New York – Construction worker fatalities have been rising in New York City and throughout the state – and Latino workers are particularly at risk due to falls and willful violations – according to an annual report released Jan. 18 by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

San Diego – More needs to be done to protect workers, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health says. More than 90 other organizations agree. Those groups have endorsed National COSH’s action agenda, “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs,” released March 15.

Washington – Several public health advocacy groups have filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that aims to undo OSHA’s requirement for employers to electronically submit worker injury and illness data for public view.

Park Ridge, IL – The American Society of Safety Engineers is proposing to change its name to the American Society of Safety Professionals as part of an effort to update the organization’s brand and more accurately represent its makeup.

New York – Every day, 27 workers suffer on-the-job amputations or injuries that require hospitalization, according to a recent report from the National Employment Law Project.

Washington — The state of workplace safety and health protections in the United States is a “national crisis,” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, which has released its annual report detailing the hazards that workers face every day on the job.

Washington — Advocacy groups Farmworker Justice and Earthjustice filed a joint Freedom of Information Act lawsuit April 17 seeking Environmental Protection Agency meeting notes related to a pair of regulatory changes regarding worker protection.

Washington — More than 130 organizations and 90 individuals are petitioning OSHA to issue regulations aimed at protecting workers against heat stress.

Washington — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka cautioned the public not to become “numb” to workplace fatalities and illnesses, as the labor federation released its annual report detailing the hazards workers face every day.

Washington — Public Citizen will not appeal the second dismissal of its lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s “2-for-1” deregulatory Executive Order, a spokesperson for the watchdog group told Safety+Health Jan. 16.

Washington — This year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, marked on April 28 each year to honor those who have lost their lives on the job, served as a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by the many workers providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — Two days after OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued voluntary interim guidance aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 among workers in the meatpacking and poultry-processing industries, President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950 and declared the facilities “critical infrastructure” in an Executive Order intended to keep meatpacking facilities open.

Los Angeles — To help ensure the safety of people returning to work – as well as those already on the job – during the COVID-pandemic, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health has released guidelines for workplace safety; worker participation; and compensation for sick, injured and at-risk workers.

Washington — A coalition of roadway safety advocacy groups, in conjunction with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation challenging a controversial final rule FMCSA claims will add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

Washington — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is evaluating its next course of action after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Sept. 18 denied a CVSA petition requesting that the agency update its definition of “personal conveyance” and clarify a mileage limit.

Washington — A pair of advocacy groups are calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reconsider a final rule aimed at strengthening protections for drivers and passengers in light vehicles involved in “underride” crashes, which occur when vehicles strike the rear of large trucks and slide underneath.

Washington — The Truck Safety Coalition is calling on the Department of Transportation and Congress to advance “critical truck safety reforms” after the recent release of its “Deadliest Truck Crash States” report.

In 2013, foot injuries resulted in 43,570 cases involving days away from work, according to the 2016 edition of “Injury Facts,” a chartbook from the National Safety Council.

The National Association of Tower Erectors is dedicated to providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies and 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 the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

Think emergency drills are only for schoolchildren? Think again. The National Safety Council urges all workers to take drills seriously.

Hazards are all around us. Although some are easy to see, many are not. The trick is learning to spot the hidden hazards.

Use of compact fluorescent lightbulbs can save money, conserve energy, reduce waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, CFLs contain mercury – a potent neurotoxin that, in small amounts, can cause serious health problems. At room temperature, mercury is a liquid and can readily evaporate into the air.

Nearly half of all work-related injuries involving mechanical power presses result in amputation, statistics compiled by OSHA show. Around 60% of amputations involve a worker’s fingers or arm getting caught or compressed by a press or other machinery such as a conveyer, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The “blue line” is defined as the path workers take to get their work done. The National Safety Council adds: “Blue line reviews are field observations of work by leaders with the goal of better understanding how work is actually performed.”

Are your workplace fire extinguishers in the right place? According to the National Fire Protection Association, employers need to consider two key factors: accessibility and visibility.

Portable dockboards are used to help prevent falls over gaps in the surface when forklifts, pallet jacks, carts and other equipment are moving between a trailer and the warehouse dock area.

NSC has suggestions for staying engaged at work.

Sacramento, CA — California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has unanimously approved a standard on heat exposure in indoor workplaces.

Eleven miners were injured as a result of an arc flash over a recent six-month period, according to a safety alert from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Are you getting ready to operate an aerial lift? OSHA recommends a pre-start inspection of the vehicle and lift components.

DRIFIRE 4.4™ Ultra-Lightweight Dual-Hazard Garments combine UL 2112 protection and a 10 calorie, HRC2 Arc Rating. Plus, protection meets performance with permanent moisture-wicking technology so garments dry up to 3x faster than competitors. It’s so light, you have to feel it to believe it. Learn more now!

Click here for more information from DRIFIRE

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)

United Academy’s comprehensive training solution leverages cutting-edge technology and engaging content to reduce the overall cost and complexity of safety training and credential tracking for you and your employees. Click here to learn more or to get your operators certified. Summer promo pricing available on all blended learning courses.

Click here for more information from United Academy, powered by United Rentals

RecycLockout^® Lockout/Tagout Kits: ZING Lockout/Tagout Kits protect people and the environment with their heavy-duty recycled components. Kits are available in pouches, belt kits and tool boxes with a variety of options that include pad-locks, tags, ties, hasps, valve, breaker or plug lockouts. Think ZING^® for all your eco safety product needs.

Click here for more information from ZING Green Safety Products

OSHA requires employers to have a hearing conservation program for construction workers whose noise exposure exceeds 90 dBA – but does not provide specifics. Taking into account challenges such as a transient workforce and outdoor environments, what are the most important elements of a hearing conservation program for construction workers?

New Orleans – NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association have honored two companies for their efforts to prevent work-related noise-induced hearing loss.

Washington – NIOSH has developed a sound level meter mobile app designed to measure noise exposure in the workplace.

Toronto — Brief episodes of intense noise exposure for city commuters – particularly those in and around public transit vehicles – could prove damaging in the long term, researchers from the University of Toronto warn in a new study.

Dallas — Navy researcher Kurt Yankaskas is the recipient of the 2019 NIOSH Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award, presented Feb. 9 at the National Hearing Conservation Association’s annual conference.

Perth, Australia — Around 1 out of 4 Australian workers experience ringing in the ears – called tinnitus – and those in the construction, automotive, transportation and agricultural industries may be at higher risk, results of a recent study suggest.

Silver Spring, MD — A recent study of older and retired construction trade workers shows that more than half experience hearing impairment – and the risk increases with age.

Washington — Although some employers may incorrectly assume otherwise, people with a hearing disability can be safe and effective workers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says in a recently updated document.

Washington — NIOSH has extended until Aug. 18 the nomination deadline for its 2023 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award.

Washington — Railroads must provide atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus to all rail crew members who spend time in the cab of a train carrying hazardous materials, the Federal Railroad Administration says.

An infographic presents statistics on motor vehicle deaths involving alcohol impairment during holiday periods.

It’s one of occupational safety’s greatest ironies – the professionals who care for the ill and injured are themselves among the most likely to become sick or hurt on the job.

A recent National Safety Council poll found 80 percent of drivers believe hands-free cell phones are safer than handheld phones.

Are you confused about the requirements in OSHA’s new reporting rule? Here’s a handy chart that may help clear things up.

Safety+Health presents a look at OSHA’s most cited violations and largest penalties for fiscal year 2014. Also: A Q&A with the deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

The CDC Foundation has released an extensive online resource to help employers and workers improve health and safety.