Dr. David Michaels testifies before Congress about compliance v. enforcement, New York City considers sexual harassment training legislation and data sheds new light on why pedestrian deaths are increasing. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

These 2 diets can help prevent heart disease, stroke

March 2, 2018

A lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, which includes eggs and dairy but excludes meat and fish, and a Mediterranean diet are likely equally effective in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal Circulation. Previous separate studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet reduces certain risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as does a vegetarian diet; however, this was the first study to compare effects of the two distinct eating patterns.

Time to refocus: Odds of accidentally dying are getting worse

National Safety Council digitizes nearly 100 years of injury and fatality data to help Americans understand their greatest safety challenges

March 1, 2018

While many Americans fear flying, violence and natural disasters, the odds of dying from preventable, everyday incidents are far greater – the greatest ever, in fact, in United States history. A person’s lifetime odds of dying from any unintentional cause have risen to one in 25 – up from odds of one in 30 in 2004, according to National Safety Council analysis.

Harwood training program gone from OSHA’s 2019 budget

March 1, 2018

OSHA’s FY 2019 budget request reflects an emphasis on compliance assistance, an increase in enforcement and the elimination of a longstanding safety and health training grant program – a move sure to draw the hire of some in the occupational safety community. The agency says its request for $549,033,000 for FY 2019 will allow it beef up its VPP initiative and restore 24 of the 33 compliance assistance positions that were lost in a five-year-long budget crunch.

World Hearing Day Thunderclap - March 3, 2018

March 1, 2018

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Hearing Day, which raises awareness about preventing hearing loss and promoting hearing care, is fast approaching. This year’s theme, “Hear the Future,” focuses on strategies to prevent the expected increase in the number of people living with hearing loss.

A FairWarning story

Use of smartphones and recreational marijuana cited as possible factors behind rising pedestrian deaths

Paul Feldman

March 1, 2018

The increasing use of smartphones and recreational marijuana may be contributing to a surge in the numbers of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes, according to a new analysis. The report by the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that pedestrian fatalities totaled about 6,000 in 2017, roughly the same as the year before, when the official count was 5,987.

A Confined Space blog post

Weekly Toll: Another group of workers join the list those who didn’t make it through the workday

February 28, 2018

Three school employees were among the 17 persons killed in the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Scott Beigel, 35, a geography teacher, was killed as he tried to usher students back into his classroom when the shooting broke out. Aaron Feis, 37, an assistant football coach, was killed when he threw himself in front of students to protect them from oncoming bullets, according to football program spokeswoman Denis Lehtio.

Patio installer dies in fall

February 28, 2018

A Florida Patio and Pool Enclosure Installer faces $40,096 in fines following the death of an employee who fell while installing patio screen enclosures. OSHA has cited Naples-based L.I. Aluminum Design Inc. for four serious citations.

Former OSHA chief warns Congress about a “false choice”

February 28, 2018

Forcing OSHA to choose between focusing on enforcement or compliance assistance is “a false choice,” according to Dr. David Michaels, former assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health and current professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington.

Bed bugs aren’t just pests – they cause health problems

February 28, 2018

New research findings could turn perceptions of the already despised bed bug from nuisance pest into medically important threat. A study from North Carolina State University shows that histamine levels are substantially higher in homes infested by bed bugs than in pest-free homes and that these histamine levels persist for months – even if the bed bugs have been eliminated from the home.

Partnership protects entertainment industry workers

February 27, 2018

Although efforts to improve occupational safety often focus on industries like manufacturing, mining and agriculture, the arts can be dangerous, too. Thus, OSHA, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC (IATSE) have just renewed their alliance to protect the safety and health of workers in the entertainment industry.

Unsafe companies could win a dubious recognition

February 27, 2018

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), a nationwide training and advocacy organization for workers and families, is accepting nominations for its “Dirty Dozen” list of employers who fail to provide safe conditions for their workers.

Unshored trench collapses, kills Mich. worker

February 27, 2018

His fellow workers could hear his voice – at first – then a construction worker buried in a trench collapse fell silent, and died. The incident occurred at a suburban Detroit worksite at 1:30 yesterday afternoon – although emergency responders were not able to recover the man’s body for four hours, according to news reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cardiac arrest survival more likely with AED use

February 27, 2018

Survival from cardiac arrest doubles when a bystander steps in to apply an automated external defibrillator (AED) before emergency responders arrived, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal Circulation. The findings have significant research for workplace safety, according to public health experts, who point out that more than 100,000 of the 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur in the U.S. each year happen outside the home.

Sexual harassment prevention training may become law in NYC

February 26, 2018

New York City is considering a law that would require businesses with at least 15 employees to conduct training aimed at preventing sexual harassment. Company owners would have to provide interactive training - either in person, with audiovisual material or some other form approved by the city’s Human Rights Commission - and maintain records of compliance. Failing to do so could earn companies penalties of up to $500 for their first violation, and up to $2,000 for each one after.

A Confined Space blog post

House to Hold OSHA hearing on Tuesday

Jordan Barab

February 26, 2018

The House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing on Tuesday entitled “A More Effective and Collaborative OSHA: A View from Stakeholders.” This will be the first — and probably the only — oversight hearing held in this two-year session of Congress.

Child protective worker dies after attack

February 26, 2018

An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employee who was viciously attacked last year while on the job has died, according to news reports. Pamela Knight was attempting to take a 2-year-old boy into protective custody when she was allegedly beaten by 25-year-old Andrew Sucher of Rock Falls, Illinois.

Truck changes may help truckers get more sleep

February 26, 2018

One of the trucking industry’s strategies for trying to make sure long-distance truck drivers get sufficient sleep may be enhanced by new research on sleeping arrangements in truck cabs. Companies often assign drivers in pairs, so that one can sleep while the other drives. However, sleeping in a noisy, moving vehicle, does not provide the same restful sleep as a stationary bed in a quiet room.