New York — The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has halted until at least Aug. 22 an Environmental Protection Agency final rule that revises the pesticide application exclusion zone requirement in the agency’s standard on agricultural worker protection.

Washington — OSHA is urging employers to take steps to keep workers safe in extreme heat, including providing adequate cool water, rest breaks, and shade or a cool rest area.

Chicago — A recent study of Florida farmworkers found that virtually all of them experienced dehydration at the end of their shift, and more than half were still dehydrated the next morning.

Washington — In an effort to preserve the supply of N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has temporarily suspended its requirement for annual respirator fit testing in the health care industry.

Washington — In response to a nationwide shortage of N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has announced further temporary easing of regulations related to respiratory protection.

Washington — OSHA has issued temporary enforcement guidelines for fit testing of powered air-purifying respirators for workers at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Washington – OSHA has released its annual inspection plan targeting workplaces with high rates of injuries and illnesses.

Tumwater, WA — To clarify its crane decertification and reinstatement requirements, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is proposing changes to its regulations on cranes and derricks in construction.

Tumwater, WA — In an effort to protect workers against unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has issued permanent rules on the hazard.

Washington – NIOSH has released recommended limits for controlling occupational exposure to flavoring chemicals diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, both of which have been linked to reduced lung function in food flavoring and production industry workers.

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has issued a hazard alert warning of the potential dangers of unsafe materials handling and storage in the beverage distribution and retail industry.

Washington — Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is urging OSHA to investigate reported workplace safety violations at the Sanderson Farms poultry plant in Bryan, TX.

Washington — In an effort to prevent injuries related to commercial grease traps, OSHA has issued a hazard bulletin.

Minneapolis — Recently released guidance from the state of Minnesota details steps employers in the meatpacking industry should take to reduce worker exposure to COVID-19.

Washington — In response to an “increase in incidents involving grating” on offshore energy platforms, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert.

I understand the importance of positive communication in safety, but how do I educate frontline supervisors about avoiding the “blame game” when discussing safety issues with workers?

In Episode 49, the S+H team examines content included in the March issue, such as a quiz on ladder safety, advice on having difficult conversations at work and issues for women in construction. Also, National Safety Council colleague Amy Artuso joins the podcast to discuss Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

In Episode 50, the S+H team celebrates a milestone and examines content from the April issue, including the results of the annual Training Survey, safety and health for remote workers, and work zone safety. Also, SafeStart’s Tim Page-Bottorff joins the podcast to preview his presentation on Safety I vs. Safety II, in partnership with Corrie Pitzer, to be made at the 2024 NSC Spring Safety Conference and Expo.

Washington – NIOSH has released a document outlining dozens of safety recommendations aimed at reducing deaths and injuries caused by backing construction vehicles and equipment.

Washington – Two new fact sheets from OSHA aim to protect workers who design and erect tube and coupler scaffolds.

Washington – OSHA has released new fact sheets for workers in the agriculture and maritime industries.

AXIS Image Health Analytics notifies users of any issues with image quality and ensures that the cameras being used are capturing the right images at all times.

Washington – The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Nov. 14 released injury and illness data for 2011 and 2012 to correct previously disclosed data processing errors.

Washington – A new draft OSHA document outlines how employers can use an approach known as “weight of evidence” to assist in classifying hazardous chemicals.

DDoS attacks are a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic from multiple sources.

Washington – NIOSH is seeking comment on a proposed survey of school workers to gauge the relationship between building conditions and worker health.

Washington – Three recent incidents that left both children and adults with burn injuries have prompted the Chemical Safety Board to issue a safety bulletin on educational science demonstrations that use flammable chemicals.

Washington — In light of emerging data on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released interim environmental cleaning and disinfection recommendations for community facilities with suspected or confirmed cases of the potentially deadly respiratory illness.

Washington – OSHA’s final rule on preventing slips, trips and falls is scheduled for publication in August, according to the spring regulatory agenda released May 18.

Washington — As expected, OSHA is proposing changes to its beryllium standards for the construction and shipyard industries.

Washington — An Environmental Protection Agency final rule will require manufacturers and importers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to report information on PFAS use, exposures and hazards.

Durham, NC – Workers exposed to oil dispersants during cleanup of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster are likely to experience respiratory issues and other health problems, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health.

Oakland, CA – The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s heat illness prevention Special Emphasis Program led to 3,575 inspections in 2014 – about one-third of which resulted in heat-related citations – the agency has announced.

Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Industrial Relations has issued a new guidance document to help familiarize employers on the state’s updated heat illness prevention rules, which are set to go into effect May 1.

Washington — Honeywell Safety Products has issued a voluntary recall of nonsterile eyewash cartridges after a supplier was found to be noncompliant with current good manufacturing practice regulations.

Columbus, OH — Three out of 10 law enforcement officers have experienced a work-related head injury, putting them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, according to a recent study.

Silver Spring, MD — The American Nurses Association, in partnership with the U.S. Public Health Service chief nurse officer and the University of North Carolina and University of Washington schools of nursing, has launched a campaign with initiatives that include addressing industry concerns such as workplace violence and safe and appropriate staffing levels.

Linz, Austria — Shift work may be associated with poorer memory and slower mental processing speed, as well as lower levels of alertness and visual focus, results of a recent study out of Austria suggest.

Arc-rated/flame-resistant garments must be worn correctly to achieve maximum protection. What are some considerations that are often overlooked?

Cincinnati — Millions of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic may be sitting at improperly arranged workstations that increase their risk of eye, head, neck, back, shoulder, wrist and forearm stress and strain injuries, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by University of Cincinnati researchers.

Munster, Germany — Neck and shoulder problems are common musculoskeletal disorders among dentists, leading more than 1 out of 5 to seek medical care, a recent study out of Germany shows.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule on asbestos intended to keep manufacturers from reintroducing “discontinued uses” of the known human carcinogen into the market without EPA approval.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of the final scope of Part 2 of the final risk evaluation to be conducted for asbestos.

Chicago — Chronic workplace harassment may increase the risk of coronary heart disease, arthritic/rheumatic conditions and migraines, results of a recent University of Illinois Chicago study show.

Washington – OSHA on April 1 released its final rule on electric power generation, transmission and distribution; and electrical protective equipment.

Washington — More than 130 organizations and 90 individuals are petitioning OSHA to issue regulations aimed at protecting workers against heat stress.

Washington — OSHA is developing an emergency rule that will require employers with at least 100 workers to “ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week,” President Joe Biden announced Sept. 9.

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is reiterating its call for OSHA to enact a comprehensive general industry standard for combustible dust – a potential hazard the board calls a “critical issue in industrial safety.”

Washington — OSHA will soon be able to issue certifications in support of T and U nonimmigrant status visas, a move the agency contends will aid in some workplace safety investigations.