Washington — The Department of Transportation has issued a proposed rule that would revise industry drug testing protocol by adding oral fluid testing as an alternative to urine testing for commercial motor vehicle operators and workers in other safety-sensitive transportation positions.

Secaucus, NJ — Paced by a continuing increase in marijuana positivity rates, the positive drug test rate for U.S. workers reached its highest level in two decades in 2021, according to an annual analysis conducted by lab services provider Quest Diagnostics.

Washington — The Department of Transportation is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would allow the use of electronic forms and signatures for drug and alcohol testing.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a freight-carrier alliance petition regarding the use of hair samples as a drug-testing method for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Tumwater, WA — Exposure to cannabis dust, fume or smoke can lead to the development of work-related asthma, warns a new hazard alert from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Surrey, British Columbia — For people who are prescribed opioids to treat injury-related pain, experiencing their injury on the job may have a “protective effect” against the risk of future drug overdose.

Silver Spring, MD — Of the nearly 225,000 construction worker deaths recorded in 2020, 60% of those workers were at least 65 years old, according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Washington — Although alcohol is a factor in nearly 1 out of 3 traffic deaths, federal and state agencies need to also address driver impairment from cannabis and prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Washington — The American Transportation Research Institute is asking truck drivers to take a survey on the impact of marijuana legalization on driving and industry operations.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council wants to help employers and employees understand the impact cannabis use can have on workplace safety.

Washington — The opioid epidemic has had a wide-ranging impact on U.S. workers, but employers who support recovery can help, a new policy report states.

Secaucus, NJ — The percentage of workers testing positive for marijuana after an on-the-job incident or injury hit a 25-year high in 2022, according to an analysis conducted by Quest Diagnostics.

Washington — Although initial data suggests that marijuana legalization has “negatively impacted highway safety,” it’s still “too soon to calculate” an overall relationship between the two, according to a new report.

Toronto — Instead of having a zero-tolerance policy on cannabis use, employers may want to consider “minimum wait periods before a work shift when cannabis consumption is not allowed,” researchers say.

Washington — The approval of a second over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray for emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose is a “game-changer” for its lifesaving potential, the National Safety Council says.

Washington — The Department of Transportation has created “reminders” that highlight common issues service agents encounter during the drug and alcohol testing process.

Washington — The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has updated its online hub of information and resources on substance use disorder and recovery.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council is raising awareness of over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses in the workplace.

Seattle — Public train and bus operators face secondhand exposure from passenger drug use, potentially affecting their physical and mental health, according to a new report.

Washington — The Department of Transportation is changing how users access the Drug and Alcohol Testing Management Information System.

Lansing, MI — In an effort to protect workers in the rapidly expanding cannabis industry, Michigan OSHA has initiated a state emphasis program that covers the growing, harvesting and processing of the plant.

Atlanta — Exposure control, safety training and medical monitoring are all needed to prevent occupational asthma among cannabis workers, a new study concludes.

Somers, WI — States where recreational marijuana sales are legal have seen a nearly 10% increase in on-the-job injuries among 20- to 34-year-old workers, according to a new study.

Washington — The White House is calling on stakeholders across all sectors to “commit to save lives” by increasing training on – and access to – lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications.

Secaucus, NJ — The percentage of U.S. workers whose drug test showed signs of tampering skyrocketed in 2023 to its highest level in over 30 years, according to Quest Diagnostics’ annual Drug Testing Index.

Washington — The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Worker Training Program has published Spanish-language versions of its resources on COVID-19’s impact on mental health and substance use.

Boston — Workers in Massachusetts who reported a job-related injury in the past 10 years were 35% more likely to have died of an opioid-related overdose, the state’s Department of Public Health says.

We discuss content from the October issue of Safety+Health and share our thoughts on the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Also, Jamie Osborne, a public health analyst at NIOSH, joins us to discuss recovery-friendly workplaces in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

Washington – The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Nov. 14 released injury and illness data for 2011 and 2012 to correct previously disclosed data processing errors.

Older workers have a wealth of knowledge from their years of experience. But they also bring increased risk of on-the-job fatalities and severe injuries. In about six years, one-quarter of all U.S. workers will be 55 or older. What actions can safety professionals take now to ensure a safe workplace down the road? “This is the next frontier,” one safety pro says.

Washington – The overall rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work – as well as the number of median days needed to recover – decreased in 2015, according to data released Nov. 10 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington – The nonfatal injury and illness rate for private-sector U.S. employees decreased slightly in 2016 – as did the rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work – according to data released Nov. 9 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington — The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released calendar year 2016 data for the BLS Days of Job Transfer or Restriction pilot study, the organization announced Dec. 13.

Washington — The nonfatal injury and illness rate for private-sector U.S. employees continued to decline in 2017, as did the rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work, according to annual data released Nov. 8 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington — The nonfatal injury and illness rate for private-sector U.S. employees remained steady in 2018, halting a trend of consistent decline, while the rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work climbed slightly, according to annual data released Nov. 7 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington — Nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in the U.S private sector, as well as the nonfatal injury and illness rate, decreased slightly in 2020. However, estimated injuries and illnesses that resulted in at least one day of lost work soared by nearly a third amid the COVID-19 pandemic, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

Washington — The number of reported workplace injuries in the U.S. private sector increased in 2021, but a decline in respiratory illnesses – including COVID-19 – helped drive down the combined number of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, data released Nov. 7 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

Washington — The number of reported workplace injuries and illnesses in the U.S. private sector increased in 2022, data released Nov. 8 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

Smartphones, tablets and their applications are ubiquitous in today’s society. But for safety professionals, apps can help educate workers on safety, improve safety communication and, according to some experts, save lives.

Washington – NIOSH has released a Spanish-language version of its ladder safety application for mobile devices.

Honeywell has launched new online tools including an interactive fall clearance calculator.

A new mobile app from the Department of Veterans Affairs aims to help health care providers deliver information about chemical, physical and environmental hazards that military veterans may have encountered during service.

The free FR Clothing Smartphone App provides easy and immediate access to key information about hazards, safety standards, FR brands, product lines and more.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has developed a mobile app that allows users to easily search an online database of more than 400 disinfectant products that can help prevent and reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Lansing, MI — In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, two Michigan agencies have developed a coronavirus exposure notification app.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has released a Spanish language version of its SafeMe Essentials app for young workers.

Arlington, VA — Now available in Spanish: a Mine Safety and Health Administration mobile app designed to promptly deliver safety and health information to miners and other members of the mining industry.

Hopefully you’re already deep into strategic planning for 2018, but here are a few recommendations based on industry trends and predictions to help aim you in the right direction, as well as a look back at some of this year’s published columns to help you get there.

A research report published by Persistence Market Research states that the global market is likely to account for a market valuation of more than $29.8 billion through 2025 end.

What is really driving this boom is the way these products and networks are starting to play together, allowing people to add what they want with whatever system they already have and control everything with one app.