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Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Act introduced in the Senate

Washington — A companion bill to the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195), passed by the House in April 2021, has been introduced in the Senate.




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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, rates of ‘moral injury’ among health care workers similar to combat vets

Durham, NC — The rates of “moral injury” that health care workers experienced during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic was akin to those of U.S. military combat veterans, results of a recent study show.




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PPE-related headaches common among health care workers: report

North Kingstown, RI — More than 4 out of 5 health care workers experience headaches associated with the use of personal protective equipment, according to a new report from the Association of Migraine Disorders.




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COVID-19 and health care workers: Walsh reiterates that permanent rule likely before year’s end

Washington — Echoing comments made by OSHA administrator Doug Parker during a hearing three weeks earlier, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry may be published sometime in the fall.




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Ohio legislation looks to prevent workplace violence in health care settings

Columbus, OH — Legislation recently introduced in the Ohio Statehouse would direct health care employers to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan within six months.




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Burnout in health care: Surgeon general issues report

Washington — Burnout among health care workers could make it more difficult for patients to get the care they need, cause a rise in the cost of care, worsen health disparities and weaken the ability to prepare for the next public health emergency.




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Protecting health care workers from monkeypox: Washington L&I offers guidance

Tumwater, WA — Health care workers should rely on their clinical recognition skills, workplace safety protocols and personal protective equipment to avoid contracting and spreading monkeypox, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries advises.




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Appeals court denies health care worker groups’ petition for a permanent COVID-19 standard

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled it doesn’t have the authority to order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry, denying an emergency petition filed by National Nurses United and other labor groups.




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New national plan aimed at improving health care workers’ well-being

Washington — The National Academy of Medicine has unveiled seven priorities it says will help strengthen the well-being of the health care workforce and “restore the health of the nation.”




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OSHA sends standard on COVID-19 for health care to OMB for final review

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.




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House passes bill calling for end of health care worker vaccine rule

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.




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Workplace violence prevention bill aimed at health care and social services

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.




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When safety precautions are faithfully followed, sharps injuries are lower, study shows

Arlington, VA — Hospital units that consistently follow standard safety precautions experience nearly 40% fewer needlesticks and other sharps injuries than other units, a new study has found.




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OSHA wants input on protecting health care workers from violence

Washington — OSHA is requesting feedback as it considers developing a possible standard aimed at preventing workplace violence in the health care and social assistance industries.




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Ergo group calls for OSHA standard on MSDs in health care

Washington — An OSHA standard on safe patient handling and mobility could reduce musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society says in a new policy statement.




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Medical receptionists face increased aggression from patients, researchers say

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




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MSDs common among long-term care aides, study shows

Edmonton, Alberta — A recent study of workers’ compensation claims filed by workers in long-term care facilities shows that the majority involved care aides and musculoskeletal injuries.




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Which workers are most at risk for sharps injuries?

Morgantown, WV — A recent study of work-related sharps injuries shows that health care workers had a sixfold higher risk than all other workers – but other workers are at risk, too.




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Study looks at reasons behind health care worker drug overdoses

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.




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EPA mulls health care worker training on pesticide-related illnesses

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.




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Injured workers are using cannabis to self-medicate, study shows

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.




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Certain health care workers at increased risk for suicide: study

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.




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Health care workers facing a mental health crisis: CDC report

Washington — Health care workers are reporting burnout and poor mental health at levels higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.




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Effects of co-worker ostracism ‘significant,’ researchers say

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.




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Many health care workers fear they’ll be injured, survey shows

Bannockburn, IL — Around 1 out of 4 health care workers don’t feel safe on the job, according to the results of a recent survey.




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Researchers say lack of sleep affects worker well-being

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.




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Colorado bill aimed at preventing violence in health care facilities

Denver — Legislation recently introduced in Colorado would require hospitals, freestanding ERs, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and federally qualified health centers to establish a workplace violence prevention committee.




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New guide addresses burnout in the health care industry

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




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Are respirators effective when beard bands are worn? NIOSH to explore

Washington — NIOSH is seeking respirator manufacturers and other participants for a new project aimed at determining how well the devices protect workers who have facial hair when beard bands are used.




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Health care worker mental health: NIOSH offers tips for stigma-free communication

Washington — NIOSH is encouraging health care industry employers to craft mental health-related communications in a way that helps reduce the stigma around seeking support.




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Restyled hard hat

The Evolution 6100 Hard Hat’s traditional styling has been enhanced with five raised channels running across the top of the helmet, which not only modernizes the aesthetic look, but also strengthens the helmet.




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Arc flash kit

The CU-ARC-5 Arc Flash Kit features a center weight positioning visor bracket that balances and distributes the weight of the shield evenly for extreme thermal energy conditions.




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Auto-darkening welding helmets

Backed by a three-year warranty, the new generation of VIKING Auto-Darkening Welding Helmets offers better optical quality and durability.




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Maryland bill aimed at making work zones safer

Annapolis, MD — Legislation recently introduced in Maryland would allow multiple speed cameras in work zones and raise fines for speeding offenses.




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Attorneys general re-issue call for OSHA emergency standard on heat

Washington — A coalition of attorneys general is re-petitioning OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard aimed at protecting workers from heat exposure.




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Safety part of contractors group guide on AI in construction

Washington — Artificial intelligence in construction is the subject of a new technology guide from Associated Builders and Contractors.




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Gender-based violence in construction: DOL to host webinar

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.




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ASSP releases voluntary standard on heat stress

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.




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Company criminally charged for issuing fraudulent OSHA training cards after worker dies

New York — The New York State Supreme Court has indicted a company for operating a “sham safety training school” connected to the death of a “trainee” on a construction site.




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A severed lanyard leads to a fatal fall – and an OSHA alert

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.




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Crane safety hazards and tech solutions: NSC releases new report

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.




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NYC warns construction workers about aging brick facades

New York — The New York City Department of Buildings has issued a construction advisory on the dangers of aging brick facades, which could create unsafe conditions that lead to catastrophic events.




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New hazard alert focuses on falls from portable ladders

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.




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Are you ready to #StandDown4Safety?

Washington — The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction kicks off May 6.




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Hazard alert shines light on fall hazards in construction

Portland, OR — Responding to the 19 fatal falls involving construction workers in the state since 2018, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences has issued a hazard alert.




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Prevent harassment in construction: New guide from EEOC

Washington — Preventing harassment in the construction industry is the focus of a new guidance document from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.




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Researcher puts spotlight on suicide rates among construction workers

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.




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ANSI/ISEA updates voluntary standard on preventing dropped objects

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.




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Suicide prevention in construction: Webinar set for Sept. 5

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.




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Suicide prevention in construction: Webinar looks at what employers can do

Silver Spring, MD — With the construction industry experiencing elevated suicide rates, employers can support workers by “reassuring them that help is available, that mental health is the same as physical health,” an expert on prevention says.