Safety Tips

We’ve all heard that adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep a day. Missing out on good sleep can negatively affect your productivity, cognitive performance, vigilance, accuracy and judgment.

Do you ever get distracted by your cellphone when walking? Is your workspace cluttered and messy? Do you barge out of your workstation without looking to see if a coworker is passing?

Hazards are all around us. Although some are easy to see, many are not. The trick is learning to spot the hidden hazards.

Washington — The rate of overdose deaths among workers rose 24% annually over a recent six-year period, with heroin and opioids the most common contributors, results of a new NIOSH study show.

Portland, OR — Episodes of agitated student behavior – including verbal abuse of fellow students and teachers, as well as physical acts such as hitting, weaponizing school supplies, and destroying school or student property – may foster a “disrupted learning environment” that puts teachers’ safety and health at risk, according to a recent report from the Oregon Education Association.

Silver Spring, MD — The American Nurses Association, in partnership with the U.S. Public Health Service chief nurse officer and the University of North Carolina and University of Washington schools of nursing, has launched a campaign with initiatives that include addressing industry concerns such as workplace violence and safe and appropriate staffing levels.

Arlington, VA — Concerned about truck drivers sharing the roads with passenger vehicle drivers who are under the influence of marijuana in states where recreational and medicinal use is legal, the American Transportation Research Institute has released a report detailing methods to identify and deter impaired driving.

Washington — The Department of Transportation has issued a final rule, effective immediately, that makes minor technical corrections to regulations governing drug tests for workers in safety-sensitive jobs.

Bleach is a chemical that is diluted and used as a cleaning agent to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Handling bleach requires caution and care because it’s corrosive, which means it can irritate or burn the skin and eyes, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

On the day of the incident, a 52-year-old foreman employed by a roadway painting and safety company was killed when he was struck by a car.