News

Chicago — Health care workers commonly carry respiratory viruses on their hands, clothing and personal protective equipment after administering care to patients, accentuating the need to practice “complete hand hygiene and use other PPE to prevent dissemination,” results of a recent study suggest.

San Francisco — Some call it “soda.” Others prefer “pop.” In the South, it’s largely “Coke.” Whatever your name for sugary soft drinks, simply saying “no” to selling them in workplaces may help employees experience positive health outcomes such as weight loss and reduced cholesterol, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco say.

Washington — Effective Dec. 10, OSHA has updated its National Emphasis Program on amputations in manufacturing industries to “identify and reduce or eliminate” amputation-related hazards.

Chapel Hill, NC — Unlike most prep athletes, high school cheerleaders are more likely to suffer concussions during practice than in competition, results of a recent study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina show.

Washington — Surface coal miners, especially those who work in drilling, may be exposed to higher concentrations of respirable dust or quartz. This puts them at elevated risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis – a deadly but preventable disease known as black lung, results of a recent NIOSH study show.

Birmingham, England — Your older, used makeup could make you sick, researchers are warning after a recent study of used beauty products showed up to 90% were contaminated with potentially dangerous “superbug” germs.

Washington — A total of 5,250 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2018 – a 2% increase from 2017 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,657 were recorded in 2007, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 17 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Manchester, England — Walking speed is the strongest predictor of a stoke victim’s ability to return to work, with about 3 feet per second the “critical threshold,” say researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Washington — OSHA is in line for a $24 million funding increase as part of a federal budget agreement that passed in the House on Dec. 17.

Washington — NIOSH has published a fact sheet intended to help prevent taxi drivers from becoming victims of robbery and violence on the job.