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CDC says this may be behind vaping lung injuries

October 2, 2019

A new report from the CDC sheds some possible light on the spate of lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use. Although the exact cause of the injuries is unknown, the latest findings – which were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) – suggest that THC products are playing a role in the outbreak.

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For Your Health & Wellness: Do cell phones pose a health hazard?

October 2, 2019

The weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems. Cell phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF). Over the past 15 years, scientists have conducted hundreds of studies looking at the biological effects of the radiofrequency energy emitted by cell phones.

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Brutal ragweed season ahead? Blame extreme weather

October 2, 2019

People who have allergies may be in for a rough ragweed season this summer and fall, thanks to hotter and wetter weather nationwide.

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For Your Health & Wellness: Catching a quick nap is smart business

October 2, 2019

Sleeping on the job was once considered taboo, but today, more companies are encouraging employees to take a mid-shift snooze. And it’s a wise practice: 29 percent of workers report falling asleep or becoming very sleepy at work, and a lack of sleep costs the United States $63 billion each year in lost productivity.

Not getting enough sleep?

If you have certain health problems, you could be at higher risk for early death

October 2, 2019

Middle-aged adults with high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke could be at high risk for cancer and early death when sleeping less than six hours per day, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the open access journal of the American Heart Association (AHA).

How manufacturing workers end up with repetitive-motion injuries

October 1, 2019

Working in a manufacturing setting requires many people to perform the same task repeatedly every day. That can mean eight hours or more a day on your feet, as well as straining your back, hips, knees and hands. For those who hope to retire from manufacturing jobs, repetitive-motion injuries — also called repetitive-stress injuries — could prove a bigger risk than a catastrophic workplace accident.

Reduce the Risk: Complying with OSHA’s crystalline silica rule

Josie Larsen

October 1, 2019

Crystalline silica is an abundant natural material found in soil, stone and sand. It is also present in many construction materials such as brick, mortar and concrete. It becomes respirable when any of the afore-mentioned materials are cut or broken down into fine particles.

Scarring Exposures: Engineering controls capture silica dust particles

Dave Stock

October 1, 2019

Crystalline silica is one of the most common minerals found worldwide in the earth’s crust. It is frequently used in many industrial processes such as mining, quarrying and stone-cutting. Breathing air contaminated with crystalline silica particles can cause serious respiratory and lung diseases.

Hearing Protection Fit Testing: How NIOSH revolutionized practices

Maureen Paraventi

October 1, 2019

When loud noises cannot be reduced or eliminated through engineering controls, workers who are exposed to them must use hearing protection devices (HPDs) to conserve their hearing. This notion is not new, nor is the concept that HPDs require fit-testing to be effective.

Exoskeleton makes paralyzed hand functional again

October 1, 2019

After brain or spinal cord injuries, paralysis of the hand can occur. Due to the restrictions in the professional and private spheres, this is a great loss of quality of life for those affected. The University of Stuttgart has now developed a hand exoskeleton with which the gripping ability of a paralyzed hand can be restored.