PAINTSQUARE BLOG CONTRIBUTORS

Can the US Stop the Worker-Safety Yo-Yo?
By Michael Halliwell

Seeing just how political workplace safety in the U.S. has become, one can’t help but wonder: Should safety be the plaything of politics? Are the lives of US workers really secondary to financial and ... READ MORE

The 'Fatal Four' and Your Worksite
By Michael Halliwell

I recently took the time to look at the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration website for some of the commonly used statistics. To be perfectly blunt, the statistics were eye-opening. ... READ MORE

Getting Along
By Michael Halliwell

A lot has been going on recently that draws my attention back to the social side of our world rather than worker safety or the latest technical innovation.... READ MORE

Be Ready for What May Come
By Michael Halliwell

Kay Redfield Jamison once said, “There is always a part of my mind that is preparing for the worst, and another part of my mind that believes if I prepare enough for it, the worst won’t happen.” ... READ MORE

Coatings Safety On and Off the Job
By Michael Halliwell

As anyone who reads my blog knows, my job involves sampling paints for lead, conducting environmental construction operation plan audits on bridge rehabilitation projects and addressing other health a... READ MORE

Unwelcome Surprises
By Michael Halliwell

A recent article in The Globe and Mail brought to light a disturbing trend in work-related fatalities in Canada. ... READ MORE

Confined Space, Common Sense
By Michael Halliwell

As I write this, it’s October, which means that the new OSHA confined space standard, published back in May 2015, is now in force.... READ MORE

Giving Back
By Michael Halliwell

Isn’t it amazing how many lives we touch in our day-to-day work? Or even when we are “off the clock”?... READ MORE

Unstoppable Ego v. Irresistible Force
By Michael Halliwell

As many of you know, my involvement with the coatings industry is not on the application side. As someone in the environmental field, my most common involvement is in the assessment of applied paints ... READ MORE

The Big Deal about Asbestos
By Michael Halliwell

Once again, asbestos is hitting the headlines. There have been articles about school-board employees being exposed via sanding tiles and a potential cover-up, about an unscrupulous individual using he... READ MORE

Confined Space:
Have We Learned Our Lesson Yet?
By Michael Halliwell

I don’t think we go more than a week between articles about injuries or fatalities involving confined spaces.... READ MORE

Who’ll Take Responsibility for Safety?
By Michael Halliwell

Although I am an environmental professional by trade, my work is tied into enough health, safety and environment (HSE) programs to expose me to a variety of safety programs, styles and attitudes over ... READ MORE

The Hidden Hazards of Bridge Rehab
By Michael Halliwell

Any time that one is working bridge rehabilitation, there are certain hazards that should be pretty obvious. The first, and often foremost, is falls and fall hazards. But there are other potential haz... READ MORE

ECO Plans: More Green on the Job Site
By Michael Halliwell

Our job sites have sure changed over the last 15 years or so. Many things that were once commonplace can no longer be done, due to their impact on the environment. To that end, many jurisdictions have... READ MORE