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Exercise caution when lifting heavy loads

In 2011, the back was the body part involved in the largest percentage of injuries involving days away from work, according to the 2014 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”




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2019 TMA Excellence Awards Finalists Announced

The Monitoring Association (TMA) announced the 12 finalists for the 2019 TMA Excellence Awards.




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2020 TMA Excellence Awards Finalists Announced

TMA announced the finalists for this year's 2020 Excellence Awards that name the Monitoring Center of the Year, along with the Manager, Operator and Support Person of the Year.




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OSHA video asks, ‘Is your workplace prepared for severe weather?’

Dallas — A new video from OSHA provides tips on keeping workers safe before, during and after extreme weather events.




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Measuring OSHA’s effectiveness is DOL’s big challenge, report says

Washington – Gauging the effectiveness of federal and state-run OSHA programs is one of the Department of Labor’s biggest challenges, according to the DOL Office of Inspector General.




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‘2020 Economic Impact of the Safety Equipment Industry’: ISEA launches web tool

Arlington, VA — A new online tool provides a look at the economic and safety impacts of the safety equipment industry last year in the United States.




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Safety and health KPIs: ILO releases guidebook on collecting and measuring data

Geneva — A new guidebook from the International Labor Organization is intended to help employers compile data on key performance indicators related to safety and health.




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FMCSA extends comment period on proposal to revise safety fitness determinations

Washington — Stakeholders now have until Nov. 29 to comment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s process for determining whether truck and bus companies are able to operate safely.




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Rising Wildfire Smoke: Will OSHA Join the States Implementing New Worker Protections?

This past summer, the Midwest and much of the East Coast experienced an unprecedented decline in outdoor air quality. Smoke from wildfires in Canada regularly sent air quality ratings well into to the unhealthy range – an Air Quality Index for the smallest particulate matter – PM2.5 – in excess of 151.




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Permissible exposure limits

TWA/STEL/PEL/WEEL/IDLH … What does this all mean?




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MSHA kicks off campaign to raise awareness of roof, rib falls

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has launched its annual campaign intended to promote roof and rib fall hazard awareness among coal miners and mine operators, while also focusing on continuous mining machine operator safety.




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Senators to Acosta: MSHA coal dust rule, scheduled for review, is ‘critical’ to miner health

Washington — Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is among five Senate Democrats who have expressed opposition to any rollback to the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s respirable coal dust rule, in a letter sent Dec. 22 to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta.




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For surface coal miners, the ‘big hazard’ is silica, NIOSH expert says

Washington — Surface coal miners, especially those who work in drilling, may be exposed to higher concentrations of respirable dust or quartz. This puts them at elevated risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis – a deadly but preventable disease known as black lung, results of a recent NIOSH study show.




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Researchers to look for link between coal dust nanoparticles, black lung disease

State College, PA — Using a 3D device on a microchip that mimics the behavior of human lungs, researchers from Penn State University will use a $400,000 grant from NIOSH to study the effects of nano-scale coal dust on the lungs of underground miners, the university has announced.




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Biden signs bill ensuring increases to Black Lung Disability Trust Fund

Washington — A new law permanently restores a recently expired excise tax rate increase on coal production, which will help fund health care and other benefits for coal miners who have black lung disease.




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Wireless Technology Helps Israel Nature & Parks Authority Monitor and Protect Vultures

The Israel Nature & Parks Authority (INPA) is using PowerG™ technology from Visonic Ltd., Tel-Aviv, Israel, a developer and manufacturer of wireless home security and safety systems and components, to enable research that will help protect the griffon vulture population in Israel.




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The University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) is LEED Platinum Certified

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS), a living laboratory for researchers to teach, test and study the long-term impact of sustainable practices and technologies, features advanced building controls, sensing technology and management software from Honeywell.




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San Diego County Monitors Shoreline for Beach Replenishment Project

The Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter partnered with CoastalCOMS to install digital cameras networked with Milestone XProtect® Corporate to monitor wave breaks and sand lines.




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‘Super-Green’ Home Features Both Innovation and Artistry

For Thomas Marino, president of Advanced Technologies, Baton Rouge, La., “green” projects were nothing new. He had done projects that involved low-power, solar or other green elements. But when he ran into local attorney Joe Simmons at a trade show, the extremely environmentally conscious lawyer asked him to do the security and home automation for the custom home he was building. The home was new construction in a community of older homes and would feature as many green elements as possible, from the material in the countertops to the security and audio elements.




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‘Best in Show’ New Product Showcase: The winner is …

Atlanta – After 5,400 votes covering more than 100 products, the results are in for the inaugural “Best in Show” New Product Showcase Awards!




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Redesign PPE to reduce contamination risks, researchers suggest

Cleveland – Health care workers frequently contaminate their skin and clothing when removing gloves or gowns, and researchers from the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center are recommending additional education and redesigned personal protective equipment.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Illinois publishes guidelines for temp workers

Springfield, IL — New guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health is intended to help staffing agencies and employers protect temporary workers from exposure to COVID-19.




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Shift workers more likely to have metabolic, sleep issues: study

Madison, WI – Shift workers may be more likely to be overweight, have sleep problems, and develop diabetes or other metabolic disorders, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.




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Long shifts double injury, illness risk for EMS workers: study

Pittsburgh – Emergency medical services workers whose shifts last longer than 12 hours have double the risk of an occupational injury or illness, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh.




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Risk of drowsy-driving crashes higher for night-shift workers: study

Boston – Shift workers have a high risk for crashes due to drowsy driving after working a night shift, according to a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.




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Shift work may pose greater risk to women: study

Guildford, England – Women are more likely than men to be affected by the adverse ramifications of shift work, a new study out of England suggests.




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Study links rotating night shift to higher risk of heart disease

Boston – Women who work rotating night shifts face a higher risk of heart disease, indicates a study of nurses from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.




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Study of night-shift workers links men’s sleep habits to cancer risk

Wuhan, China – Male night-shift workers who do not nap during the day or have worked the night shift for more than 20 years – as well as those who average more than 10 hours of sleep per night – may have a greater risk of developing cancer, according to a study from Huazhong University of Science and Technology.




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Study finds working night shift when young increases women’s breast cancer risk

Boston – Women who work the night shift as young adults may have an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a study of nurses conducted by the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.




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Night shift work linked to higher risk of obesity: study

Hong Kong – Night shift workers are at an increased risk of becoming obese or overweight, according to new research by Chinese and Dutch scientists.




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Study examines role of metabolism in night shift worker health

Spokane, WA — Individual organs in the digestive system contain separate biological clocks that may influence the metabolism of people who work the night shift and help explain a link to shift worker health problems such as obesity and diabetes, a recent study from researchers at Washington State University suggests.




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Night shift workers and cancer risk: Researchers find new clues

Spokane, WA — Night shift schedules “throw off the timing of expression of cancer-related genes in a way that reduces the effectiveness of the body’s DNA repair processes when they are most needed,” results of a recent study led by researchers from Washington State University show.




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Stroke risk related to shift work may linger, researchers say

College Station, TX — Adverse health effects of shift work – including increased risk of stroke – may persist even after workers resume traditional, 24-hour circadian cycles, according to a recent study by researchers from Texas A&M University.




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Shift work is an occupational hazard, researchers say

Wuhan, China — Shift work is linked to two kinds of mental health issues – and lifestyle factors can play a role, results of a recent study out of China suggest.




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Pregnant workers face preterm birth risks from shift work and long hours: study

Melbourne, Australia — Shift work and long hours can significantly raise the risk of preterm birth for pregnant workers, according to the results of a recent study.




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Study shows the night shift’s impact on diabetes and obesity risks

Richland, WA — Spending just three days working a night shift “can knock the body’s biological rhythms off course, disrupting important processes related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation,” researchers from Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory say.




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Gene increases risk of developing Parkinson’s from pesticide exposure: study

Los Angeles – Pesticide exposure may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and individual risk varies based on a person’s genetic makeup, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles.




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Group tours North Carolina tobacco fields; claims worker abuse is common

Washington – After a recent visit with workers in tobacco fields and labor camps in North Carolina, members of an international delegation said they were shocked and saddened to see widespread worker abuse.




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New Mexico partners with Mexican Consulate to help Spanish-speaking workers

Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Occupational Health & Safety Bureau has teamed up with the Consulate of Mexico to provide the state’s Spanish-speaking employees with workplace safety training.




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CPWR translates safety materials into Spanish

The Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR) is now offering several of its resources in Spanish.




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CSB to offer materials in Spanish

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board is including Spanish language translations of some of its safety materials, the independent agency announced Nov. 20.




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EPA issues second extension for comments on ‘restricted use’ pesticide rule

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency once again has extended the comment period for a proposed rule that would create stronger standards for workers who handle “restricted use” pesticides.




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EPA releases guidance on revised Worker Protection Standard

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency and the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative have released a guide intended to help agricultural pesticide handlers, workers and managers comply with 2015 revisions to the federal Worker Protection Standard.




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Minority workers have the highest risk for injury, disability: study

Los Angeles – Latino immigrants and African-American men are most at risk for being injured on the job, according to a study from the University of Southern California.




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EPA to seek comment on draft of risk assessments related to glyphosate

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has released a draft of its human health and ecological risk assessments for glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, and stated that it intends to seek public comment on the draft.




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EPA to publish enhanced pesticide safety training materials, ending delay

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency on June 14 announced its intent to publish a Federal Register notice establishing the availability of expanded pesticide safety training materials, in accordance with 2015 revisions to the federal Agricultural Worker Protection Standard.




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Pesticide safety training materials: EPA announcement of availability will reduce worker injury, illness risk, OIG says

Washington — By publishing the availability of expanded pesticide safety training materials after previously resisting the move, the Environmental Protection Agency will reduce risks of injury and illness among employers, farmworkers, pesticide handlers and their families, the EPA Office of Inspector General asserts in an audit report released Aug. 30.




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OSHA announces new emphasis program for reducing exposures to ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia

Kansas City, MO — OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program addressing hazards stemming from exposure to fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate and agricultural anhydrous ammonia.




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Preventing tractor rollovers: OSHA publishes guide

Washington — OSHA has released a guide intended to protect farmworkers from tractor rollovers, which result in about 130 fatal injuries a year.




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OSHA debuts Spanish-language newsletter

Información Rápida (Quick Information) will feature regular updates on workplace safety and workers’ rights.