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.

Washington — OSHA will prioritize rulemaking for a standard on preventing workplace violence in health care and social settings, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh testified during a May 17 House subcommittee hearing.

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 violence led to nearly 18,000 deaths over a recent 27-year period, according to a recently published report from NIOSH and two other federal agencies.

Itasca — New guidance from the National Safety Council is aimed at providing organizations with information and solutions to effectively mitigate and address workplace violence.

Geneva — Nearly a quarter of workers worldwide have endured workplace violence or harassment, but only half of the victims discuss their experiences, results of a recent survey show.

Provo, UT — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has signed a law allowing employers to petition for and obtain protective orders against anyone who poses a threat.

Cincinnati — A new guidance document from NIOSH outlines ways to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with robbery-related violence at gasoline stations and convenience stores.

“The old methodology of, ‘Oh, it could never happen here’ – that has to go out of the window,” a workplace security expert says. “Because it can.”

Washington — New commercial passenger aircraft must have a secondary flight deck barrier to protect the cockpit from “unauthorized intrusion” under a Federal Aviation Administration final rule announced June 14.

Sacramento, CA — The California Senate has approved legislation aimed at preventing workplace violence, particularly by banning employer policies that direct non-security personnel to confront shoplifters.

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

San Mateo, CA — Nearly 2 out of 3 frontline workers don’t feel safe on the job, results of a recent survey show.

Iowa City, IA — Three out of 5 young employees have experienced some form of workplace violence, results of a recent study show.

Sacramento, CA — Employers in California will be required to establish, implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention program, under a new state law.

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.

Portland, OR — In light of the 29 workplace homicides that have occurred in the state since 2018, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences has issued a hazard alert.

Buffalo, NY — What do workers do to recover when their boss or manager engages in “nonphysical aggression such as humiliating or threatening subordinates, or taking credit for their work”? A pair of researchers recently set out to answer that question.

Is your worksite ready to respond to an incident? Experts offer advice.

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.

In Episode 46, the S+H team examines the December issue’s feature story on best practices for preventing workplace violence. Also, Atanu Das, owner of MSDS Writer, a consulting company, joins the podcast to discuss Safety Data Sheets in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

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.

Geneva, Switzerland — Around 20% of workers worldwide have reported some form of violence or harassment, according to a recent report from the International Labour Organization.

Washington — To address a sharp increase in assaults against public transit workers, the Federal Transit Administration has published a proposed directive tasking public transit agencies with monitoring safety risks more closely.

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 — New guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is intended to prevent and address worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits, outlining when such behavior is against the law.

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.

Orlando, FL — Although OSHA remains largely a regulatory and enforcement agency, it’s recently started prioritizing safety culture.

Washington — On the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 becoming law, the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau released three issue briefs on safe leave.

London — Around half of workers who’ve been harmed on the job in the past two years didn’t report it, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Dover, DE — More than half of public school teachers have been the target of verbal aggression or threats by a student in the past three years, according to a recent survey conducted by the Delaware State Education Association.

Work Health Solutions, a San Jose, CA-based provider of concierge-style occupational medicine for large-scale employers nationwide, recently announced it has opened an employee health clinic in Las Vegas.

Mick Bowden is the new vice president of sales and marketing for Air 
Systems International in Chesapeake, VA. Bowden joined Air Systems in 2004 after starting his industrial sales career with Fastenal.

Mechanix Wear, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance work gloves located in Valencia, CA, has promoted Jesse Spungin to CEO from president and COO.

Sean Weil is now global chief financial officer for Protective Industrial Products Inc. He’s been with the Latham, NY-based company for nine years and previously served as global vice president of finance.

Spartanburg, SC-based flame-resistant and arc-rated textile manufacturer Westex: A Milliken Brand has partnered with Dovetail Workwear, a women’s workwear apparel brand, to launch the co-branded “Women at Work” campaign.

Wooster Products, a Wooster, OH-based manufacturer of anti-slip safety stair treads and walkway products, recently unveiled a new website at woosterproducts.com. This helpful resource for architects, specifiers and others provides a fast and easy way to find information on code-compliant non-slip stair treads and nosings, emergency egress systems, and more.

Chicago-based SureWerx, a supplier of PPE, safety products, and tool and equipment solutions, recently announced Eric Fouts as its new vice president, global supply chain.

Global medical and industrial hand protection manufacturer SHOWA Group has named Charles Miller president and chief operating officer of the Americas and Oceania.

Dovetail Workwear, a women’s workwear brand based in Portland, OR, recently announced its “Mavens” – the company’s brand ambassadors for 2024.

Portland, OR-based Dovetail Workwear has announced two staffing changes: Linda Reese has been named vice president of marketing and Sara DeLuca is now vice president of product.

Sentry Protection Products has upgraded its Collision Sentry Collision Warning System to feature a more focused, more intense warning light for increased visibility.

Washington — Legislation that would direct OSHA to establish – “on a much faster track” – a permanent federal standard that protects indoor and outdoor workers from excessive heat is back before Congress.

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

Austin, TX — A Texas judge has struck down a recently signed state law that would prohibit local municipalities and counties from mandating water breaks for workers.

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.

Washington — Physical assaults on health care workers in hospitals could lead to federal penalties and up to 20 years of jail time, under new bipartisan legislation.