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NIOSH offers free safety education for high school students

Washington — NIOSH, through its recently announced partnership with the nonprofit organization America Achieves, is offering a new high school curriculum that includes workplace safety and health education.




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2020 Training Survey

How much do employers spend on training? What types do they use? The results of the Safety+Health 2019 Training Survey are in.




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Supercharge your safety training

Five tips for keeping workers engaged




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OSHA announces almost $22 million in training grants

Washington — OSHA has made available nearly $22 million in grants aimed at improving worker safety and health training.




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2021 Training Survey

The pandemic has prompted changes in delivery methods, but will the switch be permanent?




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Chemical Safety Board launches interactive PSM training based on Texas City disaster

Washington — Recently released interactive training from the Chemical Safety Board incorporates agency findings from a deadly refinery explosion to form guidelines for managing hazardous chemicals and complying with OSHA’s standard on process safety management.




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NIOSH center offers free online course on Total Worker Health

Lowell, MA — A new online training course is designed to introduce Total Worker Health concepts to occupational safety and health professionals.




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FD in Five Minutes: Nick Avery of Lepra

The finance director at the charity that works to beat leprosy on emotional moments and box sets




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Making a Difference Locally: The funder turning pennies into projects

Rebecca Cooney finds out how Making a Difference Locally is living up to its name




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Returning to work

Workers' compensation costs are increasing nationwide, but experts say those costs – as well as fears on the part of injured workers – can be reduced with a well-designed return-to-work program.




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Returning to work after a stroke

Almost one-third of strokes occur in people younger than 65 – many of whom say they plan to return to work. To help stroke victims get back on the job, employers need to understand possible impairments and how workers can be accommodated, experts say.




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Are you being fair? Researchers say workers returning from sick leave need to feel supported

Norwich, England — Managers need to “foster a supportive culture between colleagues” to help workers returning from sick leave feel they’re being treated fairly, according to researchers from the University of East Anglia and Stockholm University.




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Long-term opioid use significantly delays return to work, workers’ comp study shows

Cambridge, MA — A Workers Compensation Research Institute study of workers with low-back injuries shows those who receive longer-term prescriptions for opioid painkillers take significantly longer to return to work than those who are not prescribed opioids.




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More injured employees returning to work in Texas: report

Austin, TX — The percentage of injured workers who returned to work within six months of an injury steadily rose about 5 points in Texas during a recent 11-year period, according to a recent report from the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation.




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Safe return-to-work plans must be comprehensive, NIOSH director says

Itasca, IL — Safely returning people to work during the COVID-19 pandemic requires more than a single, one-dimensional strategy, NIOSH Director John Howard says.




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COVID-19 pandemic: CDC issues guidance for reopening businesses

Atlanta — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released guidelines intended to help businesses, as well as schools and mass transit operations, safely reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.




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SAFER: NSC creates task force to provide guidance on returning to work safely

The National Safety Council has launched SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee Returns, a comprehensive, multifaceted initiative aimed at developing industry- and risk-specific recommendations and resources for all U.S. employers.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Survey of remote workers shows opinions on returning to the office vary

Washington — Workers’ opinions about returning to the office amid the COVID-19 pandemic vary greatly based on each individual’s situation, but most want their employer to take certain actions to ensure their safety when they do, results of a recent survey show.




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Workers returning after hospitalizations often face issues away from the job: study

Ann Arbor, MI — Nearly 3 out of 5 workers who are hospitalized with traumatic injuries return to their jobs after being discharged, but many of them endure financial hardships and other issues, results of a recent study led by researchers from the University of Michigan show.




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Police officers on night shift face increased injury risks: study

Buffalo, NY – Police officers working the night shift are more likely to suffer long-term workplace injuries than officers on other shifts, according to a new study from the University at Buffalo.




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Law enforcement officer wins NIOSH Safe-in-Sound award

Washington – An innovative sheriff’s deputy has been named the winner of NIOSH’s Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award.




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Assaults leading cause of injuries among law enforcement officers: NIOSH

Washington — Law enforcement officers have a nonfatal injury rate nearly three times higher than the general workforce – with “assaults and violent acts” against them the leading cause – according to a recent NIOSH study.




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Protecting first responders from fentanyl exposure: NIOSH releases video

Washington — NIOSH has released a video intended to protect first responders who face potential exposure to fentanyl – a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin – and other illicit drugs.




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PPE basics for first responders exposed to fentanyl: NIOSH releases video

Washington — NIOSH has released a video intended to assist first responders with understanding personal protective equipment protocol when facing potential exposure to fentanyl – a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin – and other illicit drugs.




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Seattle residents approve initiative aimed at protecting hotel workers

Seattle – Seattle voters on Nov. 8 approved a measure intended to make working conditions safer for the roughly 7,500 workers in the city’s hotel industry, including housekeepers, room service servers and other employees.




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EPA proposes ban on trichloroethylene use in dry cleaning

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ban certain uses of the chemical trichloroethylene because of health risks associated with the toxic chemical when used as a degreaser and spot removal agent in dry cleaning.




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Cal/OSHA unanimously approves standard to protect hotel housekeepers

Oakland, CA — Hospitality workers are praising the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for unanimously approving a standard designed to protect housekeepers from workplace hazards.




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California adopts standard to protect hotel housekeepers from MSDs

Oakland, CA — California’s Office of Administrative Law on March 9 approved a workplace health and safety standard for the state’s hospitality workers, completing a multiyear push by hospitality workers union UNITE HERE.




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‘5-Star Promise’: Hotel companies, industry association pledge to improve worker safety

Washington — The American Hotel and Lodging Association and five major corporations have announced their commitment to improve employee safety in the industry, including measures designed to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and assault.




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New NJ law mandates panic buttons for hotel housekeepers

Trenton, NJ — Calling it the first state law of its kind, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on June 11 signed a bill intended to help protect hotel housekeeping and room service workers against assault and harassment.




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New Illinois law requires panic buttons for hotel, casino staff working alone

Springfield, IL — Beginning July 1, hotels and casinos in Illinois will be required to have anti-sexual harassment policies that include, for certain workers, access to a safety button or notification device that alerts security staff.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Hotel association expands cleaning, safety guidelines

Washington — The American Hotel and Lodging Association has developed what it calls “enhanced” cleaning guidelines and workplace protocols “to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19.”




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Fast-food workers and COVID-19 exposure in LA: University of California releases report

Los Angeles — Nearly a quarter of the fast-food workforce in Los Angeles County tested positive for COVID-19 during the first 18 months of the pandemic, a likely result of adverse working conditions and shaky compliance with safety measures, a recent report from the University of California, Los Angeles and UC Berkeley suggests.




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California law establishes fast-food labor council to govern workplace conditions, protections

Sacramento, CA — Legislation signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sept. 5 authorizes the creation of a council charged with establishing minimum standards on working conditions, hours and wages for fast-food workers statewide.




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New NIOSH toolkit designed to protect first responders from illicit drug exposure

Washington — A new virtual toolkit from NIOSH is intended to help protect first responders from exposure to illicit drugs, including fentanyl – a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin.




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Fire chiefs to first responders: Don’t ignore heart attack warning signs

Chantilly, VA — Fire and emergency medical service workers are being urged not to ignore or downplay the warning signs of a heart attack – a leading cause of firefighter fatalities – as part of a new awareness campaign launched by the International Association of Fire Chiefs.




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First responders, Congress unite in call to preserve T-Band for public safety use

Washington — Legislation that would prevent the T-Band spectrum – a public safety radio network intended to ease communication among first responders in 11 metropolitan areas – from being auctioned to other users has garnered support from International Association of Fire Chiefs President and Board Chair Gary Ludwig and International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger.




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Firefighting officially a cancer-causing profession, World Health Organization says

Lyon, France — The World Health Organization has reclassified firefighting as a carcinogenic profession.




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How to use multi-gas monitors: a safety advisory for firefighters

Morgantown, WV — A new safety advisory from NIOSH is aimed at helping firefighters understand how to use multi-gas monitors when responding to natural gas or propane incidents.




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New training for emergency responders on PPE use at roadway incidents

Emmitsburg, MD — A new training module from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute focuses on the use of personal protective equipment when responding to roadway incidents.




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Fighting row house fires: NIOSH video spotlights challenges and tactics

Washington — A new video is intended to help firefighters stay safe when responding to fire incidents at row houses.




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Helping firefighters respond to pipeline emergencies: new training

Washington — New online training from the National Volunteer Fire Council is intended to help fire departments better respond to pipeline emergencies.




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Pipeline safety agency awards grants for firefighter training

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is providing more than $41 million in grants for hazardous materials safety programs and hazmat training for firefighters.




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Tank explosion spurs CSB warning on hot work

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board is warning companies and workers alike about the dangers of conducting hot work – welding, riveting, flame cutting or other spark-producing activities – near tanks that contain biological or organic material.




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TSA delays lift on small-knife ban

Washington – The Transportation Security Administration has delayed changes to its aircraft prohibited items list that would have allowed certain small knives in carry-on luggage beginning April 25.




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Coalition to OSHA: Don’t allow union reps at inspections of non-union workplaces

Washington – A coalition of industry groups has called for OSHA to withdraw a recent letter of interpretation stating that workers at a non-union workplace may designate someone affiliated with a union as their representative during OSHA “walkaround” inspections.




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United Steelworkers vow to ‘redouble’ efforts on safety

Las Vegas – Members of the United Steelworkers have unanimously approved a resolution aimed at improving worker health and safety.




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Nurses union calls for higher standards for Ebola protection

Silver Spring, MD – Hospitals should put in place the “highest standards” for protective equipment and hands-on training to protect health care workers from Ebola, National Nurses United said in a statement issued Oct. 12.




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Nurses union asks congressional committee for mandatory Ebola standards

Washington – A lack of mandatory standards on Ebola for health care workers leaves nurses unprepared and vulnerable to infection, a registered nurse and union official testified during an Oct. 24 House hearing.




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DOL: Unions should not intervene in lawsuit against OSHA recordkeeping rule

Washington – The Department of Labor and OSHA have an “identical” interest with labor unions in defending a legal challenge to the Improve Tracking of Workplace Illnesses and Injuries final rule, making union intervention unnecessary, attorneys representing DOL said in a legal brief issued May 30.