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More than a quarter of American workers always go to work when they’re sick, according to a new survey from NSF International, a global public health and safety organization. The survey found that an additional one-third (34 percent) wait until they experience the full effect of their symptoms before deciding to stay home.

Smartphones and tablet computers are radically transforming how we access our shared knowledge sources by keeping us constantly connected to near-infinite volumes of raw data and information. We enjoy unprecedented instant access to expertise, from informal cooking lessons on YouTube to online university courses. Every day people around the globe are absorbed in exciting new forms of learning, and yet traditional schools and university systems are still struggling to leverage the many opportunities for innovation in this area.

In the past few months, the communication tower industry has experienced an alarming increase in the number of injuries and fatalities occurring at communication tower worksites. As of September 3, 2013, there have been a total of 14 incidents, which is more than the last two years combined. OSHA is aware that there has been an acceleration in communication tower work during the past year due to cellular infrastructure upgrades, and the Agency is concerned about the possibility of future incidents.

In the wake of a series of fatal and environmentally catastrophic train accidents, the railroad industry and federal regulators have agreed on a set of voluntary measures intended to increase the safety of crude oil train shipments.

Tablet trifecta- The combination of mobility, larger screen size, and greater computing power makes tablets an ideal mobile device for accessing a wide range of training and educational content—from e-textbooks to Web-based courses to decision-support apps. Producers of eLearning who understand the devices’ potential—and limitations—will be able to create truly innovative, effective tablet-based learning experiences that wow and delight learners.

A maintenance worker fell to his death Jan. 31 from a cell tower in Cameron County, Texas. The next day, a cell phone tower collapsed in Clarksburg, W.Va. Minutes later a second tower at the same Clarksburg site also fell. The collapse of these two towers resulted in the deaths of two workers and a firefighter responding to the scene, and sent two other employees to the hospital with serious injuries.

In the wake of recent train derailments and oil leaks, the oil and natural gas industry says it is working collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and America’s railroad industry to improve rail safety.
 

Protective clothing in the form of a day-and-night safety vest (with lots of pockets) and cut resistant gloves/impact resistant gloves that also offer comfort and dexterity were this week’s top EHS-related products featured on ISHN.com:

OSHA’s silica and injury/illness tracking proposals, the Kleen Energy plant explosion legacy and the dangers of indoor tanning were among the week’s top EHS-related stories featured on ISHN.com:

London has the healthiest workers while Wales fares the worst, according to a new UK health map based on data on a combination of lifestyle choices and clinical outcomes of 10,000 employees across the country.