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BLS data shows insects pose deadly risk for some workers

Washington – At least 83 workers in the United States died between 2003 and 2010 because of incidents involving insects, arachnids and mites, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




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Steer clear of deer

Deer-vehicle collisions peak during the fall months, but you need to be careful year-round. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has advice for avoiding collisions when deer are nearby.




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UL Workplace Health and Safety

UL’s PureSafety Safety Management System employs integrated tools to simplify and centralize training, safety and compliance programs. With a single, comprehensive system, you can seamlessly manage recurring training requirements, report incidents and observations and provide powerful reporting and analytics. See it in action at the TSCE in Booth 1017.

Click here for more information from UL Workplace Health and Safety




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Glove Guard LP

The Utility Catcher™ Clip is a versatile catch-all for a variety of items and is now available with a keyhole! Slide it over a belt, hang it on a wall or grid wall; The Utility Catcher™ Clip is perfect for cord management, earmuffs, large gloves, hard hats and much more!

Click here for more information from Glove Guard LP




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Encon Safety Products, Inc.

You know Encon Safety Products for quality protective safety eyewear and chemical splash goggles, now let us protect the rest of your face. Introducing Full Face Protection equipment from Encon® for demanding work conditions. Your protection and comfort is our top priority. Face shields are made in the USA to ANSI Z87.1-2010 and CSA Z94.3-2007

Click here for more information from Encon Safety Products, Inc.




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Columbia Southern University

At Columbia Southern University, we feature online bachelor’s degrees in occupational safety and health designed for career success. From hazardous materials to industrial hygiene to construction safety, our degree programs offer the knowledge and expertise needed in today’s industry. Contact us today to see how CSU changes lives!

Click here for more information from Columbia Southern University




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Smoking, asbestos exposure ups workers’ lung cancer death risk: study

New York – The risk of developing lung cancer increases when workers smoke, are exposed to asbestos and have asbestosis, according to a new study from the American Thoracic Society.




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OSHA asbestos resource now offered in Spanish

Washington – OSHA has issued a Spanish-language version of its fact sheet on the dangers of asbestos.




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Asbestos levels dropping, but worker exposure still too high, researchers say

Washington – Despite a downward trend in asbestos concentration levels over the course of nearly three decades, many workers in construction, automotive repair, manufacturing and other industries inhaled asbestos at heightened levels, according to a recent report.




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International academy renews call for global ban on asbestos use

Bologna, Italy – International scientific academy Collegium Ramazzini is emphasizing its position that all use of asbestos should be banned.




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International academy releases two commentaries on asbestos

Bologna, Italy – International scientific academy Collegium Ramazzini is emphasizing that the risk for the cancer mesothelioma is connected to both early and recent exposures to asbestos.




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Asbestos among first 10 chemicals EPA to analyze under updated TSCA

Washington – Asbestos is one of the first 10 chemicals to be evaluated for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Nov. 29.




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EPA releases annual report on chemical risk evaluations

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has published a report on risk evaluations as part of requirements established by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.




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Senate bill aims to ban asbestos

Washington – A group of Senate Democrats and an independent have introduced legislation seeking to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to eliminate human or environmental exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen still legal in the United States.




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EPA requests input on documents for TSCA chemical evaluations, proposes asbestos rule

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on problem formulation documents for the first 10 chemicals slated for evaluation for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, as well as a systematic review approach document and a proposed significant new use rule for asbestos.




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Sen. Tom Udall: EPA proposals on asbestos alarming

Washington — A pair of recent Environmental Protection Agency proposals regarding asbestos are cause for alarm, Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) is cautioning, while the agency contends it is attempting to expand restrictions on the substance.




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Asbestos: EPA issues final rule on ‘discontinued uses’ as agency critics push for total ban

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule on asbestos intended to keep manufacturers from reintroducing “discontinued uses” of the known human carcinogen into the market without EPA approval.




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Coalition of attorneys general sue EPA over asbestos regulation

San Francisco — Attorneys general of 10 states and the District of Columbia are suing the Environmental Protection Agency and its administrator, Andrew Wheeler, over the agency’s refusal to issue a rule to further regulate asbestos – a known human carcinogen.




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EPA seeks feedback on draft risk evaluation for asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is asking for public comment on a draft risk evaluation that states asbestos, a known human carcinogen, presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions, as critics of the agency renew their call for a complete ban of the substance.




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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers urge EPA to extend comment periods

Washington — Claiming the Environmental Protection Agency is “rushing forward” with various regulations while much of the nation is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, calling on the agency to extend all comment periods for matters related to public and environmental health at least 45 days past the end of the declared national emergency.




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EPA reschedules virtual peer review of draft risk evaluation for asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has moved to June 8-11 a Toxic Substances Control Act Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals virtual peer review of an EPA draft risk evaluation that states asbestos, a known human carcinogen, presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.




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EPA publishes first installment of controversial risk evaluation for asbestos

Washington — Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency are renewing their call for a complete ban on asbestos after the agency’s release of Part 1 of a final risk evaluation that concludes that the substance – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.




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EPA publishes second installment of risk evaluation for asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on a draft of Part 2 of a final risk evaluation that concludes asbestos – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.




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EPA proposes landmark ban on asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposed rule that would ban the use of chrysotile asbestos, a known human carcinogen linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma – a cancer of the membranes in the abdomen and chest.




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EPA proposes ‘comprehensive’ reporting, recordkeeping requirements for asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comment until July 5 on a proposed rule that would establish reporting and recordkeeping requirements for asbestos – a known human carcinogen – under the Toxic Substances Control Act.




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EPA issues final scope of second installment of risk evaluation for asbestos

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of the final scope of Part 2 of the final risk evaluation to be conducted for asbestos.




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Study links exposure to workplace fumes and dusts to elevated risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Stockholm — Exposure to dusts and fumes from common workplace agents such as vapors, gases and solvents may increase workers’ risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, results of a recent study out of Sweden show.




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NIEHS updates guidance document on mold cleanup and treatment

Research Triangle Park, NC — To help protect workers who engage in mold cleanup and treatment, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Worker Training Program has updated its guidance document.




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OSHA standard on preventing violence in health care ‘a priority,’ Marty Walsh tells lawmakers

Washington — OSHA will prioritize rulemaking for a standard on preventing workplace violence in health care and social settings, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh testified during a May 17 House subcommittee hearing.




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When customers get hostile

Pre-COVID-19 pandemic work life may not return as quickly for employees in customer-facing industries. As some experts see it, the immediate future for workers in grocery, retail, hospitality and similar sectors still includes the risk of stress and anxiety stemming from interactions with angry or aggressive customers.




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Workplace violence report looks at 27 years of data

Washington — Workplace violence led to nearly 18,000 deaths over a recent 27-year period, according to a recently published report from NIOSH and two other federal agencies.




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Preventing workplace violence: NSC releases report and playbook

Itasca — New guidance from the National Safety Council is aimed at providing organizations with information and solutions to effectively mitigate and address workplace violence.




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Workplace violence and harassment remain widespread as victims fear speaking up: survey

Geneva — Nearly a quarter of workers worldwide have endured workplace violence or harassment, but only half of the victims discuss their experiences, results of a recent survey show.




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Workplace violence prevention law lets Utah employers seek protective orders

Provo, UT — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has signed a law allowing employers to petition for and obtain protective orders against anyone who poses a threat.




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Curbing workplace violence in late-night marts: New guidelines from NIOSH

Cincinnati — A new guidance document from NIOSH outlines ways to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with robbery-related violence at gasoline stations and convenience stores.




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A look at workplace violence

“The old methodology of, ‘Oh, it could never happen here’ – that has to go out of the window,” a workplace security expert says. “Because it can.”




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Psychological safety bill advances in Rhode Island legislature

Providence, RI — The Rhode Island Senate recently passed legislation aimed at protecting workers from psychological abuse – such as bullying – on the job.




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FAA will require secondary cockpit barriers on new airplanes

Washington — New commercial passenger aircraft must have a secondary flight deck barrier to protect the cockpit from “unauthorized intrusion” under a Federal Aviation Administration final rule announced June 14.




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Bill would prohibit California retailers from making workers confront shoplifters

Sacramento, CA — The California Senate has approved legislation aimed at preventing workplace violence, particularly by banning employer policies that direct non-security personnel to confront shoplifters.




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DOL strategies part of White House plan to end gender-based violence

Washington — Workplace-related strategies from the Department of Labor are part of a White House national plan to address gender-based violence.




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Survey of frontline workers reveals ‘disconcerting picture’ of on-the-job safety

San Mateo, CA — Nearly 2 out of 3 frontline workers don’t feel safe on the job, results of a recent survey show.




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Young employees ‘need more protections’ against workplace violence: researchers

Iowa City, IA — Three out of 5 young employees have experienced some form of workplace violence, results of a recent study show.




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New California law aimed at curbing workplace violence

Sacramento, CA — Employers in California will be required to establish, implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention program, under a new state law.




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EEOC proposing updates to guidance on preventing workplace harassment

Washington — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is asking for comment on proposed enforcement guidance aimed at preventing and addressing worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits.




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New hazard alert on workplace violence

Portland, OR — In light of the 29 workplace homicides that have occurred in the state since 2018, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences has issued a hazard alert.




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Annual DOL OIG report points out challenges and outlines recommendations for OSHA

Washington — OSHA “continues to be hampered” by the lack of a permanent standard on infectious diseases and “needs to address worksite violence,” a new report states.




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How do people with abusive supervisors recover after work? Researchers explore

Buffalo, NY — What do workers do to recover when their boss or manager engages in “nonphysical aggression such as humiliating or threatening subordinates, or taking credit for their work”? A pair of researchers recently set out to answer that question.




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Addressing the ‘what-ifs’ of workplace violence

Is your worksite ready to respond to an incident? Experts offer advice.




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Hostility and abuse toward customer service reps on the rise: survey

Cambridge, MA — Nine out of 10 customer service workers recently surveyed say they’ve experienced an increase in customer abuse and hostility over the past 12 months.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 46: Workplace violence prevention best practices and Safety Data Sheets

In Episode 46, the S+H team examines the December issue’s feature story on best practices for preventing workplace violence. Also, Atanu Das, owner of MSDS Writer, a consulting company, joins the podcast to discuss Safety Data Sheets in the “Five Questions With …” segment.