State of the EHS Nation- Exclusive results from ISHN’s 28^th annual White Paper Reader Survey:

Despite widespread concern about work-related stress and workplace violence, most European companies still don’t have procedures in place for managing psychosocial risks, according to two new reports from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

Most women who are pregnant can keep working during their pregnancy. Some women are able to work right up until they are ready to deliver. Others may need to cut back on their hours or stop working before their due date.

Paul Huljich co-founded Best Corporation, a pioneering organic foods company of which he was chairman and joint-CEO. The company’s value grew to more than $100 million, but Paul eventually developed a number of severe stress-related conditions.

You probably have your own ways of dealing with stressful times. Some may be healthy, such as calling a friend, cooking a comforting dinner, or curling up in bed earlier than usual, according to Harvard Medical College’s HealthBeat newsletter.

Stress has always been a feature of many U.S. workplaces, but it seems to be increasing – possibly because of the economic pressure placed on businesses to do more with less, and to make fewer workers do the work that was previously accomplished by larger workforces.

OSHA has raised the ire of advocacy groups by turning down a petition calling for a heat stress standard, opting instead to use its education and outreach campaign to alert employers and workers to the dangers as heat exposure.

As temperatures rise, so does the chance of those working in areas susceptible to high heat conditions of becoming ill. To prevent heat-related work injuries and illnesses, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) suggests employers and employees take safety precautions now and be aware of factors that can lead to heat stress; the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke; ways to prevent heat stress; and, what can be done for heat-related illnesses.

There is no shortage of angst-inducing news these days: natural disasters, economic woes, political unrest.

Athlete deaths from heat exposure are on the rise. Warming summers have been accompanied by weekly reports of athletes young and old collapsing from severe heat-induced illness.

The ACGIH® TLV® for heat stress and strain is an excellent starting point for the evaluation and management of occupational heat stress. The evaluation scheme includes the effects of environment, work demands and clothing.