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OSHA looking to partner with employers to curb injuries and deaths, agency leader Doug Parker says

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.




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Study to test new approach for detecting cannabis in breath

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.




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OSHA awards $12.7M in safety and health training grants

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




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Exposure to wildfire smoke: NIOSH wants feedback on draft hazard review

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




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OSHA updates staff guidance on communicating with families after a worker death

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




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OSHA urging caution amid Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts

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.




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New and updated: EPA resources on bilingual pesticide labeling

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.




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Changes to OSHA regions now in effect

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




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NIOSH announces Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Well-being

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.




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Safe flood cleanup and portable generator use: OSHA releases videos

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




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App that tracks wildfire smoke and activity gets an update

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.




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‘Health Effects of 9/11’ exhibit now at Flight 93 National Memorial

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.




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OSHA renews emphasis programs in Denver Region

Denver — Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming make up the Denver Region.




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Chemical Safety Board eyes ‘tomorrow’s successes’ after a ‘good year’

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board reached a milestone of 1,000 safety recommendations and distanced itself from a long-standing investigative backlog, among other accomplishments, in fiscal year 2024.




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Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge: NIOSH crowns final winners

Washington — NIOSH has announced winners of the third and final phase of its Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge.




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‘Beat the Heat’ photo contest: OSHA announces winners

Washington — OSHA has unveiled the winners of its inaugural “Beat the Heat” photo contest, a national competition aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of heat exposure.




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EPA updates ventilation guidance to curb the spread of respiratory viruses

Washington — Employers can help prevent the spread of common respiratory viruses indoors by ensuring proper workplace ventilation and limiting the use of small, shared spaces, the Environmental Protection Agency says.




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Lockout/tagout safety

How can lockout/tagout deliver return on investment while remaining safe and in compliance with OSHA?




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Lockout/tagout solutions

What types of lockout solutions are available that comply with OSHA standards?




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Lockout/tagout and machine guarding

What would the requirement be if a lengthy lockout procedure was needed to shut down complex equipment with numerous energy sources, but we are only working in one area of the machine with a limited number of energy sources?




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Lockout/tagout responsibility

Who is responsible for lockout/tagout within a facility?




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Understanding blind-flange lockout devices

Because OSHA already considers a blind or blanking plate to be a lockout, how is the blind-flange lockout device a safety improvement?




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Better understanding hazardous energy control

What do I need to know regarding the new ANSI standard Z244.1 (2016), “The Control of Hazardous Energy Lockout, Tagout and Alternative Methods?”




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Lockout/tagout: Getting it right

What’s the best way to centralize/consolidate LOTO procedures?




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Lockout/tagout inconsistencies

What are the biggest gaps in lockout/tagout programs?




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Alternative measures for lockout/tagout

When is it appropriate to use the alternative protection measures outlined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 in place of standard LOTO procedures?




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Lockout/tagout needs

What features should I be looking for in a lockout padlock?




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Key charting to manage lockout

How does safety padlock key charting help me manage my lockout padlock system?




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From stadiums to jobsites: Virginia Tech lab plans to rate safety helmets

Blacksburg, VA — The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is planning to venture outside of sports and recreation to create ratings for safety helmets.




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3D printer emissions can harm respiratory health: study

Atlanta — Emissions from 3D printers may contain fine and ultrafine particles that can damage airway cells and negatively affect respiratory health, result of a recent study show.




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Are workers open to new safety technologies? NSC explores

Washington — More than 4 out of 5 workers are willing to try safety technologies, a new research report from the Work to Zero initiative at the National Safety Council shows.




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A subtle change may increase disability disclosures

DeKalb, IL — Could altering the language on disability disclosure forms encourage more workers to disclose their conditions? A recent study explored this idea.




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AIHA asks for feedback on new heat stress mobile app

Falls Church, VA — The American Industrial Hygiene Association has unveiled a beta version of its new heat stress mobile app and is asking employers and outdoor workers to evaluate it.




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Workers’ comp study looks at the benefits of a robust psychosocial safety climate

Adelaide, Australia — Employers with stronger psychosocial safety climates experience fewer days lost to work-related ailments, as well as lower injury costs, results of a recent study out of Australia suggest.




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Teaching older kids about workplace safety pays dividends, study shows

Denver — Young people who participated in an introductory workplace safety and health training session significantly boosted their knowledge of and attitude toward the topic, results of a recent study show.




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Study looks at police officers, head injuries and mental health issues

Columbus, OH — Three out of 10 law enforcement officers have experienced a work-related head injury, putting them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, according to a recent study.




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Paper provides safety ‘template’ for emerging technologies

Cincinnati — Drawing on the lessons learned from efforts to protect workers from the hazards associated with nanomaterials can help developers of new technologies ensure their safe use, researchers contend.




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Employer support may not appease ‘stuck’ workers who feel wronged: study

Birmingham, England — Workers who feel stuck in a job they want to leave are more likely to respond to perceived safety-related wrongdoing with retaliatory behavior – even when employers show support.




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Mold in space: Can researchers help protect astronauts’ health?

Columbus, OH — Moisture and mold go together – even in space – so it’s important to control dust and humidity in space stations to protect astronauts, researchers say.




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Challenges persist for LGBTQIA+ workers, survey shows

Atlanta — Although a majority of LGBTQIA+ workers say they have strong support from allies on the job, more than half still report discrimination and prejudice, which can make them feel unsafe, results of a recent survey show.




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Worker mental health: New resources from EU-OSHA

Bilbao, Spain — A new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work suggests practical measures – such as changes in work environment, hours and patterns, as well as tasks and equipment – that employers can implement to help and retain workers after mental health-related absences.




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Studies look at link between ‘precarious’ work and injury and illness risk

Toronto — Workers with “precarious” jobs – which can include temporary contracts, part-time hours, irregular schedules and low wages – face an elevated risk of a work-related injury and illness, results of two recent studies out of Canada show.




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Take these steps for a smooth cobot transition, Australian researchers say

Melbourne, Australia — Employers incorporating collaborative robots in their workplace can ease the transition for employees by taking three key steps, Australian researchers say.




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Safe from the start? Survey of small-business owners uncovers regrets

Denver — Nearly half of young small-business owners – and 3 out of 10 overall – regret not emphasizing worker safety when they started their business, results of a recent survey show.




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Study of head protection practices uncovers confusion, opportunities for improvement

Arlington, VA — Choosing head protection can be “confusing and complicated” because of the numerous options available, especially when trying to discern the key differences among them, researchers say.




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Selecting an emergency eyewash station

What factors need to be considered in selecting an emergency eyewash station?




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Eyewashes and worker comfort

Is an injury victim's comfort while using an eyewash ever taken into consideration in the product design phase? It seems like most eyewashes have very aggressive flow patterns.




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Protecting eye/face wash equipment from contaminants

The ANSI Z358.1-2009 standard states, “Outlets shall be protected from airborne contaminants.” How can I best comply with this while keeping the unit close to my employees?




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Safety showers in extreme environments

How can I provide safety showers to my workers in an extreme environment?




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Emergency eyewashes/showers

What is considered an “obstruction” in the path to an emergency shower (e.g., doors, stairs, curbs, etc.)?