Geneva — Health care workers who treat COVID-19 patients deserve more robust occupational safety and health programs, according to the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization.

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.

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.

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.

New York — Employees in fields with higher workplace injury rates are generally less likely to be covered by employer-provided health insurance plans, results of a recent survey show.

Birmingham, AL — A recent study of health care workers in U.S. ERs shows masks, gloves, gowns and other personal protective equipment were highly effective at shielding them from infection during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled it doesn’t have the authority to order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry, denying an emergency petition filed by National Nurses United and other labor groups.

Sacramento, CA — New guidance from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is aimed at protecting workers from monkeypox – a viral disease that spreads mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who’s infected.

Schaumburg, IL — The Emergency Nurses Association and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership have updated their Guiding Principles on Mitigating Violence in the Workplace and related toolkit.

Washington — OSHA submitted its permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review Dec. 7.

Tallahassee, FL — Legislation in Florida that would strengthen criminal penalties for assault or battery on hospital workers has advanced out of two Senate committees.

Edmonton, Alberta — A recent study of workers’ compensation claims filed by workers in long-term care facilities shows that the majority involved care aides and musculoskeletal injuries.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants feedback as it considers a training program for health care providers on recognizing, treating and reporting pesticide-related illnesses and injuries.

New York — Registered nurses, health technicians and health care support workers face an elevated risk of suicide compared with workers in non-health care fields, results of a recent study indicate.

Cambridge, MA — The median time from a worker’s injury to “first medical service” was either unchanged or shorter early in the COVID-19 pandemic relative to prior years, a new report shows.

Washington — NIOSH has published a step-by-step process for improving the mental health of hospital health care workers.

Washington — The National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents is set for April 15-19.

Washington — Artificial intelligence in construction is the subject of a new technology guide from Associated Builders and Contractors.

Rockville, MD — Mental health is “just as important for your safety as that harness or anything else that you’re wearing,” Mechanical Contractors Association of America member Ricky Reams says in a new video.

Toronto — The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association has published a guide on reducing the risk of struck-by incidents in the workplace.

Washington — The fifth annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents begins April 15, providing employers with opportunities to raise awareness of struck-by hazard recognition and prevention.

Silver Spring, MD — Developing a strong safety climate on construction worksites can improve safety outcomes, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says in a new video.

New York — Although deaths at New York City building construction sites fell to their lowest level in nearly a decade in 2023, work-related injuries rose 25%, reports the city’s Department of Buildings.

Washington — Engagement of top management and substance misuse prevention programs are among four essential safety best practices of construction industry employers, Associated Builders and Contractors says.

Washington — Preventing harassment in the construction industry is the focus of a new guidance document from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Blacksburg, VA — Construction employers can help stem the industry’s elevated suicide rates by enhancing their crisis management skills via training, as well as providing flexible leave policies and counseling.

Bilbao, Spain — A new video from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work highlights strategies to reduce the risks of heat stress on the job.

New York — Research intended to gain a better understanding of the effects of heat on construction worker health is continuing, project organizers recently announced.

Silver Spring, MD — Creating a “culture of care” is among the topics to be discussed during an upcoming webinar on preventing suicide in the construction industry.

Silver Spring, MD — With the construction industry experiencing elevated suicide rates, employers can support workers by “reassuring them that help is available, that mental health is the same as physical health,” an expert on prevention says.

Dayton, OH — A new video from NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association explores updates to the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Safety Professionals A10.48-2023 standard covering pre-job planning.

Mark your floors the right way! Step up workplace operations with durable floor-marking tape that’s applied by following color standards and floor-marking best practices. Brady’s free 5S Floor-Marking Color Standard provides useful guidelines, tips and examples for putting an effective floor-marking program in place.

Rigid Lifelines™ is showing off its softer side. Introducing the new Connex™ shock-absorbent lanyards, Defy™ self-retracting lanyards and the Evolve™ harnesses. Each comes in a variety of sizes and lengths to help you tackle any job, at almost any height. Finally – full-featured fall protection without the full-featured price. Learn more at http://rigidstore.co/safetylaunch.

How does facility safety go beyond building infrastructure and protocol during hurricane season?

How can effective health and safety protocols contribute to a safer and more effective work environment when thermal fluids are in use? What specific measures should be taken to prevent incidents?

What are some best practices for managing first aid supplies and equipment in the workplace?

This “Industry Insights” guide from Kee Safety explains the differences between Kee Klamp fittings and fabricated railings.

A variety of safety precautions must be considered when handling batteries and battery acid.

Puncture wounds, sprained ankles and broken toes are just some of the injuries that can result from handling empty skids and pallets. With about 2 billion pallets circulating in the United States, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the Texas Department of Insurance offers tips to material handlers to help them avoid injury. 

Liquid nitrogen is the colorless, odorless, clear liquefied form of nitrogen. It can be extremely dangerous to work around.

Whether you are an industrial worker or someone who needs extra stability in winter conditions, All Purpose Traction Aids will provide you with the confidence you need when working in icy and snowy conditions.

Diamond Grips from ICEtrekkers provide aggressive traction for all winter walking conditions.

Chicago — A large majority of workers are either burned out or feel ambivalent about their job, results of a recent survey show.

San Diego — Opioid use related to workers’ compensation claims decreased nearly 10% in 2023, marking one of the largest drops the workers’ comp industry has seen in years, according to a new report.

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

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.

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.