S+H Staff

London — Although many employees “clearly benefited from the increased flexibility and other benefits” provided by remote work arrangements amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many others “found it to be challenging, with poor work-life balance and the inability to connect socially with colleagues,” according to a new research report from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the House and Senate is aimed at improving working conditions and whistleblower protections in the meat and poultry processing industry.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public comment on a draft Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 systematic review protocol intended to “strengthen EPA’s approach to reviewing and selecting the scientific studies that are used to inform TSCA chemical risk evaluations.”

Washington — OSHA is reminding employers to submit their 2021 Form 300A by March 2.

Washington — The AFL-CIO and National Nurses United are part of a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Labor and OSHA, petitioning a federal court to direct the agency to issue a permanent standard on COVID-19 focused on health care workers.

Boston — A recent study of former athletes who participated in contact sports shows that more than 7 out of 10 experienced significant brain injuries over their lifetime, and almost as many endured dementia before dying.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council, in collaboration with NORC at the University of Chicago and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has launched a survey to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted employee mental health, substance use and employee assistance program use.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, in collaboration with OSHA, will allow select pork-processing facilities – on a trial basis – to operate at increased line speeds for up to one year while gathering data that “measures the impact of line speed on workers.”

Silver Spring, MD — To help assess and quantify human-robot interaction safety hazards on construction worksites, a recently published report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training details a newly developed practical process and includes tools for practitioners.

Washington — Knowing how to select, use and maintain NIOSH-approved respirators can help promote proper respiratory protection practices and protect construction workers from unsafe airborne contaminants, according to a new toolbox talk published by the agency and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.