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CDC and NOAA partner to help workers stay safe in the heat

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a Heat and Health Initiative to help protect workers from dangerous conditions.




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Mental health in the workplace: Washington L&I launches webpage

Tumwater, WA — A new webpage offers resources for fostering mental wellness in the workplace and supporting workers who have a diagnosed mental illness.




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Can a strong ‘working memory’ help prevent on-the-job distraction?

Ann Arbor, MI — “Working memory” may play a key role in helping workers avoid getting distracted, results of a recent University of Michigan and Google study suggest.




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Worker burnout and disconnection are widespread, survey shows

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




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Taking ‘Z-drugs’ to help you sleep? FDA says be careful

Taking prescription medicines known as “Z-drugs” for insomnia may lead to complex sleep behaviors, overdose, injury and – in rare cases – death, the Food and Drug Administration cautions in a recent alert.




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Knowing that colleagues use mental health benefits may encourage others: study

London — People who are aware that their co-workers are using employer-provided mental health benefits may be more likely to use them too, researchers say.




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What are the biggest obstacles women face at work?

New York — Increased stress, long hours and apprehension about disclosing mental health concerns are some of the most pressing challenges affecting women in the workplace, according to a new report.




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‘Blowing off steam’ may not be the best way to handle your anger

You mad? Skip the venting – it’s not the answer to feeling better, results of a recent study suggest.




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More stairs, longer life? Researchers find big health benefits

Fend off heart disease and prolong your life by taking the stairs rather than the elevator, results of a new study suggest.




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Is excessive screen time harming Gen Z workers’ eye health?

Rancho Cordova, CA — More than 4 out of 5 Generation Z employees say they’re working longer hours – and most say their eye health is suffering as a result.




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‘Huff and puff’ your way to a longer life, researchers say

Exercises that make you “huff and puff” – including running, cycling and swimming – provide a level of cardiorespiratory fitness that can lead to a longer, healthier life, Australian researchers claim.




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Flavored vapes could spawn ‘new wave of chronic diseases,’ researchers warn

The use of flavored e-liquids in vaping devices may lead to the formation of nearly 300 different harmful substances, results of a recent study out of Ireland suggest.




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Workers’ comp report shows a significant drop in opioid use

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.




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Most family caregivers find it hard to balance those duties with work, survey shows

Washington — In light of its recent survey of family caregivers that shows 67% struggle to balance work with caregiving duties, AARP is calling on employers to create “friendly and supportive” policies and benefits.




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Feeling angry at work may harm your heart

New York — Workers who experience recurring feelings of anger may have a higher risk of developing heart disease, results of a recent study show.




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Guilt is a good thing for workers who are rude, researchers say

Gainesville, FL — A sense of guilt can help employees be better co-workers after they’ve been rude at work, results of a recent study suggest.




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Curbing consumption of ultraprocessed foods may improve brain health

Cutting back on consuming ultraprocessed foods can reduce your risk of a stroke or cognitive issues later in life, according to a recent study out of Massachusetts General Hospital.




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Stress and loneliness on the job: Who’s most at risk?

Washington — Younger workers report feeling lonely and stressed more often than their older colleagues, results of a recent survey show.




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Having a stressful moment at home? Do this quick thing

Looking for a simple way to calm anxiety or defuse stress? Step outside your home for a few minutes, researchers say.




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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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Are CEOs making ‘human sustainability’ a priority?

New York — Around 4 out of 5 CEOs say they’re under increased pressure from workers, customers, investors and other colleagues to prioritize human sustainability, according to the results of a recent survey.




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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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Job stress may contribute to A-fib development

Quebec City — Work-related stress may heighten the risk of developing atrial fibrillation later in life, results of a recent study out of Canada indicate.




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‘Touching base’ on mental health can lead to significant improvements: study

Philadelphia — Automated text message reminders about a digital mental health platform helped decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety among health care workers in a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.




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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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As people’s mental effort increases, so do negative feelings: study

Nijmegen, Netherlands — “The greater the mental effort, the greater the unpleasantness experienced by participants,” a recent study by Dutch researchers concludes.




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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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Drinking alcohol and sleeping on planes not a heart-healthy combo, study finds

Do you like to imbibe in a little alcohol on your flight, and then settle in for a nap? German researchers are warning that the combination may be harmful for your heart – especially during long flights.




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Commutes are a time for unhealthy eating and ‘food mishaps,’ study finds

Miami — Unhealthy fast food – as well as risky driving while eating behind the wheel – is part of an estimated 122 million Americans’ commutes, results of a recent study suggest.




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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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Sit less to keep back pain at bay, researchers say

Turku, Finland — Workers who experience back pain can keep it from getting worse by reducing their time spent sitting, results of a recent study by Finnish researchers show.




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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.