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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Victoria, Australia — “Transport workers are people too. Please respect them.” That request appears alongside the images of Public Transport Victoria workers clad in custom safety vests depicting their life stories.

Chicago — Chronic workplace harassment may increase the risk of coronary heart disease, arthritic/rheumatic conditions and migraines, results of a recent University of Illinois Chicago study show.

Washington — On the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 becoming law, the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau released three issue briefs on safe leave.

Dover, DE — More than half of public school teachers have been the target of verbal aggression or threats by a student in the past three years, according to a recent survey conducted by the Delaware State Education Association.

Work Health Solutions, a San Jose, CA-based provider of concierge-style occupational medicine for large-scale employers nationwide, recently announced it has opened an employee health clinic in Las Vegas.

Mechanix Wear, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance work gloves located in Valencia, CA, has promoted Jesse Spungin to CEO from president and COO.

Sean Weil is now global chief financial officer for Protective Industrial Products Inc. He’s been with the Latham, NY-based company for nine years and previously served as global vice president of finance.

Eagleville, PA-based Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing high-quality flashlight products.

Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting, recently appointed Danny Williams to national sales manager – West, supporting the Eagleville, PA-based company’s industrial/fire division.

Dovetail Workwear, a women’s workwear brand based in Portland, OR, recently announced its “Mavens” – the company’s brand ambassadors for 2024.

Jean-Marie Maayoufi is now safety sales director of the safety division at Windsor, CT-based WALTER Surface Technologies. In this role, Maayoufi will lead the Allegro Industries brand’s safety specialists in North America toward growth.

Portland, OR-based Dovetail Workwear has announced two staffing changes: Linda Reese has been named vice president of marketing and Sara DeLuca is now vice president of product.

Washington — Legislation that would direct OSHA to establish – “on a much faster track” – a permanent federal standard that protects indoor and outdoor workers from excessive heat is back before Congress.

Austin, TX — A Texas judge has struck down a recently signed state law that would prohibit local municipalities and counties from mandating water breaks for workers.

Sacramento, CA — The California Legislature has approved a bill that would require employers in the state to have a workplace violence prevention plan.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House would direct OSHA to create employer guidance on acquiring opioid overdose reversal medication and training workers on its use.

Washington — Physical assaults on health care workers in hospitals could lead to federal penalties and up to 20 years of jail time, under new bipartisan legislation.

Washington — A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers have introduced a joint Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the National Labor Relations Board’s recently revised joint employer rule.

Washington — Members of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee veered from the focus of a recent hearing by challenging legislation that would require speed-limiting devices on heavy trucks.

Washington — The House has passed a Congressional Review Act resolution intended to nullify the National Labor Relations Board’s recent rule revising the definition of “joint employer.”

Tallahassee, FL — Legislation that would prohibit local municipalities, counties or any other “political subdivision” in Florida from enacting regulations requiring worker protections against heat exposure is awaiting the governor’s approval.

Washington — OSHA could publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for its standard on protecting workers from heat as soon as Sept. 30, acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said.

Trenton, NJ — New Jersey’s Senate Labor Committee has advanced a bill that would require the state to establish a heat stress standard by June 1, 2025.

Hartford, CT — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) has signed into law legislation that expands the state’s 13-year-old paid sick leave law.

Denver — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has signed legislation that includes funding aimed at establishing recovery friendly workplaces and supporting people in recovery from substance use disorders.

New York — Both city and state legislation and public health initiatives are needed to protect outdoor workers in New York City from extreme temperatures and poor air quality, according to a new report.

Shock is a medical emergency that “may result from trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction, severe infection, poisoning, severe burns or other causes,” according to Rochester, MN-based Mayo Clinic.

In 2012, exposure to electricity resulted in 156 work-related deaths and 1,730 cases with days away from work, according to the 2015 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”

An injury or emergency situation can happen anywhere at any time. Your son might sprain his ankle at soccer practice. Your neighbor may suffer a heart attack while washing his car. You might be involved in a motor vehicle incident on the way to work. Do you know how to react?

A choking incident can occur anywhere – including the weekly staff meeting or at someone’s desk. If you saw a co-worker choking, would you be ready to help?

Are chemicals used in your workplace? Mayo Clinic notes that chemical burns can be caused by a variety of substances, including strong acids, drain cleaners, paint thinners and gasoline.

A corneal abrasion occurs when a person’s cornea – the clear, domed covering over the eye’s iris and pupil – is scraped or scratched.

Puncture wounds can be serious. They often have small openings, but the objects tend to go in deep, which can make the injured worker vulnerable to a blood infection.

If you suspect a co-worker has a broken bone, refrain from moving the person to avoid further injury.

In Episode 31, the S+H editorial team dives into the September issue’s feature story on setting up a volunteer first aid response team in your workplace, and discusses the ins and outs of worker engagement and buy-in with Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety.

Will you be working in hot conditions? You’ll need to take steps to protect yourself from the heat.

New for 2014: DragonWear^TM worked with Polartec® to create a new lighter-weight, higher protection FR fabric.

Exclusively developed for Mechanix Wear^®, the Material4X® Original® Glove features synthetic leather that redefines durability with superior wear, higher abrasion and greater tear resistance than standard synthetic work gloves.