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Workers’ comp report looks at regulatory and legislative trends in 2024

Boca Raton, FL — “Mental injuries” (such as post-traumatic stress disorder), cannabis and independent contractors were among the top workers’ compensation-related issues that state legislatures focused on this year, a new report shows.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 31: Volunteer first aid response teams and worker engagement

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.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 48: The importance of first aid in the workplace

In Episode 48, the S+H team examines the February issue’s CEO’s Who “Get It” feature and some of OSHA’s most unique cases. Also, National Safety Council colleague Maria Cordova joins the podcast to discuss the benefits of first aid at work in the “Five Questions With …” segment.




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Cranes: Minimize the risks

Working with cranes can be very dangerous if time is not taken to carefully inspect equipment and follow safety guidelines.




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Forklift safety training is critical

Forklifts are commonplace around construction sites, warehouses and factories. But these powered industrial trucks can be deadly if used improperly, and they require respect and diligence for safe operation.




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The supervisor’s responsibility for tool safety

Supervisors are responsible for the safety and health of their employees. This holds true when ensuring employees are using tools safely.




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Revised OSHA electrical rule clears review hurdle

Washington – A final rule updating OSHA standards for power line workers has cleared one of the final regulatory hurdles and could be published as soon as March.




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OSHA issues final rule on electrical safety requirements

Washington – OSHA on April 1 released its final rule on electric power generation, transmission and distribution; and electrical protective equipment.




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Fatigue, sleepiness major safety risks in ridesharing industry, sleep experts say

Darien, IL — Fatigue and sleepiness are inherent safety risks for ridesharing drivers and their passengers, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine declares in a recent position statement.




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NSC publishes white paper on lone worker monitoring technology

Washington — A new white paper from the National Safety Council is intended to help employers identify and implement monitoring technology to keep lone workers safe.




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High-visibility jacket

The Icon LTET is a premium ANSI-compliant high-visibility jacket.




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Flame-resistant outerwear line

Mount Vernon FR and Carhartt have launched the Carhartt Flame-Resistant Extremes Arctic Outerwear Line, which offers wind resistance, durability, warmth and comfort to workers in extreme weather conditions – without added weight or bulk.




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High-visibility sweatshirt

Black-Bottom Sweatshirts help defend workers against the chill of fall or winter.




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Non-conductive fish tape

Designed to work inside IDEAL Tuff-Grip Pro cases, S-Class fish tape now features a non-conductive and non-arcing eyelet tip to minimize the possibility of injury from contact with electricity.




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Electrical fish tape

The Greenlee REEL-X Line of Electrical Fish Tape is engineered to eliminate the biggest problems in traditional fish tape designs: fighting binds and jams in the tape, which can strain the shoulders and wrists of workers.




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Don’t drive distracted

The National Safety Council recognizes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. NSC urges drivers to put their cellphone down and focus on the road ahead.




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Don’t drive distracted

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month – the perfect time to review some safe driving tips from the National Safety Council.




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Group calls for collision-avoidance systems on all commercial trucks, buses

Washington – A group of safety advocates is calling for forward collision avoidance and mitigation braking systems, or F-CAM, to be required in all trucks and buses to help prevent deadly rear-end crashes.




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Construction worker deaths on the rise throughout New York: report

New York – Construction worker fatalities have been rising in New York City and throughout the state – and Latino workers are particularly at risk due to falls and willful violations – according to an annual report released Jan. 18 by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.




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Study of severe injury data finds poultry and meat workers at high risk

New York – Every day, 27 workers suffer on-the-job amputations or injuries that require hospitalization, according to a recent report from the National Employment Law Project.




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Rise in worker deaths a ‘national crisis,’ AFL-CIO president says during Workers’ Memorial Week

Washington — The state of workplace safety and health protections in the United States is a “national crisis,” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, which has released its annual report detailing the hazards that workers face every day on the job.




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Groups petition OSHA to issue heat stress standard; Congresswoman to sponsor bill

Washington — More than 130 organizations and 90 individuals are petitioning OSHA to issue regulations aimed at protecting workers against heat stress.




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Worker advocacy groups publish policy brief for newly elected governors, state lawmakers

Washington — The National Employment Law Project and the Economic Analysis and Research Network recently released a policy brief intended to advise incoming governors and state legislators on best practices “to protect workers in their states so that all communities can thrive and grow.”




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Watchdog group won’t appeal latest dismissal of lawsuit against ‘2-for-1’ deregulatory order

Washington — Public Citizen will not appeal the second dismissal of its lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s “2-for-1” deregulatory Executive Order, a spokesperson for the watchdog group told Safety+Health Jan. 16.




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Workers’ Memorial Day: ‘This year, our hearts are especially heavy’

Washington — This year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, marked on April 28 each year to honor those who have lost their lives on the job, served as a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by the many workers providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.




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BLS data on workplace deaths shows significant racial disparities, National COSH says

Los Angeles — Workplace deaths as a result of trauma have increased at a significantly higher percentage for Black, Latino and Asian workers compared with white workers, according to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.




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Biden says OSHA will issue an emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination, testing

Washington — OSHA is developing an emergency rule that will require employers with at least 100 workers to “ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week,” President Joe Biden announced Sept. 9.




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Risk assessments: Establish your purpose

Not all risks hold equal weight. For example, focusing efforts on reducing the frequency of safety-related incidents doesn’t necessarily lead to a reduction in the severity of incidents.




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Where to place fire extinguishers

Are your workplace fire extinguishers in the right place? According to the National Fire Protection Association, employers need to consider two key factors: accessibility and visibility.




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Salisbury by Honeywell

Salisbury by Honeywell Polycarbonate Arc Flash Face Shields are offered in both standard and premium polycarbonate. Polycarbonate offers improved outdoor exposure and product life, increased warp resistance, and improved color recognition. The premium polycarbonate has the added benefit of an anti-fog/anti-scratch coating. Available on models AS1200 and AS2000 face shields.

Click here for more information from Salisbury by Honeywell




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Latest OSHA emphasis program aimed at noise hazards in New England

Washington – OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program on noise hazards targeting select New England manufacturing and food production facilities.




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Hearing conservation: Listen up

OSHA estimates that 30 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise every year. What can safety professionals do to help protect the workforce from hearing loss?




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NIOSH creates app for measuring workplace noise exposure

Washington – NIOSH has developed a sound level meter mobile app designed to measure noise exposure in the workplace.




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Take public transit to work? Your hearing may be at risk, researchers say

Toronto — Brief episodes of intense noise exposure for city commuters – particularly those in and around public transit vehicles – could prove damaging in the long term, researchers from the University of Toronto warn in a new study.




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‘Listen Today to Hear Tomorrow’: ISEA launches hearing protection campaign

Arlington, VA — The International Safety Equipment Association has launched an initiative highlighting the importance of preventing hearing loss in the workplace – where, according to NIOSH, 22 million people are exposed to hazardous noise each year.




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Updated guidance details ADA requirements for workers with hearing disabilities

Washington — Although some employers may incorrectly assume otherwise, people with a hearing disability can be safe and effective workers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says in a recently updated document.




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Now hear this: NIOSH announces Safe-in-Sound award winners

Albuquerque, NM — Army Lt. Col. Kara Cave and Dow Chemical Co. are the respective recipients of the 2024 NIOSH Safe-in-Sound Innovation and Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards.




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Infographic: ‘Hands-free is not risk-free’

A recent National Safety Council poll found 80 percent of drivers believe hands-free cell phones are safer than handheld phones.




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Infographic: A lifetime of risk

View or share a National Safety Month infographic summarizing the biggest risks at each stage of a person's life.




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Safety Leadership: 11 characteristics of great safety performers

Jim Spigener from DEKRA Insight shares 11 leadership characteristics that he says the best performers in safety practice consistently.




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OSHA’s Top 10 most-cited violations for fiscal year 2017

Which violation is making its first appearance on OSHA’s list of most-cited violations? Safety+Health presents the data on OSHA’s “Top 10” for fiscal year 2017. Also: A Q&A with Patrick Kapust, deputy director of the agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs.




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American Chemistry Council creates PPE infographic for auto refinishers

Washington — In partnership with OSHA, the American Chemistry Council has published an infographic to encourage workers in the automotive refinishing industry to wear the correct personal protective equipment.




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Reducing the risk of MSDs from overhead work: New resources

Waterloo, Ontario — Overhead work is associated with shoulder injuries. New resources from the Center of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, also known as CRE-MSD, are intended to help employers and workers address MSD risks caused by overhead work.




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Avoid contact with poisonous plants

Anyone working outdoors is at risk of exposure to poisonous plants, including poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.




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Pressure washers: Dangerous when misused

Pressure washers are used to clean large areas, including buildings, parking lots, vehicles and other machinery. These high-powered tools also are used in disaster cleanup. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a pressure washer’s intense spray can cause wounds and other serious injuries that may at first appear minor.




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Is your workplace prepared for an earthquake?

Even if you don’t live or work in an earthquake-prone area, don’t dismiss the threat. Earthquakes can occur in all 50 states.




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Lyme disease risk on the rise as more states see spike in cases: study

Secaucus, NJ — Lyme disease is becoming more common outside the Northeast and more prevalent in the United States overall, a recent study by lab services provider Quest Diagnostics shows.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 27: Lightning safety and aging workforce discussion

In Episode 27, the S+H editorial team discusses lightning safety for workers as the summer months approach. The team is also joined by NIOSH social scientist Gigi Petery, co-director of the agency’s National Center for Productive Aging and Work.




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Combustible dust still ‘critical issue in industrial safety’: CSB

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is reiterating its call for OSHA to enact a comprehensive general industry standard for combustible dust – a potential hazard the board calls a “critical issue in industrial safety.”




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OSHA renews Local Emphasis Program on grain handling inspections in Idaho

Boise, ID — As a result of “continuing incidences of fatalities and injuries” at grain handling facilities within the jurisdiction of its Boise area office, OSHA on Dec. 31 renewed a Local Emphasis Program focused on inspections at these facilities.