When a natural disaster, biological incident or other event occurs, first responders and recovery workers often rush to the scene. That means it’s crucial they have the proper personal protective equipment ready and know how to use it.

Perth, Australia – Promoting activity in the workplace can help reduce sitting time, but not by much among workers with fixed schedules, according to a new study from Curtin University.

Tokyo – Office workers who spend long hours in front of computer screens experience changes in their tear fluid similar to people who have dry eye disease, according to a study from the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan.

Chicago – Working near a window could improve an employee’s sleep and overall quality of life, suggests a study from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Birmingham, AL – Can your office’s thermostat setting affect how much you eat at work? Recent research from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, indicates “yes.”

Olympia, WA – Workers are spending more time on computers and, as a result, the percentage of office workers with musculoskeletal issues is increasing, according to an ergonomics evaluation study conducted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Chicago — Workers can get quite heated when it comes to office temperatures. In a recent Harris Poll survey of 1,012 full-time U.S. adult employees, conducted between April 4 and May 1, 46 percent of respondents said their office is either too hot or too cold.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA, along with the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, has published a 25-page guidance document intended to help employers safely return workers to office settings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles — OSHA administrator Doug Parker is urging workers to provide feedback on the agency’s proposed rule aimed at protecting them from heat-related illnesses both indoors and outdoors.

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations for membership on its Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA has updated its internal guidance on communicating with the families of workers killed on the job.

Washington — More than 4 out of 5 workers are willing to try safety technologies, a new research report from the Work to Zero initiative at the National Safety Council shows.

Adelaide, Australia — Employers with stronger psychosocial safety climates experience fewer days lost to work-related ailments, as well as lower injury costs, results of a recent study out of Australia suggest.

Birmingham, England — Workers who feel stuck in a job they want to leave are more likely to respond to perceived safety-related wrongdoing with retaliatory behavior – even when employers show support.

Atlanta — Although a majority of LGBTQIA+ workers say they have strong support from allies on the job, more than half still report discrimination and prejudice, which can make them feel unsafe, results of a recent survey show.

Bilbao, Spain — A new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work suggests practical measures – such as changes in work environment, hours and patterns, as well as tasks and equipment – that employers can implement to help and retain workers after mental health-related absences.

Is an injury victim's comfort while using an eyewash ever taken into consideration in the product design phase? It seems like most eyewashes have very aggressive flow patterns.

When it comes to fire safety on the job, everyone can play a role – not only by recognizing hazards but also by taking action to resolve them.

Washington — If experiencing rude or negative behavior at work keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep, making efforts to “let it go” after you’ve clocked out may help ward off insomnia, according to a recent study from the American Psychological Association.

Darien, IL — Basic employer interventions such as educating workers about the importance of sleep and sharing strategies to improve it may result in better sleep habits, increased productivity and reduced absenteeism, a recent review of research concludes.

Fort Collins, CO — Employers should prioritize efforts to help workers get a good night’s sleep, researchers from Colorado State University say after their study of construction workers found a connection between poor quality sleep and the risk of workplace incidents and injuries.

Muncie, IN — More than 1 out of 3 U.S. working adults aren’t getting enough sleep, and the prevalence of sleep deprivation has increased significantly since 2010, according to researchers from Ball State University.

Washington — NIOSH has launched a virtual research center intended help combat workplace fatigue by targeting industry-specific activities.

Darien, IL — Promoting heathy sleep habits among health care workers is the goal of a new tip sheet from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Houston — Offshore oil and gas workers who regularly practice mindfulness may experience less fatigue and emotional and psychological strain – all while increasing their situational awareness and productivity, results of a recent study led by University of Houston researchers show.

Washington — NIOSH is seeking public and interagency input on a proposed information-collecting project focused on assessing fatigue and fatigue management in onshore oil and gas extraction.

Montreal — Exposing night shift workers to bright light before work begins may improve their sleep, lessen fatigue and lead to fewer errors on the job.

Melbourne, Australia — A mobile app designed to help shift workers manage their sleep cycles to enhance their health and mood is available for use.

Portland, OR — An “evidence-based program designed to help supervisors support their employees’ work-life balance and sleep health” is available from the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences.

Bristol, England — Why do shift workers often deal with hunger pangs?

Washington — Citing high-profile transit incidents in which worker fatigue played a role, the Federal Transit Administration is considering minimum standards for hours of service and fatigue risk management programs for the industry.

Glenview, IL — A new resource from the American College of Chest Physicians is aimed at preventing shift work sleep disorder among employees who work nontraditional hours.

Data analytics has a lot to offer on an industrial worksite from an efficiency, safety and cost-savings perspective. But, my employees are concerned with the level of data collection this requires and their privacy. How can I address this?

The G7c wearable gas detector and lone worker monitor connects employees to live monitoring personnel. It includes fall detection, no-motion alerts and missed check-in identifications.

Washington – A new booklet from NIOSH describes safe work practices to help residential construction workers avoid manual material handling injuries.

St. Louis – In an effort to help residential construction workers stay safe, a new website is providing details on fall protection methods and equipment.

Washington — A new pamphlet from NIOSH offers tips to mitigate common risks that construction workers face.

Washington – The Department of Labor claims proposed changes to its Federal Employees’ Compensation Act program would create a more equitable system, but some experts at a July 10 House hearing warned that the changes could drastically affect injured federal workers.

Washington – The Department of Homeland Security should develop a strategy that addresses physical, emotional and mental health to help workers within the department better deal with job-related stress, concludes a report from the Institute of Medicine.

Washington – Local and state government workers can now receive training through a new OSHA certificate program that aims to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths.

Washington – OSHA is scheduled to conduct a training event July 29-31 for federal agency staff responsible for workplace safety and health issues.

Lincoln, NE – Nebraska prison officials need to address inmate violence against employees – as well as the overall safety culture – in the state’s correctional facilities, according to the results of a survey of correctional workers released June 1 by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Washington — The White House Office of Management and Budget has launched an initiative designed to enhance workplace safety and health – and, in turn, reduce injuries – among federal employees.

Washington — Federal employees need more comprehensive guidance from the Office of Personnel Management before they return to the workplace amid the COVID-19 pandemic, House Democrats contended during a June 25 virtual hearing convened by the House Government Operations Subcommittee.

London — Use of wheeled waste collection bins – instead of bags, boxes or baskets – may reduce musculoskeletal injuries and lost worktime among sanitation workers, according to a recent study out of the United Kingdom.

Bilbao, Spain — A new virtual toolkit from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, also known as EU-OSHA, consists of a series of videos aimed at helping workers understand their risk of musculoskeletal disorders and how to prevent them.

Detroit — Workers in construction and manufacturing may experience a “significantly higher incidence” of carpal tunnel syndrome compared with office workers, results of a recent study by researchers from the Henry Ford Health System show.

Olympia, WA — Legislation that would restore Washington state regulations requiring employers to establish practices intended to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders was approved by the state House on Feb. 15.

Bilbao, Spain — Employee participation in workplace interventions that target musculoskeletal disorders “strengthens the possibility for identification of the most relevant health problems,” according to a new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

Columbus, OH — Cognitive dissonance “may be a previously unidentified risk factor” for neck and low-back pain among workers who perform lifting and lowering tasks, results of a recent study show.