If a worker wearing fall protection falls and is left suspended in the air too long, he or she may develop suspension trauma.

Imagine this scenario: A construction worker is replacing shingles on the roof of a two-story house 20 feet above ground. He loses his footing and slips, falling off the roof. He’s wearing a fall-arrest system, and as a result is saved from death. But he’s not out of danger yet.

In Episode 32, the S+H editorial team dives into the October issue’s feature story on how to help reduce the stigma around workers’ mental health. The team also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced changes in safety training.

Keeping workers comfortable and productive on the job often starts with taking care of their feet. Download a free training presentation to start sharing foot safety facts with your crew at your next safety meeting.

Stockholm – Working in the cold increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to researchers at the Karolinska Institute.

The RollMover RX Roll Pusher’s new power profile offers an increased capacity to move rolls up to 8,000 pounds across a flat floor or up to 5,500 pounds into transitions.

This free-standing gantry crane lifts and lowers material baskets, allowing for the transport of tools, brick pallets, equipment and more.

Booth #5824

BlueWater Manufacturing offers industry-leading, non-penetrating OSHA-compliant guardrail systems for fall protection on flat roof buildings and elevated platforms. Our versatile modular solutions are engineered-to-order, portable, easy to install, and never jeopardize roof integrity. We manufacture in-house, so special challenges are our specialty!

Click here for more information from BlueWater Manufacturing, 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.

Work-related stress can have serious physical and emotional repercussions. The American Psychological Association states that work-related stress can cause stomach problems, sleep issues, headaches and irritability. Read APA's seven recommendations for managing stress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness. It can occur when a person experiences something frightening, stressful or overwhelming.

Experts say employers need to make workers’ mental health as high of a priority as physical health. A big step in that process: confronting the stigma that often accompanies mental health disorders.

OSHA’s “Safe Workplace Good Headspace” initiative highlights ways employers can make a difference.

Audition Technology’s white paper summarizes the current global standards for safe listening in the environment and from audio (headphones) and provides a framework for monitoring lifestyle exposures versus safe dose, building awareness and self-management with associated tools offered by the company.

Exposure to vibration or being required to make repetitive motions can lead to significant wear and tear on the body. The resulting injuries are known as cumulative trauma disorders.

Good ergonomics isn’t limited to the office: The same practices that can help avoid aches and pains at your desk can be applied to your drive to and from work, the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety says.

Hartford, CT — Thirty-three percent of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned about their mental health, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by health benefits provider Aetna International.

Aurora, CO — Raise your cup, coffee drinkers! Drinking one or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day may reduce your risk of heart failure, according to the results of a recent review conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado.

Lansing, MI — If you rely on caffeine to provide a brain boost after a poor night of sleep, findings of a recent study from researchers at Michigan State University may give you a jolt.

Alexandria, VA — About 6 out of 10 U.S. adults believe masks should be a requirement for workers at onsite locations, even if those workers are fully vaccinated, according to the results of a recent Harris Poll survey commissioned by the American Staffing Association.

Chicago — Although a growing number of employers are purchasing air purifiers as part of reopening their workplaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one type of the technology might not be as effective as advertised, results of a recent study show.

New York — Nearly half of workers whose employers have a flexible remote work policy say it’s their most coveted employee perk, while more than 3 out of 4 would like to work from home permanently, results of a recent survey show.

Barcelona, Spain — Exposure to printer toner, cleaning products and mold circulated in air conditioning systems – along with poor ventilation – can trigger asthma in office workers, results of a recent study out of England suggest.

Boston — Improved air quality in offices can boost worker focus, response times and overall cognitive ability, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health claim.

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.

Provo, UT — Nearly half of U.S. employees say they work while on vacation, according to the results of a recent survey.

San Diego — Saying “thank you” and expressing other forms of gratitude to co-workers can lead to better cardiovascular response in high-stress situations, results of a recent study show.

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.

Oulu, Finland — “Even light physical activity may foster work engagement,” researchers in Finland are saying after studying on- and off-the-job data for more than 6,800 workers.

Adding physical activity to your daily routine could lead to a longer life – regardless of genetic predisposition, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego.

If you have allergies or asthma, clean your smartphone more often to minimize reaction triggers that may be lurking on the surface, researchers recommend in a recent study.

Atlanta – Lead exposure remains an issue for workers, with elevated levels most common in manufacturing, construction, services and mining, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Safety Toolbox Trainer is a one-stop solution for busy safety trainers who need to keep up with their management and compliance obligations on the go.

The Magid® D-ROC® GPD820 Lightweight NitriX® Palm-Coated Work Glove is the lightest weight ANSI Cut Level 5 glove on the market, delivering superior grip and longer wear-life. The GPD820 is perfect for jobs with laceration hazards along with heavy oil or coolant exposure. Visit Magid at Booth #806.

Click here for more information from MAGID

The only glove to provide the highest level of cut protection with bare-hand feel now comes in two palm coatings. The D-ROC® GPD800 (polyurethane palm coating) and the new GPD820 (NitriX® Grip Technology palm coating) offer superior comfort, dexterity and grip with maximum level of cut protection around the entire glove.

Click here for more information from Magid

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 new Master Lock Blind Flange Lockout Device protects downstream workers from potential exposure to chemicals, flammable gases and other hazards. The device secures the blind in place, ensuring no unintentional blind removal, until maintenance is complete and workers are safe. Its innovative, adjustable design is compatible with a wide range of pipe, blind and flange sizes.

Click here for more information from Master Lock

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

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.

Occupational asthma is a respiratory disease in which on-the-job exposure to certain substances causes the airways of a person’s lungs to swell and narrow.

Occupational asthma can develop when a worker breathes in gases, chemical fumes, dust or other work-related substances. According to Mayo Clinic, it also can result from exposure to a substance a worker is sensitive to, triggering an allergic or immunological response.

Maintaining a routine, helping others and taking time to focus on self-care are among the tips one Ball State University professor is sharing to help people stay “sane and safe” while practicing physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 300. That’s how many known triggers can be found in the workplace that cause or worsen asthma, according to NIOSH. 

Employers typically are required to accommodate employees with diabetes, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Accommodations may include time and a private place to administer any medications or conduct blood sugar tests, the ability to keep food nearby, or a schedule of regular breaks to maintain a prescribed diet.

What is climate control in personal protective equipment, and why is it important?

In the past few years, garments tailored for women have become more common. These garments look similar to men’s apparel but are designed with specific details that consider the female form and shape.

How are women represented when it comes to PPE?

What features are commonly used in the construction of safety shoes to protect against impact and compression hazards?

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on April 4 heard oral arguments on why it should order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry.

Toronto — To increase health care workers’ knowledge, awareness and prevention of occupational hand dermatitis, the Center for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease has launched a free e-learning module.

Washington — Echoing comments made by OSHA administrator Doug Parker during a hearing three weeks earlier, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry may be published sometime in the fall.

Washington — The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled it doesn’t have the authority to order OSHA to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry, denying an emergency petition filed by National Nurses United and other labor groups.

Washington — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has scheduled public meetings of its National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council for May 10-11.