Environmental Health and Safety

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Natural light during the work day may benefit employees by improving their sleep and quality of life, according to a new study. "There is increasing evidence that exposure to light, during the day -- particularly in the morning -- is beneficial to your health via its effects on mood, alertness and metabolism," study senior author Dr. Phyllis Zee, professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said in a university news release.

The unveiling of the first “Superdesk” just over a month ago caused eyebrows to rise in unison across the more discerning areas of the web. The 1100 ft table, which snakes through the open-plan office of New York advertising agency the Barbarian Group like a giant Scalextric, has been called “a marvel of design” and “4400 square feet of undulating, unbroken awesomeness" which "keeps people and ideas flowing."

Rust-Oleum Corp., doing business as Synta Inc., was cited by OSHA for 33 serious safety and health violations for exposing full-time and temporary workers to crystalline silica dust, amputation and electrical hazards. OSHA initiated its inspection in February 2014, following a complaint alleging improper storage of material and inadequate forklift training. The proposed penalties total $188,500.

In 2007, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) partnered with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) to create a series of awards for excellence or innovation in hearing loss prevention.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking public comment on a draft Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) Promoting Health and Preventing Disease and Injury through Workplace Tobacco Policies.

END USER: Richard Willson, Noise at Work Consultant for TESS, The Event Safety Shop. Richard is one of the UK’s most experienced Festival noise specialists having worked on some of the UK’s most prestigious events such as Glastonbury, Latitude, Leeds & Reading Festivals, Festival Republic and BBC events.

Correctional officers and other staff at McDowell medium-security federal prison in Welch, West Virginia were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace safety and health hazards, according to OSHA, which has issued notices to the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.

A new study finds that egg production workers are at risk for pulmonary problems due to exposure to airborne particulate matter inside hen houses.

A short, documentary-style video examining the devastating effects of silicosis has won PR Daily’s 2013 Video Award for Best Safety Video. Produced by the U.S. Department of Labors' Office of Public Affairs, “Silicosis: Deadly Dust” features interviews with doctors, department officials and stone carvers, painting a haunting picture of living with the disease and why it is so crucial that workers be protected from it.

One of the occupational hazards in the healthcare setting is the airborne transmission of certain infectious diseases.1 The potential of exposure is not limited to physicians, nurses, and support personnel in direct patient care. It extends to those delivering food, cleaning patient rooms, and performing maintenance.