News

Tumwater, WA — Vapors from isopropyl alcohol solutions and disinfecting wipes can irritate workers’ eyes, nose and throat; cause dizziness and headaches; and build up in the air and easily ignite, warns a new hazard alert from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Here, we’ll look at the top violations issued by OSHA in FY 2020 in plastics and rubber products manufacturing (NAICS 326), personal and laundry services (NAICS 812), U.S. Postal Service (NAICS 491), and chemical manufacturing (NAICS 325).

Sacramento, CA — Revisions to California’s emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 have been adopted by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, ending a tumultuous process that nearly forced fully vaccinated workers to continue following mask and physical distance rules.

Albany, NY — Employers in New York state will be required to adopt a prevention plan to protect workers from the spread of airborne infectious diseases on the job, under a new state law.

Rain can reduce or impair your view of the road, the Nevada Department of Transportation points out. Combined with reduced tire traction on wet roadways, “It’s easy to see that driving in the rain needs to be treated with extra caution.”

New York — Fewer than 10% of the estimated 250,000 employees who contracted COVID-19 while on the job last year in New York state filed for workers’ compensation benefits, and fewer than 1% have received a hearing, according to a recent report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

Washington — A coalition of 10 aviation industry groups led by Airlines for America, a trade association of U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, is requesting that the Department of Justice “commit to the full and public prosecution of onboard acts of violence” by passengers against airline employees.

Peosta, IA — In response to a variety of stressors that continue to affect farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit AgriSafe Network has developed a mental health initiative intended to distribute resources and training materials aimed at mitigating stress.

Hartford, CT — Simply introducing healthier kids’ meal options to fast-food menus hasn’t led to improvements in children’s fast-food consumption, results of a recent study led by researchers from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut show.

Washington — OSHA has made available nearly $22 million in grants aimed at improving worker safety and health training.