News

Lowell, MA – Overworked and stressed-out employees may turn to unhealthy habits to find comfort or cope, and they may lack the time and resources for exercise and cooking meals, according to two studies from the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Montpelier, VT – Vermont may be on track to become the fifth state in the nation to guarantee paid sick leave for workers.

London – In an effort to help protect health care workers who work with patients carrying the Zika virus, the journal BMJ has released a set of free online resources.

Washington – Hydrogen gas-cooled electric generators are used by many electric power plants, and employers should ensure the gas is properly purged before maintenance to minimize the risk of fatal flash fires, a new Safety and Health Information Bulletin from OSHA warns.

Washington – Oil and gas exploration employers need to “step up” protection for workers at their sites, a new OSHA-backed campaign urges.

Washington – State transportation departments must do more to ensure railroad crossing warning systems are properly interconnected with nearby traffic signals, the Federal Railroad Administration recently announced.

Washington – A new draft OSHA document outlines how employers can use an approach known as “weight of evidence” to assist in classifying hazardous chemicals.

Washington – The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health’s Emergency Response and Preparedness Subcommittee is scheduled to meet Feb. 24-25 to discuss pieces of OSHA’s proposed rule on emergency response and preparedness.

Philadelphia – Financial penalties are more effective at helping workers reach physical activity goals than monetary rewards in a wellness program, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.

Washington – OSHA has rescheduled an informal public hearing intended to gather more input on the agency’s proposed rule on beryllium.