The future of work

Thomas Perez

In 1913, when the Labor Department was founded, the U.S. workforce looked a lot different. Child labor was commonplace, and there were fewer opportunities for women and people of color.

Massey Ex-CEO Blankenship found guilty in UBB mine blast

Prosecutor: It's a "landmark day" for coal miner safety

In an outcome described as “unprecedented” by a federal prosecutor, former Massey Energy Co. CEO Don Blankenship was found guilty of violating safety regulations at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, which led to the 2010 explosion that killed 29 workers.

AIHA, ACGIH journal addresses OELs

A supplement to the December issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH), will address current issues related to the science of setting occupational exposure limits (OELs). The ten articles in State of the Science of Occupational Exposure Limit Methods and Guidance resulted from collaborations between scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), and other organizations.

Gruesome accidents at Texas manufacturer leave workers "skinned"

Twice in 14 months, Moore Co. Inc. temporary workers were seriously injured when inadequately guarded machines pulled them in, removing skin from the wrist up to the shoulder in the most recent incident, and from the wrist down in an earlier incident.

From NIOSH’ Research Rounds bulletins

Respirator disinfection and reuse

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are studying ultraviolet (UV) energy as a way to disinfect disposable respirators so that healthcare providers could reuse them during emergency situations, if they were in short supply.

Survey: Majority approve of government OSH standards

A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found that more than three-quarters of the public thinks the federal government is doing a good job of setting fair and safe workplace standards. In contrast, the poll also found that overall trust in the government and political leaders are near historic lows.

From ASSE

Growing in India, growing globally

Michael Belcher CSP

The story of ASSE’s growing presence in India began in late 2011, when two ASSE volunteers, Jitu Patel and Ashok Garlapati, asked Society leaders to explore how we might grow engagement in India. The country was not then viewed as a strategic market for ASSE, but this changed quickly. India is now one of the Society’s most active global groups, along with the Middle East and Nigeria.

Learn about food safety for the holidays with CDC Twitter chat

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a Twitter chat on Bringing Food Safety Home for the Holidays (#CDCFoodChat) 2 to 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 9.

Arc flash incidents often injure untrained personnel

Electrical injuries are among the construction industry's “fatal four” that caused more than half of construction deaths in 2013, according to OSHA's website.

Australia sends ‘mental health first-aid’ responders to the workplace

Although employees trained in first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation are commonplace in workplaces, the concept of first responders for mental health crises is still very much in its infancy, even though millions of workers take sick leave or paid time off each year due to mental illness.

MSHA announces results of October impact inspections

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) says federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.

A quarter of European workers believe that their health is at risk because of their work

In Europe almost one worker in four (23 per cent) believes that their work represents a risk to their health, according to the first results of the European inquiry into working conditions, presented in Luxembourg on 24 November. 

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Workplace medical mystery solved

Fire training officer lands in hospital with a distressing lung x-ray

Bob, an experienced firefighter and trainer started to experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and a cough with blood following a firefighter training that he set up and led. At the emergency room, the doctor ruled out a blood clot in his lungs. However, an x-ray did show Bob had small nodules in his lungs.

Speedway cited after worker shot in attempted robbery

Workplace violence safeguards inadequate, says OSHA

An employee working alone late at night at a Speedway gasoline station/convenience store in South Syracuse was shot in the leg on May 10, 2015, during an armed robbery – an incident OSHA says was preventable.

Campbell Institute report highlights five ways to keep contractors safe

Organizations share safety recommendations throughout the contractor lifecycle

In a report released today, the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council lays out a safety roadmap for employers to effectively handle the complexities of contractor management. Fourteen Campbell Institute companies contributed real-world experiences and recommended practices to the report, which comes at a time when the number of contract and temporary workers in the U.S. is increasing rapidly. 

Cal. moves ahead with a workplace violence standard for healthcare industry

In October of 2010, a psychiatric technician was strangled by a patient at Napa State Hospital and a Registered Nurse working at a Contra Costa County jail in Martinez, California died as a result of being assaulted by an inmate. 

From NIOSH's Research Rounds bulletin

Slip-resistant shoes reduce food service workers’ compensation claims

Each year, food service businesses report that slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common causes of worker injury leading to time away from work. However, employers and workers can avoid slip, trips, and falls by keeping floors clean and dry, fixing flooring defects, using properly designed stairs and handrails, and, as a new study finds, by wearing slip-resistant shoes.