Arlington, VA — As winter approaches, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has released best practices aimed at reducing hazards related to cold weather.

The LNB-2 is the next generation in powered-elevating two-wheel hand trucks.

Working with Ludwig System GmbH & Co. KG, OTH Pioneer Rigging has developed an alternative to traditional lifting hooks that helps quicken the rigging process while mitigating risk to workers.

Adequate sleep is important for an individual’s health and well-being. Most experts recommend getting between seven and nine hours of sleep every day, which can be difficult to achieve, especially for people who work during nighttime hours or on a rotating shift schedule.

Prescription drug abuse is a rising epidemic that can significantly affect the workplace. Symptoms of prescription drug abuse can be hard to spot. However, if you suspect an employee is abusing or addicted to a prescription medication, contact human resources or your employee assistance program.

Work-related stress can have serious physical and emotional repercussions. The American Psychological Association states that work-related stress can cause stomach problems, sleep issues, headaches and irritability. Read APA's seven recommendations for managing stress.

Do you regularly feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed at work? You’re not alone.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness. It can occur when a person experiences something frightening, stressful or overwhelming.

Although it’s recommended that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep a night, NIOSH notes that multiple factors may contribute to workers being sleep-deprived.

Anyone who has gone to school or has a job has probably heard the term “absenteeism.” But what about “presenteeism” and “leavism”? Although not as widely talked about, both presenteeism and leavism can have serious health and safety repercussions for both workers and employers.

Increased workloads, long hours, layoffs, work-life balance – these are just some of the reasons why you might be feeling stressed at work. And you’re not alone: Results of a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association in January show that 84% of U.S. adults were experiencing at least one emotion associated with prolonged stress, including anxiousness, sadness and anger.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stress levels among many workers have been through the roof. Studies have shown that between caregiving duties, job responsibilities and more, employees are feeling overwhelmed. And stress has been linked to health conditions such as cardiovascular issues, depression and obesity.

Opioid use disorder is defined by Johns Hopkins Medicine as a medical condition in which you’re unable to abstain from using opioids, and behaviors centered around opioid use that interfere with daily life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Take time this month – and all year round – to promote awareness of worker well-being.

Alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, fatigue and mental distress can all cause impairment in the workplace. “Impairment risks are everyone’s responsibility,” the National Safety Council says.

Experts say employers need to make workers’ mental health as high of a priority as physical health. A big step in that process: confronting the stigma that often accompanies mental health disorders.

After a brain injury, a person “may experience difficulty performing his or her job safely, or in the same manner,” according to the Brain Injury Association of America. “Some may find they need to find other employment, while others can request adaptions in their workplace to accommodate their new needs.”

In Episode 44, the S+H team examines the October issue’s feature story on respirable crystalline silica. Also, Suzi Craig, vice president of workplace mental health at Mental Health America, joins the podcast to discuss normalizing conversations and attitudes around mental health in the “Five Questions With …” segment. 

OSHA’s “Safe Workplace Good Headspace” initiative highlights ways employers can make a difference.

How can employers help employees who’re working remotely stay safe and healthy? We’ve got expert advice.

Every year, roughly 30 million people in the Unites States are exposed to hazardous noise at work, according to OSHA. High levels of noise can result in permanent hearing loss for workers.

Audition Technology’s white paper summarizes the current global standards for safe listening in the environment and from audio (headphones) and provides a framework for monitoring lifestyle exposures versus safe dose, building awareness and self-management with associated tools offered by the company.

From the blare of a forklift-collision warning to the wail of an ambulance siren, noise can make us aware of hazards our eyes haven’t yet seen. But not all noise is helpful.

Quick Fit Hydros have been specifically designed for workers who want a water-resistant, multi-functional device that can be worn as an electronic ear protector or a personal hearing device for situational awareness by simply changing the tips.

Hearing loss is preventable. Why, then, is it still so common?

If reaching, grabbing, clenching, twisting or bending causes pain, you may have a repetitive strain injury.

In 2012, more than 68,000 cases involving days away from work occurred due to shoulder injuries, according to the National Safety Council chartbook, “Injury Facts.” Shoulder injuries can seriously affect a worker’s life. The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation states that pain is the most common symptom of a shoulder injury, with other symptoms including stiffness, a “locking” sensation, and numbness or tingling down the arm.

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.

“Our bodies are very good at giving us warning signs when something needs to change,” NSC says. “We just need to be willing to listen and take action.”

What’s one way workers can cut their risk of a back injury in half? “Store it off the floor,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries says.

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.

Download this white paper from Soter Analytics to learn how wearable technologies can automate ergonomic training processes, motivate workers and drive down injury rates as much as 55%.

Construction workers: Do you often perform the same task at work over and over again? Do you experience pain afterward? What starts as a minor ache or pain can quickly turn into a more serious condition – a repetitive stress injury.

Menlo Park, CA — More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 2 out of 5 employees have grown tired of video calls, results of a recent survey show.

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.

Hartford, CT — Thirty-three percent of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned about their mental health, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by health benefits provider Aetna International.

Tilburg, Netherlands — Employers who take a more tailored approach to supporting workers who return to work after a mental health-related absence “could not only prevent mental health problems from becoming more severe but also help employees achieve a more sustainable return,” according to a new research report from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has launched a state emphasis program focused on protecting workers in office settings, where community spread of COVID-19 is a risk.

Dortmund, Germany — People who work from home are more likely to continue working when they’re ill, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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.

Raleigh, NC — Some people may believe that colleagues who step away from their desks are avoiding work, but the results of a recent study conducted by researchers from North Carolina State University show short breaks actually can help boost productivity and manage energy.

Menlo Park, CA — Thirty-four percent of office employees working remotely during of the COVID-19 pandemic say they might look for another job if directed to return to the office full-time, results of a recent survey show.

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.

San Francisco — Around half of workers say their employer isn’t doing enough to address the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance platform provider.

Alexandria, VA — About 6 out of 10 U.S. adults believe masks should be a requirement for workers at onsite locations, even if those workers are fully vaccinated, according to the results of a recent Harris Poll survey commissioned by the American Staffing Association.

Fort Collins, CO — Ambiguous expectations and undefined work boundaries may put more conscientious remote workers at elevated risk for burnout, dissatisfaction and illness, a recent study suggests.

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.

Philadelphia — A vast majority of employees who are returning to the workplace after working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic say they plan to continue practicing elevated hygiene amid concerns over the cleanliness of their offices and being around colleagues again, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by hygiene and health company Essity.