Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has issued a hazard alert for workers who use thermal cutting tools to de-tension cables embedded in concrete structures such as bridges and freeway overpasses, warning them of the dangers of lead exposure.

Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking to protect workers from hazards linked to asbestos, lead and cadmium that may be encountered during blight removal projects, as part of a one-year state emphasis program launched in September.

Hundreds of thousands of workers in construction, manufacturing and a variety of other industries may be exposed to harmful levels of lead. What can safety pros do to protect workers from this hazardous metal?

Washington — OSHA has published a fact sheet and Quick Card intended to help employers protect workers from exposure to lead at indoor firing ranges.

Lansing, MI — Michigan has become the first state to lower permissible blood lead levels – by as much as half – to protect workers, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced.

Sacramento, CA — Workers with high blood lead levels will now have their cases referred to the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health – or Cal/OSHA – for review and possible action, under legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Oct. 10.

Demolition work presents multiple hazards. Planning can go a long way in helping prevent worker injury and illness.

Washington — OSHA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Cincinnati — Workers replacing old water service lines may be exposed to lead piping or lead-contaminated soil – and could bring the metal home, a new NIOSH guidance document cautions.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in work-related accidents. When a fall hazard exist, fall protection equipment is necessary to protect the worker by incorporating a personal fall-arrest system. Elk River manufactures, in the USA, the finest harnesses and lanyards on the market. We also research and test accessory products to ensure that the fall-arrest system is the best available. Visit www.elkriver.com today for more information.

Click here for more information from Elk River, Inc.

J. J. Keller — your source for safety signs! Choose from thousands of signs and labels from the safety and compliance experts. We offer low prices, fast turnaround and no minimum order. Browse our huge selection of signs, or create a custom sign – with no set-up fees. Visit JJKeller.com/signs for details.

Click here for more information from J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

The original – and still the best – rescue solution for confined spaces, the Sked gets you out safely when nothing else can. It also can perform water, vertical-rope, military, helicopter and virtually any other types of rescues. Compact, lightweight and backpackable. Visit www.skedco.com for more information.

Click here for more information from Skedco, Inc.

Bolt-together, non-penetrating protection for smoke hatches and venting skylights. The free-standing design maintains waterproof integrity. Galvanized bases for resistance to the elements. Rail height of 42 inches. Meets OSHA 1910.23(a)(4) and 1926.501 (b)(4). Standard and custom sizes. Rubber foot pads help prevent sliding or damage to membranes.

Click here for more information from Garlock Safety Systems

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

Warn, inform and remind with safety signs. Are the signs in your facility easy to understand, unobstructed, well-lit and well-maintained? This white paper will help guide you to choose the right signs to warn, inform and remind workers and visitors to stay safe. Download the free white paper now.

Click here for more information from J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

The Junkin Folding Plastic Backboard JSA-366 is a rugged, bright yellow polyethylene folding spineboard with 12 large hand holes for easy handling. It has built-in runners, and is low profile and X-ray translucent. Four patient straps are included. Load capacity is 375 pounds. Call (888) 458-6546 or email junkinsafetyco@gmail.com for more information.

Click here for more information from Junkin Safety Appliance Co.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

The new Master Lock Blind Flange Lockout Device protects downstream workers from potential exposure to chemicals, flammable gases and other hazards. The device secures the blind in place, ensuring no unintentional blind removal, until maintenance is complete and workers are safe. Its innovative, adjustable design is compatible with a wide range of pipe, blind and flange sizes.

Click here for more information from Master Lock

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

The Sked RAS (Rapid Access System) is designed to hang on a wall or behind a door. It provides a quick way to safely package and remove someone from a dangerous environment. The RAS contains a hanging bag with four HMH Skeds. Perfect for schools, hospitals and shopping malls.

Click here for more information from Skedco, Inc.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

Working in high-risk areas such as hospitals regularly exposes health care workers to the influenza virus, putting them at an elevated risk for contracting the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists steps employers can take to help minimize the spread of flu.

Known for its strength and chemical and heat resistance, asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral that can have devastating effects on workers if proper precautions are not taken, states the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia.

Occupational skin diseases are the second-most common type of occupational disease. NIOSH estimates that more than 13 million U.S. workers are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through their skin.

If you think you don’t need to worry about the flu, look at the 2017-18 season and think again.

Occupational asthma can develop when a worker breathes in gases, chemical fumes, dust or other work-related substances. According to Mayo Clinic, it also can result from exposure to a substance a worker is sensitive to, triggering an allergic or immunological response.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – more commonly known as MRSA – is a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that can lead to difficult-to-treat infections. MRSA is resistant to certain antibiotics and, although an infection may begin as a skin sore, it can become serious and potentially deadly, NIOSH warns.

Feeling anxious about going back to the office during the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s important to manage your stress to ensure a healthy return – physically and mentally, experts at Ohio State University say.

As many employees begin returning to a more typical work environment, employers must remember to prioritize safety. Here are 10 steps the National Safety Council – based on recommendations from its SAFER task force – says employers should take before reopening.

Ticks can carry potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. Most active during warmer months (April-September), they reside mostly in grassy, brushy or wooded areas – putting virtually all outdoor workers in the United States at risk of exposure.

The next time you fuel up at a gas station, consider this: Most pump handles contain 11,000 times more germs than a toilet seat in a public restroom. And the keypad on the pump? The buttons typically have 15,000 times more germs than a public toilet seat, according to a tip sheet from KeepTruckingSafe.org.

Do you work with wet cement, paints or plaster? Maybe adhesives? These are just some of the materials that can irritate your skin because they can contain harsh substances such as hexavalent chromium, calcium hydroxide, toluene, xylene, epoxy resins and lime.

People who work in hot, humid conditions may not like the idea of wearing a facial covering to decrease their risk of exposure to COVID-19. But it’s necessary.

When a COVID-19 case occurs in the workplace, the local health department may ask an employer for help. Health departments are responsible for leading case investigations, contact tracing and outbreak investigations.

More than 300. That’s how many known triggers can be found in the workplace that cause or worsen asthma, according to NIOSH. 

As with all workplace safety and health efforts, staying safe in the future world of work will be the combined effort of employers taking the right steps to reduce risk and employees doing their part to look out for themselves and each other.

Employers typically are required to accommodate employees with diabetes, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Accommodations may include time and a private place to administer any medications or conduct blood sugar tests, the ability to keep food nearby, or a schedule of regular breaks to maintain a prescribed diet.

You probably know about Lyme disease, and that it’s transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. But have you heard of alpha-gal syndrome?

Raynaud’s phenomenon – sometimes called Raynaud’s syndrome or disease – is a disorder of blood circulation in the fingers and toes (and less commonly in the ears and nose). The cause: Several.

Many workers have been diagnosed with some form of lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means working in a lung-friendly workplace is key.

Workers who are at risk of exposure include poultry and livestock farmers and workers, as well as slaughterhouse workers.

Also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, black lung is a “job-related disease caused by continued exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine dust,” NIOSH says.

OSHA regulations dictate we offer a “variety” of hearing protectors to noise-exposed workers. What is best practice for providing a variety while keeping inventory to a minimum?

What are the most common reasons why employees fail to wear safety eyewear, and how can we help increase compliance?

What role does scheduling play in cold weather work?

In the past few years, garments tailored for women have become more common. These garments look similar to men’s apparel but are designed with specific details that consider the female form and shape.

How are women represented when it comes to PPE?

How does the filter media in an N95 filtering facepiece respirator really work?

Lock out equipment for up to 12 workers with the STOPOUT Group Lock Hasp. To open, slide the inner body upward to release the locking loop.

Geneva — Health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients deserve more robust occupational safety and health programs, according to the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization.

Aurora, CO — “Lack of recognition as frontline workers” adds emotional strain to the physical demands, staffing obstacles and COVID-19 concerns of workers who clean and sanitize health care facilities and equipment, results of a recent University of Colorado study suggest.

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on April 4 heard oral arguments on why it should order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry.