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SDM 2018 Security Industry Forecast: Moving Into High Gear

Last year was good, but 2018 could be great, say security integrators and security dealers who participated in the 2018 SDM Industry Forecast Study and Panel, a report that SDM has published annually since 1982. The economy is roaring.




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SDM 2019 Security Industry Forecast: Channeling Momentum Into Opportunities

Security integrators expect their stellar 2018 performance to continue into 2019, according to results of SDM’s 2019 Industry Forecast Study, a report published annually by SDM since 1982. Last year saw double-digit growth in both total annual revenue and recurring monthly revenue (RMR) for integrators and dealers who participated in the study.




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SDM 2020 Industry Forecast: Insight for the New Year

Security integrators expect their brilliant business performance of 2019 to continue into 2020, according to results of SDM’s Industry Forecast Study, a report published each year since 1982.




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SDM's 2021 Industry Forecast Shows Hope Ahead

To say 2020 was a bit of a roller coaster ride is perhaps an understatement. At this time last year, most security integrators anticipated a strong 2020, only to be thrown into turmoil late in the first quarter by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.




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2022 SDM Industry Forecast

Everyone hoped things would be “back to normal” by now. While security companies in 2021 continued to feel the impacts of the coronavirus, the 2022 SDM Industry Forecast shows both slow but steady improvement and optimism.




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SDM 2023 Industry Forecast: Cautious Optimism Prevails

The good news is COVID-19 seems to be in the rear-view mirror; but ahead all signs point to a recession. Security dealers and integrators are wary, but cautiously optimistic they can weather this downturn with the skills they have honed in recent years.




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2024 Industry Forecast: Back to Business as Usual?

With the pandemic and supply chain issues both mostly in the rear-view mirror, security dealers and integrators are returning to “normal” and focusing on more typical challenges such as the economy, increasing sales, competing effectively and generating more RMR.




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National Farm Safety and Health Week set for Sept. 19-25

Peosta, IA — A series of daily webinars is planned for National Farm Safety and Health Week, scheduled to take place Sept. 19-25.




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Rulemaking and emphasis program part of OSHA’s plans for preventing heat illnesses

Washington — OSHA is initiating a multipronged approach to protecting workers from extreme heat exposure, both outdoors and indoors, the agency has announced.




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New website offers health and safety resources for farmers and ranchers

Covington, LA — Helping farmers and ranchers navigate occupational risks and providing information on health and safety issues is the goal of the AgriSafe Health Hub, a new website.




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OSHA emphasis program aimed at protecting New England tree, landscaping workers

Boston — Spurred by an “alarming” and “unacceptable” number of incidents in the tree and landscaping industries throughout New England in recent years, OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program intended to reduce the risks of injury and death faced by workers in these industries.




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EPA unveils calculator for workers exposed to pesticide-treated seeds

Washington — In an effort to provide “more confidence and certainty” about risks and exposures related to occupational pesticide seed treatment, the Environmental Protection Agency has developed a calculator and released updated worker exposure data.




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Study links on-the-job pesticide exposure to increased risk of COPD

London — Workers exposed to pesticides may face a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, results of a recent study led by British researchers suggest.




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National grain safety week set for April 4-8

Washington — OSHA and its Alliance Program partners in the agriculture industry are teaming up to host the sixth annual Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week – slated for April 4-8.




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Young workers may be at increased risk of cancer-causing exposures

Calgary, Alberta — Young workers in construction and other outdoor industries are “key groups that warrant further investigation” into their increased risk of carcinogen exposures on the job, according to a team of Canadian researchers.




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Court issues stay of EPA rule limiting farmers’ responsibility for protecting workers from pesticides

New York — The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has halted until at least Aug. 22 an Environmental Protection Agency final rule that revises the pesticide application exclusion zone requirement in the agency’s standard on agricultural worker protection.




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National Farm Safety and Health Week set for Sept. 18-24

Peosta, IA — A series of daily webinars is planned for National Farm Safety and Health Week, scheduled for Sept. 18-24.




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Great Lakes facility becomes fifth NIOSH center for ag worker safety and health

Washington — NIOSH has established the Great Lakes Center for Farmworker Health and Wellbeing. Based at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Great Lakes Center becomes the 11th center for agricultural safety and health – or Ag Center – nationwide.




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EPA withdraws interim decision on glyphosate in response to court decision

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn its interim registration review decision for glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide.




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A stronger California heat stress rule could guide federal efforts: report

Washington — Enhancing California’s workplace heat standard could better protect workers in the state and guide current federal rulemaking on heat stress prevention, a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council suggests.




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Fungi that can make outdoor workers sick are now nationwide, researchers say

St. Louis — Workers in construction, landscaping, agriculture and other outdoor industries may be at risk of infections caused by soil fungi that historically had been found only in certain regions of the country, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis say.




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Purdue professors expand safety training for young farm workers

West Lafayette, IN — Two Purdue University professors have used a federal grant to expand their safety and health training program for beginning agricultural workers ages 12-20.




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EPA aims to reinstate worker protections from pesticides

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would retain various pesticide application exclusion zone requirements amended but not implemented as part of a previous agency final rule currently under a court-ordered stay.




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National grain safety week set for March 27-31

Washington — OSHA and its Alliance Program partners in the agriculture industry are teaming up to host the seventh annual Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.




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Comment period open on Oregon OSHA’s pending oversight of temporary labor camps

Washington — Oregon OSHA is one step closer to having full oversight over temporary labor camps, after federal OSHA published a proposed final approval in the March 13 Federal Register.




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Summer’s a busy (and dangerous) time for landscaping workers, OSHA says

Washington — Vehicles, moving machinery parts, falling trees, toxic chemicals and heat exposure are some of the many hazards that workers in landscaping are exposed to throughout the summer months.




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OSHA issues its first hazard alert on heat

Washington — OSHA is urging employers to take steps to keep workers safe in extreme heat, including providing adequate cool water, rest breaks, and shade or a cool rest area.




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2022 saw 24 deaths in ag-related confined space incidents: report

West Lafayette, IN — At least 83 incidents involving confined spaces in the agriculture industry were documented last year – up 41%, according to an annual report recently released by Purdue University.




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OSHA approves Oregon’s oversight of temporary labor camps

Washington — Oregon OSHA now has full oversight of temporary labor camps in the state, after receiving federal OSHA’s final approval.




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New fact sheet: Prevent skid steer loader injuries

East Lansing, MI — Employers who have skid steer loaders should develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive injury prevention program that includes training workers on hazard recognition and avoidance.




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New surveillance system helps track work-related amputations

Tumwater, WA — In an effort to better identify, develop and evaluate effective efforts to prevent amputations, Washington state has created a surveillance system intended to augment employer-reported data.




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Suicide rate among working-age people up 33% in past two decades: CDC

Washington — Workplaces can play an important role in suicide prevention, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say in a recent study.




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Tree and landscape worker deaths spur OSHA emphasis program

New York — A new Regional Emphasis Program from OSHA is aimed at curbing worker fatalities and injuries in the tree and landscape services industries.




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Is farmworker dehydration a widespread issue?

Chicago — A recent study of Florida farmworkers found that virtually all of them experienced dehydration at the end of their shift, and more than half were still dehydrated the next morning.




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CDC updates guidance on protecting workers from bird flu

Washington — Responding to an outbreak of avian flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated interim guidance intended to protect workers exposed to certain animals and animal products.




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EPA moves to protect people from pesticide drift

Washington — Assessment of a pesticide’s potential to drift from areas of application and expose people will now happen earlier in the chemical review process, the Environmental Protection Agency says.




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EPA wants input on occupational exposure assessments for three pesticides

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking feedback on updated occupational exposure assessments for three seed treatment pesticides to which exposure may cause negative health effects.




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New translation app connects employers, workers and Cal/OSHA

Sacramento, CA — A new interpretation app that can instantly translate more than 200 languages and dialects can be used by employers and workers in California to communicate more easily.




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Wisconsin sanitation worker bill signed into law

Watertown, WI – New legislation in Wisconsin doubles the maximum and minimum fines for traffic violations that endanger sanitation workers.




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Florida extends ‘move over' law to sanitation, utility workers

Tallahassee, FL – Florida legislators have expanded the state’s “Move-Over Act” to include protections for workers who operate or ride in or on sanitation and utility service vehicles.




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Service, blue-collar workers more at risk for heart disease, stroke: report

Atlanta – Among workers younger than 55, employees in service and blue-collar jobs are more likely to report a history of coronary heart disease or stroke, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.




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Most Americans don’t slow down for garbage trucks: survey

Washington – A recent survey from the National Waste & Recycling Association revealed that two-thirds of drivers do not slow down around garbage trucks, and almost 4 out of 10 drivers admit they feel tempted to speed past the vehicles.




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Injury rates among recycling workers are twice national average: report

Berkeley, CA – Recycling industry employees face “unnecessarily hazardous” conditions on the job, but those conditions can be improved, according to a report released June 23.




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‘In danger every day’: Report details hazards facing sanitation workers in NYC

New York – Injuries and fatalities are prevalent in the New York City commercial waste industry despite being easily preventable, according to a recent report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.




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Agencies partner on infectious disease response training for health care, hazardous waste workers

Research Triangle Park, NC – Outbreaks of viruses such as Ebola and Zika have prompted the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response – to launch an infectious disease safety training program for first responders and hazardous waste workers.




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OSHA launches webpage on HAZWOPER

Washington – OSHA has created a webpage intended to help workers and employers involved with the agency’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (1910.120) for construction and general industry.




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‘It’s pretty dangerous to be a garbage man’

Hazards associated with working in traffic, handling materials, and moving on and off garbage trucks put sanitation workers at risk. In the first two days of 2018 alone, seven sanitation workers were killed, according to the Solid Waste Association.




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Needlestick injuries common in trash and recycling facilities: report

Raleigh, NC — An estimated 781 to 1,484 needlestick-related injuries – a rate of 2.7 per 100 workers – occur annually at solid waste and recycling material recovery facilities, according to a recent report from the Environmental Research and Education Foundation and the Solid Waste Association of North America.




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SWANA calls for renewed focus on safety amid ‘unacceptable’ surge in sanitation worker deaths

Silver Spring, MD — Seventeen sanitation workers – including 13 in the United States and four in Canada – were killed in the first three weeks of 2019, the Solid Waste Association of North America reports, a development the organization calls “unprecedented” and “unacceptable” as it urges industry employers and employees to renew their commitment to safety.




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Sanitation worker deaths down slightly, but still high: analysis

Silver Spring, MD — At least 30 sanitation workers died from on-the-job injuries in the first seven months of this year – a 9.1% decrease from the same period last year, according to a recent Solid Waste Association of North America analysis.