Are you lifting objects correctly? If not, you could be at risk for an ergonomics-related injury, such as a sprain or strain, back injury, or repetitive-motion injury.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders – also referred to as repetitive motion or repetitive strain injuries – are a group of painful conditions that affect the muscles, tendons and nerves. According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, workers can develop an MSD from bending, gripping, straightening, holding, twisting, or reaching with their arms and hands.

From boxes of paper near the printer to large packages in the mailroom, office settings contain a number of objects – some quite heavy – that require manual lifting. Are you following safe lifting practices?

If you work in an office, chances are good that you sit for a large part of the day. This puts you at risk for ergonomics-related problems.

Does your job require you to stand for long periods? Or maybe you spend hours lifting and pushing heavy materials. Perhaps you’re in an office environment and sit at a desk for hours while typing on a computer most of the day. These situations are all considered risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

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Menlo Park, CA — Thirty-four percent of employees say they’re more burned out than they were a year ago, according to the results of a recent survey developed by global staffing firm Robert Half.

Aurora, CO — Raise your cup, coffee drinkers! Drinking one or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day may reduce your risk of heart failure, according to the results of a recent review conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado.

Mill Valley, CA — Seventy percent of workers want their employer to require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before fully reopening the office, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by job research and review company Glassdoor.

Oulu, Finland — If you stay up late at night, you risk underperforming at work, results of a recent study out of Finland indicate.

Halifax, Nova Scotia — Nearly half of employees working remotely are experiencing higher levels of exhaustion caused by a combination of more virtual meetings and pressure to be on camera for them, results of a recent survey show.

Boston — Do you eat lunch with co-workers? The food choices – healthy or unhealthy – of your lunch bunch are very likely to influence your own choices, results of a recent study led by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Amherst show.

Menlo Park, CA — More than 40% of employees say they’re more burned out on the job than they were a year ago, and 1 out of 3 plan to take at least three weeks of vacation this year, recent survey results show.

Tucson, AZ — Is your schedule of upcoming Zoom meetings getting you down? Results of a recent study suggest that the path to reduced fatigue – and increased engagement – might be as simple as switching off your camera during virtual meetings.

Atlanta — Almost three-quarters of U.S. employees are concerned about workplace safety standards and cleanliness as a protection against COVID-19, according to the results of a recent survey.

Tucson, AZ — Reimagined office spaces can help reduce worker stress and enhance overall well-being, a pair of University of Arizona researchers say in a recently published paper.

Boston — Improved air quality in offices can boost worker focus, response times and overall cognitive ability, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health claim.

Atlanta — People who travel frequently for business may have trouble keeping the pounds off, researchers from Emory University say.

Ljubljana, Slovenia — Work intensity is the most commonly identified risk factor for daily stress on the job, European researchers have concluded after conducting a research review.

Provo, UT — Nearly half of U.S. employees say they work while on vacation, according to the results of a recent survey.

San Diego — Saying “thank you” and expressing other forms of gratitude to co-workers can lead to better cardiovascular response in high-stress situations, results of a recent study show.

Oulu, Finland — “Even light physical activity may foster work engagement,” researchers in Finland are saying after studying on- and off-the-job data for more than 6,800 workers.

Adding physical activity to your daily routine could lead to a longer life – regardless of genetic predisposition, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego.

Boston — Employees who use illicit substances have increased absenteeism – a “compelling argument” for employers to promote employee treatment programs, results of a recent Boston University study show.

Taipei City, Taiwan — Workers who spend most of their workday in a chair have a 34% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 16% higher risk from all causes of death than workers who don’t sit, according to a new study out of Taipei Medical University.

London – A new, free document from the International Lead Association aims to educate workers and managers in developing countries on how to minimize or eliminate the risks of toxic lead emissions.

Atlanta – Lead exposure remains an issue for workers, with elevated levels most common in manufacturing, construction, services and mining, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.

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

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.

The Luffing Tower Crane Training Pack is the first simulation-based LTC training platform on the market.

HazTek’s Leading Safely approach to safety leadership is aimed at helping industry leaders transform their organizations in ways that reduce risks, improve team morale and open pathways to improved financial performance.

Online education provider Columbia Southern University has unveiled 27 new academic programs for interested safety professionals and students. Earn a degree or additional specializations in your field.

The Intellia Mini Excavator Simulator Training Pack offers detailed metrics to track safety violations and performance, allowing employers to objectively determine when an operator is ready for the field.

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The National Association of Tower Erectors is dedicated to providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies. NATE is recognized as the tower industry leader in promoting safety, education, uniform practices and procedures. Visit www.natehome.com or call (605) 882-5865 for more information!

Click here for more information from National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

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 National Association of Tower Erectors is dedicated to providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies. NATE is recognized as the tower industry leader in promoting safety, education, and uniform practices and procedures. Visit www.natehome.com or call (605) 882- 5865 for more information.

Click here for more information from National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

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

SPAN is the world leader in safety professional examination preparation workshops and self-study workbooks. Take your career to the next level – get certified. (ASP, CSP, CHST, CHMM, OHST.)

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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 with metals often requires interaction with certain oils and other synthetic fluids that can be irritating or damaging to the skin. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, a variety of skin problems can develop from exposure to metalworking fluids, the most common of which is dermatitis.

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

Histoplasmosis is a non-contagious, non-transmittable infectious disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus.

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.

Pneumoconiosis is an encompassing term given to “any lung disease caused by dusts that are breathed in and then deposited deep in the lungs causing damage,” the American Lung Association states. Pneumoconiosis generally is considered an occupational lung disease because exposure to the dusts that can cause the condition often takes place at work.

Occupational asthma is a respiratory disease in which on-the-job exposure to certain substances causes the airways of a person’s lungs to swell and narrow.

Pneumoconiosis is a group of diseases that includes asbestosis, silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung.

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.