Washington — OSHA submitted its permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review Dec. 7.

Washington — The House has passed legislation that would eliminate a rule requiring health care industry employers who participate in Medicare and Medicaid to ensure their workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Washington — Two lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that would mandate nurse staffing levels in hospitals in an effort to create better working conditions.

Washington — Newly introduced legislation would direct OSHA to issue a standard requiring employers in the health care and social services sector to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan.

Queensland, Australia — Patient aggression toward receptionists in general medical practices has become a “serious workplace safety concern,” a recent research review concludes.

New York — Registered nurses, social and other behavioral health workers, and people in health care support face a significantly higher risk of drug-overdose death, according to the results of a recent study.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants feedback as it considers a training program for health care providers on recognizing, treating and reporting pesticide-related illnesses and injuries.

Toronto — Most workers who use cannabis to treat work-related injuries and illnesses do so without medical guidance or authorization, a recent study out of Canada suggests.

New York — Registered nurses, health technicians and health care support workers face an elevated risk of suicide compared with workers in non-health care fields, results of a recent study indicate.

Cambridge, MA — The median time from a worker’s injury to “first medical service” was either unchanged or shorter early in the COVID-19 pandemic relative to prior years, a new report shows.

Kuopio, Finland — Being excluded from social interactions on the job can have cascading negative effects on health and well-being, a recent study of Finnish health care workers shows.

Bozeman, MT — Industries in which workers are prone to sleep loss should develop and adopt policies that prioritize sleep to ensure better daytime function and well-being, researchers say.

Washington — NIOSH has published a step-by-step process for improving the mental health of hospital health care workers.

Boston — Intended to give small health care employers an “easy-to-use format” for a written exposure control plan, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has published sample written plans for a respiratory protection program and bloodborne pathogen exposure control.

Washington — OSHA’s proposed rule on infectious diseases in “health care and other high-risk environments” has been submitted to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for final review.

The G460 multi-sensor atmospheric monitor features completely automatic calibration, one-button operation, top-mounted display and interchangeable battery packs.

Washington — OSHA and the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau have scheduled a free webinar exploring gender-based violence and harassment in the construction industry.

Park Ridge, IL — A recently published voluntary consensus standard is intended to reduce the risk of “heat stress due to heat exposures” among construction and demolition workers.

Silver Spring, MD — The number of fatal falls to a lower level among construction workers jumped more than 50% over a recent 12-year period, according to a new report.

Washington — The worst part of Shamaiah Turner’s job as a sheet metal worker hasn’t been the physical aspects, but instead “working with people who made me feel socially unsafe.”

Washington — Prompted by the death of a worker whose fall protection lanyard was severed by an exposed edge as he fell, OSHA has issued a hazard alert.

Washington — The most common crane-related hazards – and how technology may help solve them – are detailed in a new report from the National Safety Council’s Work to Zero initiative and the NCCCO Foundation.

East Lansing, MI — Falls involving portable ladders caused 84 on-the-job deaths from 2001 to 2021 in Michigan, prompting a new hazard alert from Michigan State University.

Silver Spring, MD — Thirty-nine workers died while performing trench/excavation work in 2022, up from 15 in 2021, according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Waltham, MA — The higher outdoor temperatures climb, the more likely it is that a worker will be injured, according to a recent study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA is offering for free its latest training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.

Blacksburg, VA — Construction employers can help stem the industry’s elevated suicide rates by enhancing their crisis management skills via training, as well as providing flexible leave policies and counseling.

Arlington, VA — Recent changes to an American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association consensus standard are intended to enhance worker and facility protections from dropped objects on jobsites.

Silver Spring, MD — Creating a “culture of care” is among the topics to be discussed during an upcoming webinar on preventing suicide in the construction industry.

Springfield, IL — Driver’s education courses in Illinois must now feature lessons on safely navigating roadway construction zones, under a new state law.

Silver Spring, MD — Nearly 1 out of 5 construction workers report having anxiety or depression, and the overwhelming majority of them haven’t sought expert help, a new report shows.

Washington — Three OSHA regions have continued or established a set of emphasis programs, the agency recently announced.

New York — Legislation recently introduced in New York City would establish a database on workplace deaths, and employers could be fined up to $2,500 per violation for not reporting data.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish version of its training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.

ESC Services offers a turn-key service that allows you to simply outsource your lockout- tagout needs. Visit www.escservices.com today to find out how you can upgrade your lockout- tagout program to avoid OSHA fines and take advantage of the latest technology.

The Insect Shield Technical Field Shirt protects outdoor workers from bugs and the sun. Insect Shield technology is EPA-registered to repel mosquitoes and ticks, including those that can carry dangerous diseases such as Lyme or West Nile. The protection is odorless, invisible and lasts through 70 washes. $58.

Collision Sentry™ creates a safer working environment in industrial buildings where forklift traffic and pedestrians intersect by providing a visual warning that traffic is around the corner. Each patent-pending unit is easy to install, self-powered, portable, compact and lightweight. Collision Sentry snaps on to pallet racks quickly with integrated magnet mounts.

How does facility safety go beyond building infrastructure and protocol during hurricane season?

How can effective health and safety protocols contribute to a safer and more effective work environment when thermal fluids are in use? What specific measures should be taken to prevent incidents?

What’s the primary goal of workplace drug testing? Why is it better for employers to anchor their workplace drug testing policy on deterrence?

What can be done to make facilities safe when lithium batteries are present?

How can I protect employees from scalding or freezing temperatures while they’re operating a safety shower or eyewash station?

Who needs fall protection training? How often should it occur? Who can best conduct it, and does one size fit all?

In this white paper, Wesco’s team of safety experts explores the latest changes to the ANSI/ASSP Z359.14-2021 standard document and provides the timely guidance you need to maintain compliance while protecting your workforce.

How can facilities proactively address and mitigate common workplace hazards?

Mishandling compressed gas cylinders – which can have internal pressure of up to 2,500 pounds per square inch – can be disastrous.

Puncture wounds, sprained ankles and broken toes are just some of the injuries that can result from handling empty skids and pallets. With about 2 billion pallets circulating in the United States, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the Texas Department of Insurance offers tips to material handlers to help them avoid injury. 

Liquid nitrogen is the colorless, odorless, clear liquefied form of nitrogen. It can be extremely dangerous to work around.

London — People who are aware that their co-workers are using employer-provided mental health benefits may be more likely to use them too, researchers say.

Fend off heart disease and prolong your life by taking the stairs rather than the elevator, results of a new study suggest.