Tumwater, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has released a hazard alert warning of the dangers of exploding tanks during metal recycling.

Munich — The International Platinum Group Metals Association has released a guide intended to improve safety for workers who are exposed to platinum group metals.

Chesham, England — Safe handling and disposal of metalworking fluids is the topic of a new video series and revised guide from the United Kingdom Lubricants Association.

Silver Spring, MD — Pushing back on calls to roll back certain workplace safety rules, National Nurses United contends hospital industry cost-cutting has put health care worker safety at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the “current staffing and capacity crises.”

Washington – Two new resources from OSHA detail worker fatalities involving electrocution and engulfment and explain how similar events can be prevented.

The Squids 3405 Metal Detectable Grabber with Belt Clip not only helps prevent objects from being dropped, it also signals metal detectors in food processing to prevent it from becoming a harmful foreign object.

East Lansing, MI — Work-related injuries requiring hospitalization increased for the third straight year in Michigan, recent data from Michigan State University shows.

Silver Spring, MD – The Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR) has published 52 free toolbox talks on construction topics.

Portland, OR – Three preventable logging fatalities in Oregon have prompted a new set of discussion points for supervisors to share with their crews.

Portland, OR – The Oregon Occupational Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program has released new toolbox talks focusing on three fatal incidents.

An environmentally friendly work surface option for control room consoles, called Marmoleum from Winsted Corporation, is made of natural and sustainable raw materials, which emit no volatile organic compounds and are completely biodegradable.

Arlington, VA — The “collective effort” of mine industry workers and stakeholders in 2022 contributed to a 21.6% decrease in worker deaths over the previous year, Mine Safety and Health Administration head Chris Williamson said during a recent conference call.

The tallest LEED certified green office building in the United States, the Comcast Center in Philadelphia, has more than 2,500 openings equipped with door and hardware products from ASSA ABLOY Group companies.

Legrand, North America has installed a 500kW, solid-oxide fuel cell system to provide cleaner and more efficient power to its headquarters in West Hartford, Conn. The Fuel Cell will sit adjacent to the company’s corporate offices and Wiremold manufacturing facility, and is expected to produce up to 88 percent of the electricity to every building on its 263,000-square-foot, 100-year-old campus.

Houston — Filipino seafarers often delay or completely avoid medical care – despite their rights to it under maritime law – for fear of retaliation from employers, including potentially losing their jobs, results of a recent study show.

Washington — Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) has reintroduced legislation that would provide temporary protection from deportation to immigrant workers who are victims of, or witnesses to, unsafe working conditions and other labor rights violations.

Washington – OSHA is warning employees and employers about the dangers of falling from pallets raised by forklifts in its latest edition of Fatal Facts.

Washington — Two environmental groups, along with 75 salon workers from across the country, have filed a citizen petition asking the Food and Drug Administration to ban hair straighteners containing formaldehyde.

Tampa, FL — COVID-19 mortality rates among adults with lower levels of education who worked in the labor, service and retail industries were nearly five times higher than other groups in 2020, results of a new study by the University of South Florida show.

New York — Workers in the manufacturing, warehousing, construction and transportation industries need better support for their mental and emotional needs, results of a recent survey suggest.

The investment, together with AMP’s renewed senior debt facility, provides AMP with a growth capital structure in excess of $60 million.

Silver Spring, MD — The Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR, has released a series of toolbox talks on nanomaterials.

What’s the difference between an incidental release and a hazardous substance release that requires an emergency response?

At my facility, many areas have small leaks and drips outdoors that represent either an environmental risk or a slip, trip and fall hazard due to the slick surface they create. When dealing with these small hydrocarbon spills in the rain or on waters, are there any products or solutions that absorb the oil while allowing clean water to filter through, or other solutions to keep my employees safe?

Denios pop-up barriers are self-contained and passively powered. They are a self-closing solution that can save your facility – and even lives. No power, people or external sensors are needed.

Washington — OSHA has a new online portal for employers to submit applications to the agency’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

Alula announced the launch of its new Alula Pro Training Portal.

Here’s the good news: Experts predict that within the next four or five years, there will be more than 40 billion IoT devices hard at work — improving the safety, efficiency, reliability and productivity of the world’s enterprises.

For a long time in the physical security industry, there were two camps: the alarm company — based on RMR, and the integrator — based on large onsite systems.

Washington — A recent letter of interpretation from OSHA clarifies whether a fatal motor vehicle incident involving an employee would be considered work-related.

A court has to decide whether or not a malfunctioning smoke alarm was the fault of the manufacturer or intentional disablement.

Amherst, MA — The long-standing approach that “the customer is always right” can take a toll on workers’ mental health and limit their capacity to serve customers, according to a recent study.

Washington – The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking comment on a proposal that would require vessels operating in the outer continental shelf to develop new or modified safety and environmental management systems.

Washington – Stakeholders are encouraged to comment on a draft guidance document from OSHA intended to help employers develop a whistleblower protection program.

Washington – Five years after issuing an interim rule, OSHA has published a final rule regarding how to handle retaliation complaints from railroad workers and public transit workers who engage in whistleblower activities.

Kansas City, MO – OSHA has launched a pilot program targeted at employers in Region 7 who “engage in egregious behavior and blatant retaliation against workers who report unsafe working conditions and violations of the law.”

Washington — The COVID-19 pandemic understandably occupied much of a May 11 panel discussion that featured three OSHA experts presenting updates of agency activities, as part of the National Safety Council’s Impact Tracks webinar series.

Bench-mounted and pedestal grinders – which are equipped with abrasive stones, wire brushes and buffing brushes to sharpen, grind, strip and polish metal – can be found in many industrial settings, according to the FIOSA-MIOSA Safety Alliance of British Columbia.

These digital backside lenses, designed with office ergonomics in mind, are available in three styles: VISION EASE Computer, VISION EASE Desk and VISION EASE Office.

Dave Engebretson tells a tale about the wi-fi at his mother’s home. 

In this blast from the past, Dave Engebretson revisits a column from November 2014. 

One of the realities of living in rural Michigan is that AC power outages happen — and you best be prepared for the potential consequences. 

Atlanta – Productive aging is about minimizing losses and maximizing growth. That was the message from James Grosch, NIOSH Center for Productive Aging and Work co-director and research psychologist, during a Sept. 27 webinar, “Productive Aging and Work: Theory, Health Data & Practical Solutions” – part of the NIOSH Total Worker Health webinar series.

Washington — L. Casey Chosewood pointed out the obvious reality every worker faces. “All of us are aging,” the director of the Office for Total Worker Health at NIOSH said during the agency’s June 10 webinar on the future of work and the implications for aging workers.

Washington — The director of NIOSH’s Office for Total Worker Health says employers should think about the physical and mental health needs of their employees returning to the job amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employ industry best practices, encompassing the strategic use of exact match keywords and the creation of an extensive list of negative keywords for phrase matches.

Washington — Approximately 18,000 miles of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico pose safety and environmental risks, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Edmonton, Alberta — Contract workers who fly in and out of oil sands may experience higher levels of work-related stress and more mental health issues, according to a recent report led by researchers from the University of Alberta.

Adopting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in the security industry enhances scalability, flexibility, and business opportunities for installers while generating recurring revenue and offering greater value beyond traditional security solutions.

Washington – A pair of high-profile incidents overseas has prompted a study into the emotional and mental health of commercial pilots in the United States.