S+H Staff

Washington — The Senate has confirmed Julie Su as deputy labor secretary, after a 50-47 vote on July 13.

Washington — Registration is open for the fifth annual Safe + Sound Week, a national initiative of OSHA, NIOSH and a coalition of safety organizations – including the National Safety Council.

Boston — Guests at children’s birthday parties may have come bearing more than gifts during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, results of a recent study led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the RAND Corp. show.

Toronto — Findings over the past decade – including the results of case studies in the past two to three years – have strengthened the link between the lung disease sarcoidosis and on-the-job exposures to, most notably, silica and silicates, dust from the World Trade Center, and metals, according to a recent research review.

Washington — Responding to recent Executive Orders and directives from the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced changes to chemical risk evaluation policies under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to “position EPA to move forward with actions to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way that is supported by science and the law.”

Washington — NIOSH has planned a series of free, confidential health screenings for current and former coal miners via the agency’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is scheduled to meet Aug. 11.

Fort Collins, CO — Birds chirping, the babble of a river or stream, and the countless other sounds of nature can provide health benefits and stress relief, results of a recent study from the National Park Service show.

Silver Spring, MD — At least 12 sanitation workers suffered fatal injuries on the job during the first six months of the year – a 57.1% decrease from the same period in 2020, according to a recent analysis conducted by the Solid Waste Association of North America.

Chicago — Although a growing number of employers are purchasing air purifiers as part of reopening their workplaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one type of the technology might not be as effective as advertised, results of a recent study show.