Occupational asthma is a respiratory disease in which on-the-job exposure to certain substances causes the airways of a person’s lungs to swell and narrow.

Pneumoconiosis is a group of diseases that includes asbestosis, silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung.

For some workers, mosquitoes are an on-the-job hazard. That’s because some mosquitoes carry diseases – such as Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue and malaria – that can be transmitted to people.

Occupational asthma can develop when a worker breathes in gases, chemical fumes, dust or other work-related substances. According to Mayo Clinic, it also can result from exposure to a substance a worker is sensitive to, triggering an allergic or immunological response.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – more commonly known as MRSA – is a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that can lead to difficult-to-treat infections. MRSA is resistant to certain antibiotics and, although an infection may begin as a skin sore, it can become serious and potentially deadly, NIOSH warns.

As reports of the COVID-19 pandemic dominate the headlines, keeping calm can prove difficult. However, one of the best ways to combat anxiety – and be prepared – is to be informed.

Maintaining a routine, helping others and taking time to focus on self-care are among the tips one Ball State University professor is sharing to help people stay “sane and safe” while practicing physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People who work in hot, humid conditions may not like the idea of wearing a facial covering to decrease their risk of exposure to COVID-19. But it’s necessary.

COVID-19 has changed the way we all work. Some of us never stopped physically going to work, while others have been working remotely since mid-March. No matter where we are, working during a pandemic has added stress to our daily lives.

When a COVID-19 case occurs in the workplace, the local health department may ask an employer for help. Health departments are responsible for leading case investigations, contact tracing and outbreak investigations.

More than 300. That’s how many known triggers can be found in the workplace that cause or worsen asthma, according to NIOSH. 

Employers typically are required to accommodate employees with diabetes, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Accommodations may include time and a private place to administer any medications or conduct blood sugar tests, the ability to keep food nearby, or a schedule of regular breaks to maintain a prescribed diet.

Raynaud’s phenomenon – sometimes called Raynaud’s syndrome or disease – is a disorder of blood circulation in the fingers and toes (and less commonly in the ears and nose). The cause: Several.

Workers who are at risk of exposure include poultry and livestock farmers and workers, as well as slaughterhouse workers.

Why does the high-visibility standard have FR requirements?

How is the comfort of FR clothing related to compliance?

What is climate control in personal protective equipment, and why is it important?

What should our company look for in a safety footwear program/provider?

Is the “one size smaller” rule for women’s personal protective equipment adequate?

When selecting protective eyewear, most higher-quality options have various features and upgrades, including impact re-sistance, anti-fog technology, ultraviolent resistance and polarized lenses. What do each of these technologies provide and why should workers want them in their safety glasses?

How can proper eye protection relieve headaches and eye fatigue?

As an employer, what are my responsibilities to protect my workers from respiratory hazards? What responsibilities do my employees have?

How do I build a hand safety program that actually reduces hand injuries?

What are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing hand and arm protection?

How can equipment selection encourage hearing protection compliance?

How important is properly fitted high-visibility clothing for safety on the job?

Given the prevalence of eye protection requirements across industries, it’s clear this isn’t an issue of awareness, but of compliance.

In the past few years, garments tailored for women have become more common. These garments look similar to men’s apparel but are designed with specific details that consider the female form and shape.

How are women represented when it comes to PPE?

How does the filter media in an N95 filtering facepiece respirator really work?

A white paper from Lehigh explains the Compound Effect Solution to Plantar Fasciitis – how to give your employees the 1-2-3 punch, providing the best-fitting approved footwear, along with custom orthotics and medical-grade compression socks.

What are some of the biggest challenges and misconceptions in industrial workplaces when it comes to hand protection?

Can I use earbud-type devices as hearing protection in industrial settings?

What are the biggest factors that affect compliance in hand protection?

How has personal protective equipment evolved when it comes to safety footwear designed for indoor and manufacturing environments?

How does safety footwear protect from back pain and injury?

What features are commonly used in the construction of safety shoes to protect against impact and compression hazards?

What are the biggest factors that affect compliance in foot protection?

This highly visual message board, featuring safety sign sliders, can hold four, six or 11 interchangeable signs to keep employees and visitors aware of relevant safety information.

Aurora, CO — “Lack of recognition as frontline workers” adds emotional strain to the physical demands, staffing obstacles and COVID-19 concerns of workers who clean and sanitize health care facilities and equipment, results of a recent University of Colorado study suggest.

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on April 4 heard oral arguments on why it should order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry.

Toronto — To increase health care workers’ knowledge, awareness and prevention of occupational hand dermatitis, the Center for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease has launched a free e-learning module.

Atlanta — Health care workers who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic were more likely to have contracted the illness on the job rather than in household or community settings, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has concluded.

Durham, NC — The rates of “moral injury” that health care workers experienced during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic was akin to those of U.S. military combat veterans, results of a recent study show.

North Kingstown, RI — More than 4 out of 5 health care workers experience headaches associated with the use of personal protective equipment, according to a new report from the Association of Migraine Disorders.

Silver Spring, MD — Around 7 out of 10 recently surveyed nurses say staffing has gotten slightly or much worse recently, while nearly half of hospital nurses report an increase in workplace violence.

Washington — Echoing comments made by OSHA administrator Doug Parker during a hearing three weeks earlier, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry may be published sometime in the fall.

Washington — Citing data that shows hospitalizations “may increase significantly in the coming weeks,” OSHA has extended its revised National Emphasis Program on COVID-19 until further notice.

Tumwater, WA — Health care workers should rely on their clinical recognition skills, workplace safety protocols and personal protective equipment to avoid contracting and spreading monkeypox, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries advises.

Aliso Viejo, CA — A recent survey of nurses shows that fewer than half believe their organization values their safety and health, a drop of more than 30% in three years.