Archive for July 2020
COVID-19 pandemic reinforces need to protect workers from exposure to biological agents
A new report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) summarizes the outcomes of a major project to address workplace exposure to biological agents and the related health effects. Although it was carried out prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project’s findings are highly relevant given the current global situation. The…
Read MoreCities, OSHA crack down on COVID-19 jobsite violations
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge across some parts of the country, jurisdictions are cracking down on construction firms that don’t follow jobsite guidelines for social distancing, handwashing and other coronavirus-related precautions, according to Construction Dive. Many areas have given 30-day grace periods as businesses learned about the new rules, but now some building…
Read MoreOSHA cites Ohio nursing facilities for failing to fully implement respiratory programs to protect employees from Coronavirus
OSHA has cited healthcare company OHNH EMP LLC for violating respiratory protection standards following an inspection initiated after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees. OSHA inspected three OHNH EMP facilities in Ohio: Pebble Creek Healthcare Center in Akron, and Salem West Healthcare Center and Salem North Healthcare Center in Salem. OSHA cited…
Read MoreRecognize Safe + Sound Week, August 10-16, 2020
Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Why Participate? Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and…
Read MoreWithout infectious disease standards, staff, OSHA does few COVID inspections in Alabama
An agency legally mandated to protect worker safety in Alabama lacks an infectious disease standard and has conducted only a handful of onsite inspections following worker complaints about COVID-19, according to AL.com. As of July 6, Alabama’s OSHA office received 272 related worker safety complaints concerning COVID-19 and conducted seven on-site inspections. Of those COVID-19…
Read MorePharmacy workers are coming down with COVID-19. But they can’t afford to stop working.
As prescriptions surge, Walgreens and CVS employees say they need more protective gear, cleaning supplies and sick pay, according to an exclusive report by ProPublica. “Someone will come into work sick and there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” a pharmacist says. Pharmacy workers are on the front lines of the nation’s response to the…
Read MoreOccupational Health Professionals Urge Chemical Manufacturers to Protect the Health of their Workers
AIHA announces free educational guide and resources for chemical manufacturing industry An estimated 32 million employees in chemical manufacturing facilities are potentially exposed to one or more of the 650,000 chemical hazards, according to the US Department of Labor.1 To reduce health risks, AIHA, an association for occupational health and safety science professionals, announced the…
Read MoreSW Launches Bantam™ Brand to Address Glove Shortage
SW®, the leader in single-use glove manufacturing, R&D, and hand health technologies, announces the introduction of the new Bantam™ brand of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) gloves. The Bantam brand was developed to provide a quality single-use hand protection option in order to reserve nitrile and latex gloves, that are in short supply, for frontline mission-critical workers.…
Read MoreVirginia becomes first state to adopt COVID-19 worker safety rules
Virginia adopted statewide emergency workplace safety standards to deal with the coronavirus, making the state the first in the nation to implement such protection measures, according to The Hill. The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board voted on Wednesday to adopt the emergency temporary standard on infectious disease prevention, which were drafted under the direction…
Read MoreConsumer demand for environmental action has grown during COVID-19; many companies fear losing customers if they don’t meet commitments
A recent global survey shows 54 percent of sustainability leaders at apparel and textile brands say they’ve seen their customers’ demands for environmentally sustainable practices and products increase since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but 59 percent said they believe customers will still continue to prioritize price when making purchases. The U.S. Cotton Trust…
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