COVID-19 has changed the way we all work. Some of us never stopped physically going to work, while others have been working remotely since mid-March. No matter where we are, working during a pandemic has added stress to our daily lives.

When a COVID-19 case occurs in the workplace, the local health department may ask an employer for help. Health departments are responsible for leading case investigations, contact tracing and outbreak investigations.

Health care workers who are exposed to needles – for example, those administering a COVID-19 vaccine – are at risk of sharps injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

More than 300. That’s how many known triggers can be found in the workplace that cause or worsen asthma, according to NIOSH. 

As with all workplace safety and health efforts, staying safe in the future world of work will be the combined effort of employers taking the right steps to reduce risk and employees doing their part to look out for themselves and each other.

Employers typically are required to accommodate employees with diabetes, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Accommodations may include time and a private place to administer any medications or conduct blood sugar tests, the ability to keep food nearby, or a schedule of regular breaks to maintain a prescribed diet.

You probably know about Lyme disease, and that it’s transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. But have you heard of alpha-gal syndrome?

Raynaud’s phenomenon – sometimes called Raynaud’s syndrome or disease – is a disorder of blood circulation in the fingers and toes (and less commonly in the ears and nose). The cause: Several.

“Even skin that is protected can be subject to frostbite,” the National Safety Council says. Signs of frostbite include skin that looks red, white, bluish-white, grayish-yellow, purplish, brown or ashen, depending on the severity of the condition and the person’s skin color. The affected area may feel numb as well. The condition can affect the fingers, toes, ears and face.

Many workers have been diagnosed with some form of lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means working in a lung-friendly workplace is key.

Pregnancy increases the risk of heatstroke or heat exhaustion on the job because the body must work harder to cool itself, according to OSHA. Pregnant workers are also more likely to become dehydrated, “a primary contributor to heat-related illness.”

Also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, black lung is a “job-related disease caused by continued exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine dust,” NIOSH says.

Flame-resistant versus non-flammable PPE: Why does it matter?

Why does the high-visibility standard have FR requirements?

What factors should I consider when choosing high-visibility apparel?

OSHA regulations dictate we offer a “variety” of hearing protectors to noise-exposed workers. What is best practice for providing a variety while keeping inventory to a minimum?

What are the most common reasons why employees fail to wear safety eyewear, and how can we help increase compliance?

How is the comfort of FR clothing related to compliance?

What is the relationship between OSHA permissible exposure limits/maximum use concentrations and assigned protection factors?

What is climate control in personal protective equipment, and why is it important?

How have the products used by utilities workers in recent years evolved to address changing demographics and working conditions?

What role does scheduling play in cold weather work?

How is glass and steel engineered into cut-resistant gloves?

What are the benefits of having personal protective equipment at the point of use?

What’s the difference between “hearing conservation” and “hearing loss prevention”?

Is the “one size smaller” rule for women’s personal protective equipment adequate?

When selecting protective eyewear, most higher-quality options have various features and upgrades, including impact re-sistance, anti-fog technology, ultraviolent resistance and polarized lenses. What do each of these technologies provide and why should workers want them in their safety glasses?

What do I need to know before buying gloves for a specific job task?

How can proper eye protection relieve headaches and eye fatigue?

What are cut-resistant sleeves, and what type of workers should wear them?

How are powered air-purifying systems protecting frontline health care workers from COVID-19?

As an employer, what are my responsibilities to protect my workers from respiratory hazards? What responsibilities do my employees have?

How do I build a hand safety program that actually reduces hand injuries?

What are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing hand and arm protection?

How can equipment selection encourage hearing protection compliance?

How has NFPA 2112 changed to accommodate hand protection?

What have supply chain disruptions meant for employers who need personal protective equipment for their workers?

How important is properly fitted high-visibility clothing for safety on the job?

Given the prevalence of eye protection requirements across industries, it’s clear this isn’t an issue of awareness, but of compliance.

In the past few years, garments tailored for women have become more common. These garments look similar to men’s apparel but are designed with specific details that consider the female form and shape.

How are women represented when it comes to PPE?

As workplaces face labor shortages, employees are covering more jobs and responsibilities. How can safety managers ensure workers receive the proper hearing protection across different job environments in a single shift?

What do workers need to look for when buying foot protection?

What type of hazards are gloves rated for? How have the EN388 and ANSI/ISEA 105 test standards evolved?

How does the filter media in an N95 filtering facepiece respirator really work?

A white paper from Lehigh explains the Compound Effect Solution to Plantar Fasciitis – how to give your employees the 1-2-3 punch, providing the best-fitting approved footwear, along with custom orthotics and medical-grade compression socks.

What do I need to know about eye protection programs if I’m required to provide my workers with safety eyewear?

What should safety managers look for in protective clothing to improve both safety and compliance?

Providing your employees with the most accurate-fitting safety footwear, body-aligning orthotics and medical-grade compression socks will give them a 1-2-3 punch to eliminate late-afternoon slump, feel better at the end of their shift and have a better quality of life off the job.

What are some of the biggest challenges and misconceptions in industrial workplaces when it comes to hand protection?