b

NYC wants to help delivery workers charge e-bikes safely

New York — Delivery workers in New York City will soon have places to safely charge the lithium-ion batteries on their e-bikes.




b

Roadside assistance is a dangerous job, data shows

Washington — Roadside assistance providers are struck and killed by passing vehicles more often than national crash data suggests, according to the results of a recent study.




b

On-the-job injuries rising among Oregon seafood-processing workers: study

Corvallis, OR – Injuries among seafood-processing workers in Oregon have eclipsed the statewide average, and the rate appears to be increasing, according to a recent study from Oregon State University.




b

Poultry-processing line speeds back in the spotlight

Washington – A group of House Democrats, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), is urging Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to reject a renewed call to increase line speeds in poultry-processing plants.




b

GAO calls for better interagency teamwork to improve safety for meat and poultry workers

Washington — Better outreach, collaboration and information sharing among federal agencies is needed to improve worker safety in the meat and poultry slaughter and processing industries, the Government Accountability Office concluded in a recently released report.




b

Lawmakers: OSHA’s response to GAO report on meat, poultry workers ‘troubling’

Washington — Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) is among four lawmakers calling for Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta to address their concerns over OSHA’s responses to a Government Accountability Office report, issued in November, on the health and safety of meat and poultry industry workers.




b

NIOSH: Highly repetitive work in cannabis industry increases risk for musculoskeletal disorders

Washington — Employers in the marijuana industry should provide safeguards to protect workers from repetitive stress injuries, NIOSH states in a recently released Health Hazard Evaluation Program report.




b

OSHA revamps bird flu webpage

Washington — OSHA recently announced an update of its webpage on avian influenza.




b

Virginia DOLI issues hazard alert on beverage materials handling, storage

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has issued a hazard alert warning of the potential dangers of unsafe materials handling and storage in the beverage distribution and retail industry.




b

Safety Data Sheets for bulk liquid flavorings may be incomplete, study shows

Morgantown, WV — Two potentially hazardous chemicals are missing from the Safety Data Sheets for bulk liquid flavorings, findings from a recent NIOSH Respiratory Health Division study show.




b

Canadian safety agency spotlights hazards in craft brewing industry

Richmond, British Columbia — Responding to growth in the craft brewing and distilling industry, WorkSafeBC has released health and safety resources intended to help employers protect workers.




b

Labor unions sue USDA over final rule that eliminates pork-processing line speeds

Minneapolis — A coalition consisting of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, three local affiliate unions and watchdog group Public Citizen is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a controversial final rule that removes maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers.




b

OSHA issues hazard bulletin on grease traps

Washington — In an effort to prevent injuries related to commercial grease traps, OSHA has issued a hazard bulletin.




b

NELP to USDA: Faster poultry-processing line speeds during COVID-19 pandemic ‘irresponsible and reckless’

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service in April approved 15 poultry processing plants’ requests to increase line speeds 25% – despite reported cases of COVID-19 among workers and at least one fatality related to the ongoing pandemic, according to a new policy brief from the National Employment Law Project.




b

Researcher calls for federal rules, guidelines on workplace safety in cannabis industry

Seattle — The cannabis industry needs federal regulations and guidance on workplace safety, according to University of Washington professor and researcher Christopher Simpson.




b

USDA rule to increase poultry-processing line speeds under OMB review

Washington — A controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would permit line speeds at certain poultry processing plants to increase to 175 birds a minute from the current 140 is under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.




b

Biden repeals USDA proposal to increase poultry-processing line speeds

Washington — President Joe Biden on Jan. 22 signed an Executive Order withdrawing a controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule that would have permitted line speeds at certain poultry-processing plants to increase to 175 birds a minute from the current 140.




b

Lawmakers reintroduce bills to prohibit meat and poultry-processing line speed increases during pandemic

Washington — Legislation reintroduced March 11 by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) would prohibit line speed increases in meat and poultry-processing plants during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.




b

Court puts the brakes on USDA elimination of pork-processing line speed limits

Minneapolis — The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota upheld a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 31, ruling that a controversial final rule that removes line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers compromises worker health and consumer welfare.




b

Booker introduces Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act

Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the House and Senate is aimed at improving working conditions and whistleblower protections in the meat and poultry processing industry.




b

Bird flu exposure: CDC report details worker safety measures

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising dairy and poultry facilities to take steps to protect their workers and the public from exposure to bird flu.




b

ADT+ App With Google Nest Compatibility Debuts at CES

The ADT+ app and DIY self-setup solution integrates multiple smart devices with professional monitoring and proactive mobile alert capabilities.




b

Smart Thermostat Market in U.S. Forecast to Reach $3.9B by 2029

The U.S. market is projected to be increasing at a compound annual growth rate of (CAGR) of 17.2% during the forecast period.




b

Abode Announces Google Nest Integration

Abode is now the first no-contract, DIY home security brand to successfully implement an integration with Google Nest products.




b

Deep Sentinel Raises $15M Funding Round Led by Intel

The funding round included participation from Shasta Ventures, Slow Ventures, UP2398 and TheSyndicate.com, an angel investing club led by Jason Calacanis.




b

Kaadas Now Alarm.com Certified, Announces New Distribution Partners

Kaadas signed three new distribution partners as select Kaadas Z-Wave-enabled smart lock models receive Alarm.com Certification.




b

Brilliant launches ‘Install It Anywhere’ Home Control Panel to Transform Any House or Apartment Into A Smart One

Additionally, Brilliant functions as a whole home lighting system with built-in motion detection, which can be paired with a Resideo Security System.




b

FCC Launches Cybersecurity Labeling Initiative for Smart Products

The “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark Program” aims to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and encourage manufacturers to meet higher cybersecurity standards.




b

Delta Controller Integrates With VIVOTEK’s New AI Camera for Smart Buildings

Delta recently showcased its integration with VIVOTEK AI surveillance camera and Delta Controls’ new Red5-PLUS-ROOM controller, an IoT-based native BACnet building controller, to enable comprehensive control of building HVAC, lighting, access and more.




b

Latch DOOR App Offers AI-Enabled Features & Real-Time Property Management

Latch CEO Jamie Siminoff presented a virtual reveal event on June 4, during which he explained how the app combines the technology and unique data of each building to serve timely and relevant information to residents and property managers.  




b

Ultimate Safety Net: The Vital Importance of Home Cellular Backup

Here's why cellular backup security has become essential in ensuring continuous protection among the various options available.




b

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Level Lock to Create Ambient Property Technologies Subsidiary

Level Lock was founded in 2016 by John Martin and Ken Goto and has approximately 70 employees. 




b

Smart Building Solutions Gain Traction Among Multifamily Properties, Study Finds

A new study by Parks Associates reveals that smart building solutions are increasingly being adopted by multifamily properties, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.




b

FAQs about confined space entry




b

Confined-space gas detection: catalytic bead vs. infrared technology

What is the best technology for detecting combustible gases in confined spaces?




b

Workers in certain industries and jobs at higher risk of dying from COPD: CDC

Atlanta — An elevated risk of death linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among workers in certain industries and occupations highlights the need for better employee health policies and targeted interventions, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.




b

Female health care workers need better protection from radiation, doctors say

London — A group of physicians is calling on health care employers to provide female workers who are exposed to on-the-job radiation with added protections to minimize their risk of breast cancer.




b

Banned handwashing products

Can you bring me up to speed on which handwashing product ingredients are no longer compliant with federal regulations?




b

OSHA, FCC collaborate on guide for communication tower workers

Washington – OSHA and the Federal Communications Commission have published a best practices guide intended to reduce injuries among communication tower workers.




b

NEHA to host webinar on possible risks of popular water pipe repair method

Denver – On the heels of a recent Purdue University study suggesting that a popular method for repairing water pipes can release hazardous chemicals into the air, the National Environmental Health Association will host a one-hour webinar on Oct. 5 to discuss potential risks to workers and the public.




b

Safety bulletin focuses on horizontal directional drilling hazards

Washington — OSHA has published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin intended to help underground utility workers and employers avoid hazards associated with horizontal directional drilling.




b

OSHA releases fact sheet on whistleblower protections in nuclear industry

Washington — OSHA is informing certain nuclear industry employees of their whistleblower protections, in a recently issued fact sheet.




b

New for members: Free Excavation Toolkit

The National Safety Council Construction & Utilities Division has launched an Excavation Toolkit.




b

DOI says it preempts OSHA on worker safety oversight for offshore renewable energy facilities

Washington — The Department of the Interior – not OSHA – will oversee workplace safety and health at offshore renewable energy facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, according to a policy statement published in the Oct. 18 Federal Register.




b

CPWR publishes alert on RF radiation exposure

Silver Spring, MD — A new hazard alert from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training highlights ways to recognize and control hazards associated with radiofrequency radiation exposure.




b

‘Birds of Prey’: New safety video for tower workers

Watertown, SD — A new video from NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association highlights the importance of hazard and environmental awareness among tower technicians who might encounter birds of prey nesting on communications towers.




b

OSHA citation includes first egregious violation under Biden administration

Washington — OSHA’s recent citation of a Boston contractor includes the first egregious violation issued under the Biden administration, acting agency administrator Jim Frederick confirmed Aug. 18.




b

Pennsylvania looks to extend OSHA protections to public-sector workers

Harrisburg, PA — Pennsylvania will explore the possibility of providing OSHA protections to workers in the public sector, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) has announced.




b

Outdoor workers are more likely to experience traumatic injuries as temps climb: study

Corvallis, OR — When temperatures rise, so do the rates of traumatic injuries among outdoor workers, according to the results of a recent Oregon State University study.




b

Mayday: Firefighter deaths spur advisory on portable radio emergency alert buttons

Washington — A new NIOSH safety advisory highlights the importance of training firefighters and dispatchers on the use of portable radio emergency alert buttons during mayday events.