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Study of nurses shows mindfulness can curb stress and improve sleep

Tampa, FL — Practicing mindfulness each day may help reduce workers’ stress and limit negative thinking on the job.




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Feeling burned out at work? Get moving, researchers say

Ann Arbor, MI — Even moderate exercise can help keep workers from feeling burned out, results of a recent study show.




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Many people aren’t prepared to help during a medical emergency, survey shows

Would you be able to provide aid to someone in cardiac arrest? Results of a recent survey suggest that for about half of us, the answer is no.




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Happening soon: Construction Suicide Prevention Week

Construction Suicide Prevention Week, an outreach event aimed at addressing a growing issue in the industry, is set for Sept. 9-13.




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A ‘second summer’ forecast includes risks of high heat, wildfires

State College, PA — The threats of high heat and wildfires are expected to persist well into autumn, AccuWeather says – meaning workers could be at risk.




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Spending time in nature a popular way to relieve stress, survey finds

Around half of adults – and 58% of parents – visit local parks or spend time in nature to help relieve stress, results of a recent survey show.




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When temps rise, so does injury risk, workers’ comp data shows

Denver — Indoor and outdoor workers have a 52% increased likelihood of injury when the mercury rises above 90° F, Colorado’s largest workers’ compensation insurer says after a recent survey of claims data.




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Both workers and CEOs face mental health challenges: survey

Denver — Half of workers have experienced a mental health issue in the past year, results of a recent survey show.




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Senate bill would provide $10B to fund research on long COVID

Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would provide $1 billion in mandatory funding per year for 10 years to the National Institutes of Health to support research on long COVID-19.




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Most U.S. women struggle to prioritize their health: report

Washington — More than 3 out of 5 women in the United States – younger women in particular – find it difficult to prioritize their own health, a new report shows.




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Worker well-being plummets amid stressors: report

New York — Worker well-being is “dramatically lower” than in past years, as stress levels related to economic and other concerns remain on the rise, a recent report reveals.




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Does your work desk affect your health and productivity?

College Station, TX — People who work at desks may find that switching to a standing desk from a traditional model reduces discomfort – and also boosts productivity, results of a recent study show.




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New report looks at worker loneliness

Washington – Around 1 out of 5 workers worldwide experience loneliness on a daily basis, a new report shows.




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Which hourly workers leave their shifts ‘feeling good’?

San Francisco — Hourly employees in the supply chain sector “need support,” a software provider’s study of worker happiness shows.




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Digital work may have a detrimental effect on mental health

Nottingham, England — Workers who are worried about missing out on information but also feel overloaded by it are more likely to experience stress and burnout, according to a recent study.




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Analysis looks at uncertainty’s role in worker injuries and mental health

Montreal — A work-related injury followed by a mental health issue, or the other way around: Which is more likely? Two Canadian researchers wanted to find out.




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New data clearinghouse aimed at advancing worker well-being

Raleigh, NC — The Health Enhancement Research Organization and the Office for Total Worker Health at NIOSH have teamed up to develop an online portal for safety researchers and employers.




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S.T.O.P. Carcinogens at Work: EU-OSHA launches website

Bilbao, Spain — When carcinogens are present in the workplace, “employers must do everything in their power to prevent workers from coming into contact with them,” the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work says.




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Weekend catch-up sleep may be good for your heart

Using the weekend to make up for the sleep you missed during the week could help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, researchers say.




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Understanding long COVID: Workers’ comp insurer publishes pamphlet for employers

Albany, NY — People who continue to experience COVID-19 symptoms at least three months after contracting the virus have what’s known as “long COVID.”




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Online game shows how workers experience ‘social determinants of health’

Chicago — A new online game developed by the Center for Healthy Work at the University of Illinois Chicago demonstrates how different workers in an organization are impacted by social determinants of health.




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DOL to employers: Support workers experiencing menstruation and menopause

Washington — Employers can improve the on-the-job experience for workers affected by menstruation and menopause by providing protections and accommodations, and being flexible, the Department of Labor says.




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NIOSH initiative focuses on brain health in the workforce

Washington — Optimizing the health and performance of workers’ brains is the goal of a new NIOSH initiative.




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‘American malaria’ on the rise in the US, study shows

The rate of the tick-borne parasitic disease babesiosis increased an average of 9% annually over a recent seven-year period in the United States, according to a new study.




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NSC white paper on MSDs looks at ‘non-physical’ risk factors

Washington — Work organization, job stress and other non-physical risk factors “cannot be ignored” when assessing the likelihood of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, according to a new white paper from the National Safety Council.




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Burnout among government employees high, study shows

Arlington, VA — More than 2 out of 5 government workers are feeling burned out, and 86% of them say it’s affecting their health and wellness, according to a recent study.




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Could artificial light boost shift workers’ sleep and job performance?

Adelaide, Australia — Exposing night shift workers to artificial light on the job may improve their sleep and reduce human error, a recent study shows.




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Survey asks about 40-hour workweeks, flexibility and stress

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico — Seven out of 10 workers think employers should reconsider the 40-hour workweek, according to the results of a recent survey from job search website FlexJobs.




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BLS: Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses decrease in 2023

Washington — Workers in private industry experienced fewer injuries and illnesses on the job last year than in 2022, according to Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses data released Nov. 8 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




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Caregiving for family members takes a toll on workers: report

Chicago — One out of 5 workers who take a leave of absence to care for others later take leave for a medical condition of their own, results of a new analysis show.




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‘Structure Fires Caused by Hot Work’: New report from NFPA

Quincy, MA — Hot work hazards sparked nearly 3,400 structure fires a year over a recent five-year period, according to new report from the National Fire Protection Association.




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EPA proposal would ‘strengthen’ chemical risk evaluations

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to expand the scope of chemical risk evaluation policies under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.




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EPA seeks to increase protections for two toxic chemicals

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to strengthen restrictions on two persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals already regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.




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Women in frontline roles need more support: report

New York — Women in frontline jobs say their safety and well-being needs often go unacknowledged, according to a recently published report.




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OSHA will continue to target hazardous noise in Mid-Atlantic region

Philadelphia — OSHA Region 3 has extended its Regional Emphasis Program focused on industries with high levels of workplace noise.




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Workplace deaths up 12% worldwide in past two decades: report

Sydney — Global work-related deaths have jumped more than 12% since 2000, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.




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EPA to review five more toxic chemicals for risk evaluation

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has initiated its 12-month review process to prioritize five toxic chemicals for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.




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Washington state updates decades-old rules on refinery safety

Tumwater, WA — Process safety management-focused updates to Washington state’s workplace safety rules for petroleum refineries are set to go into effect Dec. 27.




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EPA shifts away from animal testing to assess eye irritation

Washington — A new Environmental Protection Agency decision framework for determining the eye irritation or corrosion potential of new chemicals aims to “provide results more relevant to humans” – without animal testing.




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Raising TSCA implementation fees will bring ‘faster protections,’ EPA says

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency expects a final rule that would increase fees to defray administration costs of the Toxic Substances Control Act to bolster chemical-review efficiency and safety protections.




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OSHA to host webinar on silica exposure in engineered stone industry

Washington — Protecting workers in the engineered stone industry from exposure to crystalline silica will be the topic of an OSHA webinar scheduled for March 14.




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EPA says new rule will protect chemical facilities and communities

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is aiming to “improve safety at facilities that use and distribute hazardous chemicals,” as well as protect nearby communities, via a final rule.




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EPA wants feedback on draft risk evaluation for formaldehyde

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comment on a draft risk evaluation that states the chemical substance formaldehyde poses “unreasonable risk” to workers under certain conditions.




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EPA rule will mandate response plans for weather-related chemical discharges

Washington — More than 5,300 industrial facilities must submit plans for responding to “worst case” chemical discharges into waterways during adverse weather events, under a new Environmental Protection Agency final rule.




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Gamified manufacturing tasks may be too stressful for some workers: study

Morgantown, WV — Turning mundane manufacturing tasks into games may boost worker engagement, motivation and productivity – but it also may stress out some people, results of a recent study show.




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Wheel weights and lead exposure: EPA asks for feedback

Washington — As the Environmental Protection Agency considers regulating the manufacture, processing and distribution of lead wheel weights, it’s seeking stakeholder feedback on how workers and families may be exposed to lead.




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Chemical Safety Board praises NFPA standard on hazardous waste

Washington — The National Fire Protection Association’s voluntary standard on preventing fires and uncontrolled chemical reactions at hazardous waste facilities carries significant influence from the Chemical Safety Board – and CSB officials appreciate it.




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Cal/OSHA campaign aimed at protecting stone workers from silica exposure

Sacramento, CA — The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health recently launched a campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of silica dust in the engineered stone industry.




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EPA classifying two ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency will designate as hazardous two cancer-causing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, with wide industrial and consumer use, under a new final rule.




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Safety board to chemical facilities: Hurricane Beryl is an ‘early warning’

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is urging chemical facilities to prepare for a season of “potentially more frequent and more powerful hurricanes and other extreme weather events.”