Has your workplace considered starting a healthy eating program? According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, “When a workplace can help employees to make wise food choices, as part of a workplace health program, it can influence the person’s long-term health and wellness.

Anyone who has gone to school or has a job has probably heard the term “absenteeism.” But what about “presenteeism” and “leavism”? Although not as widely talked about, both presenteeism and leavism can have serious health and safety repercussions for both workers and employers.

According to Injury Facts, a website maintained by the National Safety Council, nearly 5,500 workers died on the job in 2022. How many of those workers could have been saved with CPR?

Exposure to high levels of noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. According to OSHA, roughly 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise every year.

Is the noise at your workplace harming your hearing? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise on the job every year.

From the blare of a forklift-collision warning to the wail of an ambulance siren, noise can make us aware of hazards our eyes haven’t yet seen. But not all noise is helpful.

Customized Hearing Protection Devices, or Qeos, protect employees’ hearing with a wide range of filters and noise reduction ratings, allowing users to communicate without having to remove the device.

Quick Fit Hydros have been specifically designed for workers who want a water-resistant, multi-functional device that can be worn as an electronic ear protector or a personal hearing device for situational awareness by simply changing the tips.

Hearing loss is preventable. Why, then, is it still so common?

If reaching, grabbing, clenching, twisting or bending causes pain, you may have a repetitive strain injury.

Whether sitting in an office all day or moving material in a warehouse, practicing good ergonomics can help workers stay healthy.

Do you sit at a desk for hours at a time for work? Do you ever feel sore, experience back or neck pain, or have pain in your fingers? If so, you may not be practicing proper ergonomics.

Lifting and carrying objects is common for many workers across the country. But training is important. If performed improperly, lifting and carrying items can lead to injuries.

Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. workforce is older than 65, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2020, 1 in 4 American workers will be older than 55.

Is your shoulder stiff after a day at work? Can you rotate your arm? Do you feel as though it’s not operating at full strength?

Using a power tool? Working ergonomically will help prevent injuries to your wrist.

Menlo Park, CA — Thirty-four percent of employees say they’re more burned out than they were a year ago, according to the results of a recent survey developed by global staffing firm Robert Half.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has launched a state emphasis program focused on protecting workers in office settings, where community spread of COVID-19 is a risk.

Washington — Workers who have diabetes may face a heightened risk of developing depression, according to a recent NIOSH study.

Geneva — As telework grows more common, the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization are encouraging employers to develop programs to help make the practice “healthy and safe.”

Copenhagen, Denmark — Performing “simple and brief strengthening exercises designed to strengthen the primary muscles used during work” – known as micro-exercise – while on the job may help prevent long-term sickness absences, according to a recent study out of Denmark.

Leicester, England — Researchers in England have developed a program they say can, when paired with a height-adjustable desk, reduce office workers’ sitting time by more than an hour a day.

Changsha, China — Night shift workers who have high blood pressure may be at increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, or experiencing a stroke, results of a recent study show.

Boston — Employees who use illicit substances have increased absenteeism – a “compelling argument” for employers to promote employee treatment programs, results of a recent Boston University study show.

London, Ontario — Employers can help workers avert the harmful effects of prolonged sitting on the job by taking an active role in changing their sedentary habits, a recent study shows.

Hundreds of thousands of workers in construction, manufacturing and a variety of other industries may be exposed to harmful levels of lead. What can safety pros do to protect workers from this hazardous metal?

Sacramento, CA — Workers with high blood lead levels will now have their cases referred to the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health – or Cal/OSHA – for review and possible action, under legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Oct. 10.

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Avery makes GHS labeling easy. Labeling chemicals properly is a critical part of being compliant with the OSHA-mandated GHS. Avery® UltraDuty™ GHS Labels are waterproof and durable. Marine-grade adhesive ensures the labels adhere securely to containers. Free Avery GHS software and templates make it easy to design and print GHS labels right from your printer.

Click here for more information from Avery Products Corp.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

BCSP provides accredited safety certifications, including the CSP, ASP, OHST, CHST, STS, STSC and CET, that lead to promising careers at professional, technician, technologist, supervisory and trainer levels in the environmental, health and safety industry. The CSP certification has been recognized as the “gold standard” for more than 45 years.

Click here for more information from Board of Certified Safety Professionals

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

No plumbing required. Portable Eyewash Stations from Encon®. Self-contained pressurized emergency eyewash stations from Encon are the perfect solution for plant turnarounds and for areas lacking plumbed potable water. The ASME-rated and CRN-registered 37-gallon Eyewash and Drench Station with a heat-reflective insulating jacket delivers ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 performance and is fully certified for use in the United States and Canada.

Click here for more information from Encon Safety Products, Inc.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

Improv™ Comedy Club and Safety Training – strange bedfellows? For the past 20 years, Improv TVS has been mastering the art of keeping audiences’ attention with humor. Spice up your next safety training with our humorous micro-learning programs and short, funny safety moments to deliver that “Aha!” moment to your organization.

Click here for more information from Improv TVS, Inc.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

Wooster Products recently launched a new quick-set, clear, anti-slip epoxy coating. Walk-A-Sured Water Clear Epoxy is available in three grit sizes. It will adhere to metals, concrete, ceramic, marble, wood, and more. Please call (800) 321-4936 or visit us online at www.wooster-products.com.

Click here for more information from Wooster Products, Inc.

Product information is provided by manufacturers. This publication has not independently tested manufacturers' products and cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims.

The Product Focus this month is on instruments and monitors.

One serious risk of outdoor work is Lyme disease, which is spread when individuals are bitten by infected ticks. Initial symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue and skin rash.

Working with metals often requires interaction with certain oils and other synthetic fluids that can be irritating or damaging to the skin. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, a variety of skin problems can develop from exposure to metalworking fluids, the most common of which is dermatitis.

One way to prevent becoming ill with the influenza virus is to avoid crowded settings and exposure to others who may be infected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists steps employers can take to help minimize the spread of flu.

To best understand what Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – also known as MRSA – is, you first need to know what S. aureus is.

As reports of the COVID-19 pandemic dominate the headlines, keeping calm can prove difficult. However, one of the best ways to combat anxiety – and be prepared – is to be informed.

Ticks can carry potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. Most active during warmer months (April-September), they reside mostly in grassy, brushy or wooded areas – putting virtually all outdoor workers in the United States at risk of exposure.

Do you work with wet cement, paints or plaster? Maybe adhesives? These are just some of the materials that can irritate your skin because they can contain harsh substances such as hexavalent chromium, calcium hydroxide, toluene, xylene, epoxy resins and lime.

Pregnancy increases the risk of heatstroke or heat exhaustion on the job because the body must work harder to cool itself, according to OSHA. Pregnant workers are also more likely to become dehydrated, “a primary contributor to heat-related illness.”

Workers who are at risk of exposure include poultry and livestock farmers and workers, as well as slaughterhouse workers.

Flame-resistant versus non-flammable PPE: Why does it matter?

OSHA regulations dictate we offer a “variety” of hearing protectors to noise-exposed workers. What is best practice for providing a variety while keeping inventory to a minimum?

What are the most common reasons why employees fail to wear safety eyewear, and how can we help increase compliance?

What is the relationship between OSHA permissible exposure limits/maximum use concentrations and assigned protection factors?

What should our company look for in a safety footwear program/provider?

What’s the difference between “hearing conservation” and “hearing loss prevention”?