Workplace Health - Articles - Page 90

Travelers cuts opioid use among injured construction workers

April 4, 2019

The Travelers Companies, Inc. reports that it has reduced opioid use by nearly 40 percent among the injured construction workers it has helped, thanks in part to the Early Severity Predictor® model, which helps predict which injured employees are at higher risk of experiencing chronic pain. Additionally, the insurance giant implemented a comprehensive pharmacy management program that monitors drug interactions, excessive dosing and abuse patterns to reduce the risk of opioid dependency.

AIHA presents evidence on airborne contaminants

Second-hand smoke effect found in e-cigarettes

April 3, 2019

E-cigarettes can release airborne contaminants that may affect both the people using them and those nearby. That’s one of the conclusions of a white paper (PDF) that’s just been released by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) – one which reviews current scientific information and evaluates the impacts of chemicals used in e-cigarettes as well as those emitted from them. The resource was developed by AIHA's Indoor Environmental Quality Committee and Risk Committee.

Construction industry group to hold first EHS conference

April 3, 2019

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) – the leading association for the construction industry - will hold its first-ever Construction Safety, Health + Environmental Conference on July 23-25, 2019, in Seattle, Washington. The AGC says the conference will “hone in on the most critical safety, health, and environmental compliance and risk issues impacting the business of construction.”

AIHA, IAQA update Indoor Air Quality Body of Knowledge

April 2, 2019

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), in partnership with the Indoor Air Quality Association, has released the updated Indoor Air Quality Practitioners Body of Knowledge (IAQ Practitioners BoK). The BoK outlines the competencies needed in the area of indoor air quality practice. For the past 12 months a task force of highly qualified subject matter experts from AIHA and IAQA collaborated to review this document.

Study: Compression-only CPR saves lives

It increases survival when cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals

April 1, 2019

A Swedish review of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest data shows rates of bystander CPR nearly doubled; compression-only (or Hands-Only CPR) increased six-fold over an 18 year period; and the chance of survival was doubled for any form of CPR compared with no CPR, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.

Do you live in a stressed-out state?

April 1, 2019

With April being Stress Awareness Month and millennials reporting the highest average stress levels of any generation, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2019's Most & Least Stressed States as well as accompanying videos. To determine the states with the highest stress levels, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 40 key metrics.

Does Obamacare make injured workers wait longer for treatment?

March 28, 2019

A recent survey of 30 metropolitan areas showed a 30% increase from 2014 to 2017 in the average wait time for a new patient to be seen by a doctor. Did the subset of workers seeking treatment for workers comp (WC) injuries experience the same delays? A recent study by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) yielded some surprising results. The NCCI research was designed to answer the question: “Did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stress the healthcare delivery system and make it more difficult for workers compensation claimants to get medical care?”

Radonova Laboratories

Radon maps don’t show radon levels in a specific building

March 28, 2019

‘Radon maps’ is a term that frequently crops up when talking about the risk of radon. A radon map provides a general picture of the areas where there is a risk of high radon levels. These maps are available at both national and regional level. The problem with radon maps is, however, that they are a very blunt tool for anyone wanting to find out about radon levels in a specific building.

American Psychological Association recognizes 8 organizations for healthy workplace practices

March 27, 2019

From a symphony orchestra in Maine to an architectural firm in Hawai’i, eight organizations across the United States and Canada have been named winners of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2019 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards. The annual award recognizes employers who implement workplace practices, backed by psychological science, that advance employee health and well-being while increasing performance and productivity.

Night shift work may contribute to miscarriage risk

March 27, 2019

Pregnant women who work two or more night shifts per week have an increased risk of miscarriage, according to a study published online yesterday in online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine. Researchers in the department of occupational and environmental medicine at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen analyzed pregnancy outcomes in nearly 23,000 workers, most of whom were employed in Danish hospitals.