With the holiday season underway, people are feeling festive – including at work. But whether you’re decorating your cubicle or taking part in the office potluck, safety should always remain a top priority.

Is your office prepared to deal with workplace violence? If you’re unsure or think it’s unlikely to occur, consider this: “Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year,” states OSHA, which adds that “workplace violence can strike anywhere, and no one is immune.”

Does your workplace lack a safety and health program? If you’re looking to create one, OSHA offers 10 tips to get you going.

Newcastle upon Tyne, England – Increased awareness and targeted interventions may help improve return-to-work outcomes for workers who undergo total knee replacement procedures, according to a recent study from Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University in England.

New York — Fewer than 3 out of 10 employees who are working remotely amid the COVID-19 pandemic expect to return to their physical workplace by the end of the year, and some groups feel more pressure than others to do so, results of a recent survey suggest.

Washington – Texas and Wyoming earned the lowest possible scores from the American Lung Association when it comes to smoke-free workplaces, the association states in its annual “State of Tobacco Control” report for 2017.

Sacramento, CA — Legislation signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Sept. 5 authorizes the creation of a council charged with establishing minimum standards on working conditions, hours and wages for fast-food workers statewide.

How can the spread of bacteria and viruses in the workplace be controlled?

Brussels – The World Steel Association recently announced the launch of Steel Safety Day, to take place April 28 in conjunction with World Safety Day.

Washington – A coalition of industry groups has called for OSHA to withdraw a recent letter of interpretation stating that workers at a non-union workplace may designate someone affiliated with a union as their representative during OSHA “walkaround” inspections.

Can you provide me with information about isocyanate exposure?

I own a cannabis business. What chemical hazards are my employees exposed to, and how can I assess and prevent health and safety risks?

Greenbelt, MD — An unannounced inspection blitz of commercial motor vehicles resulted in 12.6% of those checked being placed out of service for brake-related violations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently announced.

To maintain a safe and healthy workplace, housekeeping must be a priority.

Our employees don’t pay attention to the safety signs we have posted. How can we change this?

I know that OSHA references the latest ANSI standards in its regulations about safety signs, but many of the signs I see online and in catalogs don’t use these formats. Why are signs that use the latest ANSI standards better for my workplace?

Volatile organic compounds are common chemical contaminants found in offices and workplaces and are a source of odors, some of which can be a health hazard for workers.

Washington – April is National Workplace Violence Prevention Month, and OSHA hopes to raise awareness by releasing updated guidance for health care and social service workers.

Dallas — A new video from OSHA provides tips on keeping workers safe before, during and after extreme weather events.

Download this e-book to learn how to use the different types of safety data available to you to improve your safety program.

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Washington — To help keep safe the workers who play a role in getting “gifts from the warehouse to your home” for the holidays, OSHA has published a series for seasonal workplace safety tips and a video – including COVID-19-related guidance.

Washington — NIOSH has released four guidance documents intended to “provide options” for employers to better protect workers exposed to nanomaterials.

Washington — As emerging technologies continue to impact the workplace, NIOSH is keeping a watchful eye on whether these new materials and processes will create new on-the-job hazards.

TouchTone’s partners face a unique challenge: the phasing-out of legacy copper-wire phone lines, informally known as Plain Old Telephone Service or POTS.

This white paper walks you through OSHA's workplace injury and illness recordkeeping requirements, including recent revisions pertaining to COVID-19.

Vaasa, Finland — Organizations with “structurally powerful” CEOs experience fewer workplace injuries and illnesses, Finnish researchers claim.

This whitepaper walks you through OSHA's workplace injury and illness recordkeeping requirements, answering your most pressing questions using OSHA's own words.

Iowa City, IA — Organizations seeking better safety results should adopt a more precise accounting system, a group of international researchers suggests.

Washington — Retaliation against workers who report unsafe or unhealthy conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic is illegal, OSHA is reminding employers.

Receiving the highest ranking of five out of five stars, the publication evaluated the company’s official programs for veterans, reviews and information from social media platforms.

Boston – Employees may be more likely to participate in workplace wellness programs if employers offer financial incentives, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School’s Department of Population Medicine.

How does creating a culture around training and education empower and encourage employees to assess their work areas for hazards, as well as play an active role in eliminating those hazards?

How does incorporating visual literacy with connected worker solutions lead to safer workplaces?

We have all seen the explosive growth of surveillance video installation and usage. The next step is to provide high-resolution cameras with proper mounting height to enable accurate facial recognition now or in the future.

Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a proposed rule that would allow civilians to operate drones at night and over populated areas without a waiver, amending current regulations that prohibit such activities.

Addison, TX — Nearly half of workers in a recent survey say they’d take a pay cut to work for an employer with a better safety culture.

Montreal – A recent publication from the scientific research organization IRSST focuses on work-related cancer.

Madrid — Solar ultraviolet radiation and diesel engine exhaust emissions top the list of most frequent exposures that put European workers at risk for cancer, results of a recent survey show.

A new foot safety hazards checklist from Red Wing covers specific sources of foot injuries – with some more obvious than others. From slippery floors and automatic closing doors to uneven surfaces and puncture hazards, the list takes a proactive approach to avoiding foot-related injuries and keeping your business running safely.

Sacramento, CA — Additional revisions to California’s emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 have been adopted by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, to include the California Department of Public Health’s latest recommendations for reducing the spread of the disease.

Toronto — Findings over the past decade – including the results of case studies in the past two to three years – have strengthened the link between the lung disease sarcoidosis and on-the-job exposures to, most notably, silica and silicates, dust from the World Trade Center, and metals, according to a recent research review.

In environments that involve working with or around electrical equipment, it is important not to forget the risk that counterfeit electrical products can pose – a risk with potential safety threats that are preventable.

A new tool developed for immigrant workers in Ontario is intended to help them adjust to the province's workplace safety rules, according to the Institute for Work & Health, a nonprofit research organization.

Washington — A new database from OSHA offers access to safety profiles and information on workplace chemicals.

A follow-up – eight years later – to one of our most popular articles.

Washington — Although recent technologies can improve train handling and fuel efficiency, “they cannot replace the need for correct car placement and assembly,” the Federal Railroad Administration says in a recent safety advisory.

Toronto – Government safety and health inspections that result in penalties for non-compliant employers encourage organizations to take action to reduce work-related injuries, according to research from the Institute for Work & Health.

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