Itasca, IL — The vast majority of the organizations that took the National Safety Council’s MSD Pledge receive regular feedback from frontline workers about reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

College Station, TX — Three out of 4 solid waste workers say their employer considers workplace safety and health important, yet only 1 in 4 feel encouraged to share safety-related suggestions.

Itasca, IL — Taking simple steps before work begins can help curb job-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Washington — “If it isn’t equitable, it’s not ergonomic.” Paige DeBaylo, research manager at the National Safety Council MSD Solutions Lab, offered that insight during a July 11 webinar discussing a recently published NSC report.

Washington – At least 83 workers in the United States died between 2003 and 2010 because of incidents involving insects, arachnids and mites, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New York – The risk of developing lung cancer increases when workers smoke, are exposed to asbestos and have asbestosis, according to a new study from the American Thoracic Society.

Washington – Despite a downward trend in asbestos concentration levels over the course of nearly three decades, many workers in construction, automotive repair, manufacturing and other industries inhaled asbestos at heightened levels, according to a recent report.

Sacramento, CA — The California Senate has approved legislation aimed at preventing workplace violence, particularly by banning employer policies that direct non-security personnel to confront shoplifters.

San Mateo, CA — Nearly 2 out of 3 frontline workers don’t feel safe on the job, results of a recent survey show.

Victoria, Australia — “Transport workers are people too. Please respect them.” That request appears alongside the images of Public Transport Victoria workers clad in custom safety vests depicting their life stories.

Washington — To address a sharp increase in assaults against public transit workers, the Federal Transit Administration has published a proposed directive tasking public transit agencies with monitoring safety risks more closely.

Albany, NY — Assaulting a retail worker is now a felony in New York state, under a new law signed May 1.

Washington — Legislation that would direct OSHA to establish – “on a much faster track” – a permanent federal standard that protects indoor and outdoor workers from excessive heat is back before Congress.

Austin, TX — A Texas judge has struck down a recently signed state law that would prohibit local municipalities and counties from mandating water breaks for workers.

Tallahassee, FL — Legislation that would prohibit local municipalities, counties or any other “political subdivision” in Florida from enacting regulations requiring worker protections against heat exposure is awaiting the governor’s approval.

Washington — A pair of House Democrats have introduced legislation that would “prohibit, or require disclosure of, the surveillance, monitoring and collection of certain worker data by employers.”

Sacramento, CA — Legislation recently introduced in California would help ensure workers have uninterrupted personal time by establishing a “right to disconnect” from emails, texts and calls outside of work hours.

Trenton, NJ — New Jersey’s Senate Labor Committee has advanced a bill that would require the state to establish a heat stress standard by June 1, 2025.

Springfield, IL — Legislation intended to protect workers from retaliatory conduct by employers, as well as strengthen current protections under Illinois state law, is awaiting approval from Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D).

St. Paul, MN — Legislation recently signed into law by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) updates excavation safety statutes with utility worker safety in mind.

Washington — Legislation recently introduced by House Democrats would increase fines for workplace safety and child labor violations.

Springfield, IL — Workers in Illinois now have protections against retaliatory conduct by employers.

Albany, NY — Retail workers in New York now have more protections against workplace violence and harassment, under a new state law.

New York — Both city and state legislation and public health initiatives are needed to protect outdoor workers in New York City from extreme temperatures and poor air quality, according to a new report.

Boca Raton, FL — “Mental injuries” (such as post-traumatic stress disorder), cannabis and independent contractors were among the top workers’ compensation-related issues that state legislatures focused on this year, a new report shows.

In Episode 31, the S+H editorial team dives into the September issue’s feature story on setting up a volunteer first aid response team in your workplace, and discusses the ins and outs of worker engagement and buy-in with Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety.

A lone worker is defined as a worker who cannot be seen or heard by another person, and cannot expect a visit from another employee.

Because of their youth and inexperience, extra attention needs to be paid to teen workers, cautions the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

In an effort to better protect temporary workers – who are at an increased risk of work-related injuries and illnesses – OSHA and NIOSH partnered to release a report containing recommended practices for staffing agencies and host employers.

Having a job can be an exciting and rewarding experience for young people. But according to OSHA, people younger than 25 are 2 times as likely as older workers to be injured on the job, and more than 170,000 young workers were injured and 361 were killed at work in 2012.

According to NIOSH, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths among people ages 16 to 24 in the United States.

Washington – Dog bites, falls and vehicle collisions were the leading causes of injuries among U.S. Postal Service employees in 2012, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Sept. 26.

Solitary work is a fact of life in many industries. How do organizations ensure safety for employees they cannot see? Safety experts and government officials offer advice on protecting lone workers.

The definition of the gig economy is far from clear-cut, but experts agree that the ranks are growing – raising questions about who is responsible for gig workers' on-the-job safety and health.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has published guidance on a new state law intended to protect workers in the hospitality industry from sexual harassment and assault.

Experts on NIOSH’s Total Worker Health approach hosted a webinar exploring the “opportunities and complexities” of sensor technology.

Washington — A new white paper from the National Safety Council is intended to help employers identify and implement monitoring technology to keep lone workers safe.

Washington — New fact sheets from NIOSH are intended to help workers at gas stations and convenience stores – and their employers – reduce the risk of violence on the job.

Albuquerque, NM – Many farm laborers in New Mexico face unsafe working conditions, according to a recent report from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation intended to prevent California employers from retaliating against immigrant workers who report unsafe or unfair working conditions awaits the governor’s signature.

New York – A new report claims 42 percent of workers surveyed in New York City’s food manufacturing industry have been injured on the job.

Despite the downward trend in workplace fatalities, safety advocates are calling for stepped-up efforts to protect workers.

To mark Workers’ Memorial Week, advocacy groups issued reports and called for increased worker protections and additional research to prevent on-the-job injuries.

New York – Construction worker fatalities have been rising in New York City and throughout the state – and Latino workers are particularly at risk due to falls and willful violations – according to an annual report released Jan. 18 by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

San Diego – More needs to be done to protect workers, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health says. More than 90 other organizations agree. Those groups have endorsed National COSH’s action agenda, “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs,” released March 15.

The AFL-CIO, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Safety Council are among the organizations renewing the call for improved worker protections as part of Workers’ Memorial Week (April 23-30).

New York – Every day, 27 workers suffer on-the-job amputations or injuries that require hospitalization, according to a recent report from the National Employment Law Project.

Washington — The state of workplace safety and health protections in the United States is a “national crisis,” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, which has released its annual report detailing the hazards that workers face every day on the job.

Washington — Advocacy groups Farmworker Justice and Earthjustice filed a joint Freedom of Information Act lawsuit April 17 seeking Environmental Protection Agency meeting notes related to a pair of regulatory changes regarding worker protection.

Washington — The National Employment Law Project and the Economic Analysis and Research Network recently released a policy brief intended to advise incoming governors and state legislators on best practices “to protect workers in their states so that all communities can thrive and grow.”