Workplace exposures

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Silver Spring, MD — Claiming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is “once again responding to political pressures from those desperate to remove any safety protocols during this deadly pandemic that is still causing unacceptable numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths every day,” the nation’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses is calling on the agency to reverse its most recent COVID-19 guidance.

Washington — Citing the increased circulation of airborne viruses when temperatures drop, “indoor air quality in the workplace during cold weather is especially critical,” OSHA says in a new alert.

In the aftermath of devastating weather events, tens of thousands of storm recovery workers respond. A wide variety of potential hazards await.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of OSHA's emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking, with a 6-3 decision Jan. 13. In response, the agency withdrew its ETS on Jan. 26.

Washington — Evaluating and controlling hazards that stem from preservative coatings during hot work on maritime vessels is the subject of a new fact sheet from OSHA.

Boston — Common types of N95 respirators – widely used by health care professionals providing direct care to patients with COVID-19 – can be safely reprocessed up to 25 times to help augment supplies during future pandemics, results of a recent study by Boston researchers suggest.

Los Angeles — Nearly a quarter of the fast-food workforce in Los Angeles County tested positive for COVID-19 during the first 18 months of the pandemic, a likely result of adverse working conditions and shaky compliance with safety measures, a recent report from the University of California, Los Angeles and UC Berkeley suggests.

Montpellier, France — Long-term exposure to formaldehyde may contribute to cognitive impairment in older age, according to a recent study out of France.

Washington — Proposed legislation would create funding for health care and other benefits for coal miners who have black lung disease by extending, for 10 years, a recently expired excise tax rate increase on coal production.

New York — More than half of nurses in a recent survey say they had trouble sleeping during the first six month of the COVID-19 pandemic – a risk factor for increased feelings of anxiety and depression.