈥檚 online magazine. 

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in this article are for general informational purposes only.