Foodborne illness prevention, what’s ahead for NORA and the value of wearable technology in preventing workplace injuries were among the top health and safety stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

Sprains and strains lost workers the most time in 2017

January 4, 2019

Sprains, strains, and tears were the most frequently occurring injuries resulting in lost worktime, transfer, or restriction in five of the six industries studied in Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. More of these cases resulted in days of job transfer or restriction than days away from work in crop production; transportation equipment manufacturing; and amusement, gambling, and recreation. 

Blocked exits at USPS facility

January 4, 2019

Exits at a Ohio United Parcel Service (UPS) distribution center weren’t just temporarily blocked, according to the OSHA inspectors; some were permanently locked. The company was cited for repeatedly putting workers at risk by obstructing exit routes at its Sharonville, Ohio, distribution center and faces $208,603 in proposed penalties for those violations.

Why are so many veterinarians committing suicide?

January 4, 2019

Job stress, a poor work-life balance and debt from student loans may be factors contributing to the increase in suicide among veterinarians - a trend that has spanned more than three decades. That’s according to a new CDC study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)External.

From the NIOSH Director's desk:

NORA gains momentum into 2019

Dr. John Howard

January 4, 2019

It’s a new year, and in many ways a fresh start; but not for the NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda) councils that continue to build on the efforts of the past two years. The ten sector councils from the second decade of NORA carried forward their work to improve occupational safety and health in industry sectors.

No fall protection for roofers: company cited

January 3, 2019

OSHA has cited roofing company Aspen Contracting Inc. – based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri – and subcontractor J Cuellar LLC – based in West Bend, Wisconsin – for exposing employees to dangerous fall hazards at a Fountain, Colorado construction site. The companies face proposed penalties totaling $147, 998.

Researchers develop a new houseplant that can clean your home’s air

January 3, 2019

We like to keep the air in our homes as clean as possible, and sometimes we use HEPA air filters to keep offending allergens and dust particles at bay. But some hazardous compounds are too small to be trapped in these filters.

Obesity-linked cancer rate varies widely from state to state

January 3, 2019

A new study looking at the share of cancers related to obesity finds an at least 1.5-fold difference between states with the highest and lowest proportions. The proportion of cancer cases that could be attributable to excess body weight ranged from a high of 8.3% in the District of Columbia to a low of 5.9% in Hawaii, reflecting variations in obesity rates in the states. 

Research shows value of wearable technology in reducing workplace injuries

January 3, 2019

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Foundation today released a fatigue research report that shows the value of wearable technology in the workplace, encouraging employers to make a New Year’s resolution to monitor the fatigue levels of its workers to reduce injuries and increase productivity.

Government shutdown leaving health programs unfunded

January 2, 2019

The ongoing federal government shutdown is posing a threat to public health, according to the American Public Health Association (APHA). The organization’s executive director, Georges C. Benjamin, identified the Indian Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, parts of the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture as funding losers due to the shutdown.

Enormous gaps IDd in the recognition of occupational cancers in Europe

January 2, 2019

A new report by EUROGIP presents an analysis of the extent to which occupational cancers are recognised in nine European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland. It also looks at the schemes for identifying occupational cancers, especially via monitoring the health of people exposed to carcinogens in the course of their working careers.

Passengers fall ill on domestic flight

January 2, 2019

A drinking fountain in Cleveland Hopkins International Airport may be the culprit behind a half dozen passengers falling ill on a Cleveland-to-Tampa flight yesterday. News sources say six people on a Frontier Airlines flight became sick en route to their destination. Health officials boarded the plane when it landed at Tampa International Airport.

12 ways to prevent foodborne illness in 2019

January 2, 2019

As the recent nationwide ban on Romaine lettuce by the CDC shows, harmful pathogens have become an ever-increasing threat in our food supply, causing serious illness and even death among people with weaker immune systems such as young children and older adults.