Exposure to poisonous plants and venomous animals are common summertime hazards for outdoor workers.

The Tool Grabber Cut Protect 4 Glove features ANSI 105, 2011 Cut Level 4; ANSI Abrasion Level 6 (the highest rating); and ANSI Puncture Level 5 (also the highest rating) protection.

Assembling a custom perimeter safety rail is easy with RailGuard Fit-Rite Rail. Use this system on roofs, mezzanines and loading docks, or for in-plant machine guarding. Assemble the rail on-site to fit your application by simply ordering the lineal feet of rail and base type.

Can respirators help protect a person from the virus that causes H1N1/09 influenza?

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.

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

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 its position that all use of asbestos should be banned.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants input from truckers as it shapes a study to analyze how common sexual assault and harassment are in the trucking industry.

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.

Albany, NY — Assaulting a retail worker is now a felony in New York state, under a new law signed May 1.

Washington — A handful of potential OSHA standards have advanced in the rulemaking process, according to the Department of Labor’s Spring 2024 regulatory agenda – released July 5.

Columbus, Ohio — Do some bosses who are abusive toward employees get away with it simply because they’re “high performers?” A recent pair of studies took a look.

Matrix Design Group, a provider of technology for mining and industrial safety and productivity located in Newburgh, IN, has named Mark Stanton vice president of industrial sales and business development.

Tom Votel, president and CEO of Ergodyne in St. Paul, MN, has been reelected as chair of the International Safety Equipment Association. ISEA is “the voice of credibility for the safety equipment industry,” the association’s website says.

Lansing, MI — A bill recently introduced in Michigan would increase fines for child labor law violations by as much as 10 times.

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.

Sacramento, CA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has vetoed legislation that would have banned autonomous trucks weighing 10,000-plus pounds from operating on the state’s roadways without a person on board.

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 — New bipartisan legislation is intended to better protect workers and visitors in federal buildings.

Pierre, SD — A bill that would establish safety and operational regulations for driverless vehicles is advancing through the South Dakota Legislature.

Sacramento, CA — Legislation recently introduced in California would help ensure workers have uninterrupted personal time by establishing a “right to disconnect” from emails, texts and calls outside of work hours.

Washington — Legislation aimed at strengthening Department of Labor civil penalties will be introduced soon, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) announced April 30.

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.

Albany, NY — Retail workers in New York now have more protections against workplace violence and harassment, under a new state law.

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.