Wearing a facemask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 can present obstacles to communication, “an important and complex transaction that depends on visual and, often, auditory cues,” says Debara L. Tucci, director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

When a natural disaster, biological incident or other event occurs, first responders and recovery workers often rush to the scene. That means it’s crucial they have the proper personal protective equipment ready and know how to use it.

The need and value of personal protective equipment and worker safety have surged over the past two years. More than ever, it is imperative that organizations ensure they mitigate the risk of workplace hazards for their employees as well as their business’s sustainability.

This white paper is filled with expert tips on building and maintaining an effective PPE program. Learn about your obligations regarding PPE and empower your employees to protect themselves on the job.

Earthquakes can strike anywhere at anytime, so organizations should prepare employees.

Perth, Australia – Promoting activity in the workplace can help reduce sitting time, but not by much among workers with fixed schedules, according to a new study from Curtin University.

Washington – A new NIOSH publication describes how the agency’s Health Hazard Evaluation Program works with employers to investigate possible dangers in the workplace.

Tokyo – Office workers who spend long hours in front of computer screens experience changes in their tear fluid similar to people who have dry eye disease, according to a study from the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan.

Good housekeeping is crucial to safe workplaces. Experts agree that all workplaces – from offices to manufacturing plants – should incorporate housekeeping in their safety programs, and every worker should play a part.

San Francisco – In recognition of Workplace Eye Wellness Month in March, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is sharing ergonomic tips to help workers deal with dry and strained eyes.

Olympia, WA – Workers are spending more time on computers and, as a result, the percentage of office workers with musculoskeletal issues is increasing, according to an ergonomics evaluation study conducted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Chicago — Spontaneous activity, such as moving your feet back and forth, while seated can burn more calories than using a standing workstation, according to the results of a recent study.

Chicago — Workers can get quite heated when it comes to office temperatures. In a recent Harris Poll survey of 1,012 full-time U.S. adult employees, conducted between April 4 and May 1, 46 percent of respondents said their office is either too hot or too cold.

Tokyo — Long-term exposure to powdered toner or toner-using machines has no significant impact on lung health, concludes a recent study of copier industry workers by researchers at Japan’s Showa University.

Morgantown, WV — Nanoparticles from printer toner emissions can cause “very significant” changes to workers’ genetic and metabolic profiles, results of a recent study led by a researcher from West Virginia University show.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA, along with the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, has published a 25-page guidance document intended to help employers safely return workers to office settings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protecting employees from COVD-19 exposure requires creating a comprehensive plan – and then executing that plan and adjusting it when necessary.

Chicago — Eye safety and protection should be a workplace priority, advocacy group Prevent Blindness is reminding employers and employees.

Thousands of employees are blinded every year from work-related eye injuries, OSHA states.

In certain workplaces, wearing contact lenses can complicate eye safety, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Every day in the United States, roughly 2,000 workers experience an eye injury serious enough to require medical attention, according to NIOSH.

Eye injuries on the job are not uncommon. In 2012, 20,300 eye injuries involving days away from work occurred, according to the National Safety Council chartbook “Injury Facts.” What can workers do to help reduce this number?

An easily accessible, properly working emergency eyewash and shower station is critical at worksites where, in OSHA’s words, “the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.”

Are you in danger of becoming an eye injury statistic? According to Prevent Blindness, a Chicago-based volunteer eye health and safety organization, 2,000 workers per day experience a job-related eye injury that requires medical attention. Of those injuries, 10 percent to 20 percent result in temporary or permanent vision loss.

From conducting a needs assessment to regularly reviewing your program, experts offer advice.

The Clipless Steel Guarding Line is used to create robotic guards, safety guards, welding cells, conveyor guards and more. The core characteristics of the steel guarding – easy assembly, sized to exact specifications, simple modifications and modularity – remain the same.

The Quick Quote mobile app allows users to quickly and easily request a custom machine guarding quote from their smartphone, eliminating the need to speak with a salesperson.

The Detect-A-Finger Drop-Probe Device is designed to prevent a riveter, welder or other small machine from cycling if it encounters fingers in the point-of-operation area, thus preventing contact between the operator and dangerous moving parts.

The Bench Grinder Safety Gauge is designed for use during the installation, maintenance and inspection of bench/pedestal grinders to ensure compliance with OSHA 1910.215.

The Ejection Curtain Guarding Kit gives machinists confidence, knowing they’re able to achieve efficient hydraulic press use while being protected by a coiled wire fabric guard that reduces the risk of cuts, lacerations and punctures from flying debris.

These state-of-the-art machine safety guards feature built-in Visorguard LEDs to provide super-bright illumination in the work area.

The Proton is an advanced solenoid interlock switch designed for use on machines for which hazardous conditions persist even after the machine has been switched off. Its heavy-duty solenoid can withstand up to 3000N hold force and energize under a lateral load.

Washington — OSHA is seeking comment on a proposed rule aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.

Washington — A new video from OSHA describes how to use the agency’s new Severe Injury Report data dashboard.

Los Angeles — OSHA administrator Doug Parker is urging workers to provide feedback on the agency’s proposed rule aimed at protecting them from heat-related illnesses both indoors and outdoors.

Washington — Worker safety agencies took time on Wednesday to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Washington — Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su has renewed the two-year charter for OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for membership on its Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Orlando, FL — OSHA is seeking to harness the power of employers as a “force multiplier” to improve worker safety and health, according to agency leader Doug Parker.

Gaithersburg, MD — Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder are partnering to test whether a new breath-test strategy can reliably detect recent cannabis use.

Washington — OSHA has issued $12.7 million in safety and health training grants to 102 nonprofit organizations, via its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.

Washington — NIOSH has published a draft of a hazard review document on wildfire smoke exposure among outdoor workers – and is asking for comment.

Washington — OSHA has updated its internal guidance on communicating with the families of workers killed on the job.

Washington — OSHA is warning workers involved in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene to be aware of hazards caused by flooding, power outages, structural damage, fallen trees and storm debris.

Washington — The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 requires pesticide manufacturers to translate safety and health information on product labels into Spanish. New and updated resources from the Environmental Protection Agency are intended to help.

Washington — OSHA has finalized changes that restructure the agency’s regional operations – and create a new region.

Washington — NIOSH has established a center to “better protect firefighters and be able to identify and prevent new and emerging hazards in the fire service earlier and faster” through research and service.

Washington — New videos from OSHA feature safe practices for workers tasked with cleaning up after a flood or using a portable generator.

Washington — In an effort to help protect workers from wildfire smoke, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Forest Service have updated their AirNow Fire and Smoke Map mobile app.

Washington — A traveling NIOSH exhibit spotlights research that has advanced medical treatment and awareness of the health problems experienced by workers who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.