Workplace Health - Articles - Page 40

Colorectal cancer burden shifting to younger individuals

Half of new diagnoses are now in people 66 and younger

March 6, 2020

The burden of colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to younger individuals as incidence increases in young adults and declines in older age groups, according to Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020, a publication of the American Cancer Society. A sign of the shift: the median age of diagnosis has dropped from age 72 in 2001-2002 to age 66 during 2015-2016.

ACGIH® enters into Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with six Allied Industry Partners during Indoor Air Quality’s Annual Meeting & Exposition

March 6, 2020

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) and six of its Allied Industry Partners entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Indoor Air Quality Association’s (IAQA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in West Palm Beach, Florida. Frank Mortl III, CAE, ACGIH®’s Executive Director signed the agreement on behalf of ACGIH®.

Public health experts: Open, science-based communication key to mitigating harms of COVID-19

Statement from APHA warns against political interference

March 6, 2020

The American Public Health Association (APHA) says preparing communities in the U.S. for COVID-19 – the illness caused by coronavirus – is going to require a coordinated national response, with leadership from the top levels of government. “Attempts to silence public health officials — or manipulate public information — will only make it harder to get ahead and stay ahead of this virus."

Feds announce black lung benefits reforms

March 5, 2020

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) announced changes to the self-insurance process for coal mine operators that it says will better support the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The Black Lung Benefits Act requires each coal mine operator to secure the payment of its potential benefits liability by either qualifying as a self-insurer or by purchasing and maintaining a commercial insurance contract.

AIHA, other groups partner for indoor air, environmental quality

March 5, 2020

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA®) and six other non-profit organizations, including the convening organization, Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for indoor air and environmental quality. Donald Weekes, CIH, AIHA Fellow, and member of AIHA's Technical Committee on indoor environmental quality, signed the agreement on behalf of AIHA.

For older adults, more physical activity could mean longer, healthier lives

March 5, 2020

Two studies demonstrate that older adults may be able to live longer, healthier lives by increasing physical activity that doesn’t have to be strenuous to be effective, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020. The EPI Scientific Sessions, March 3-6 in Phoenix, is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in population-based cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

Health groups urge Supreme Court to uphold Affordable Care Act

March 2, 2020

Patient and health advocacy groups representing millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions are applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments in the case of Texas v. United States this term. The case is the latest court challenge to the health care law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The groups filed an amicus brief urging the Court’s swift action and citing the detrimental impacts and uncertainty patients would face were the case left at the lower court level.

Health groups join forces to help Americans control blood pressure

March 2, 2020

In a move toward meeting goals for better cardiovascular health in the United States over the next decade, the American Heart Association (AHA) is joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Hypertension Control Roundtable (NHCR)® along with other founding members in a public, private and non-profit collaboration committed to increasing blood pressure control rates to 80% by 2025.

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The OSHA “willful” mysteries

Often there is no explanation for the charges

Edward Stern

March 2, 2020

Many of the OSHA cases that cite “willful” violations present mysteries. The mysteries are why the alleged violations were categorized as willful. These charges are not a mystery to OSHA, but they are mysteries to readers of citations. Since the penalty for a willful violation can be over $130,000, there should not be any mystery about such charges.

Four tips to prevent & reduce musculoskeletal disorders

How to avoid the “walking wounded”

Nancy Moorhouse, CSP, ARM, CHSM

March 2, 2020

No magic pills make musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) disappear, yet risk, human resources and safety departments continue to buy into programs and systems that do not affectively aid in helping employees deemed the “walking wounded.”