Workplace Solutions

Pittsburgh — NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory has marked Sept. 7-10 as its annual Respiratory Protection Week, an event intended to promote proper respiratory protection practices through the sharing of related research findings and educational tools.

Washington — NIOSH is partnering with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine on a survey focusing on employer efforts related to workplace testing for COVID-19.

Washington — OSHA’s recent citation of a Boston contractor includes the first egregious violation issued under the Biden administration, acting agency administrator Jim Frederick confirmed Aug. 18.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has issued an emergency rule that increases protections for workers exposed to unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke.

Washington — NIOSH has extended until Oct. 15 the comment period on a Request for Information on personal protective equipment use, availability, accessibility, acceptability and knowledge for “underserved” workers, according to a notice published in the Aug. 16 Federal Register.

Washington — NIOSH has finalized the beta version of an online software tool designed to provide post-shift assessments of mine worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Columbia, MD — Seven health care organizations are calling on hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities to mandate COVID-19 vaccination among personnel.

Quick quiz: Your vehicle is in the middle of an intersection when you see and hear an ambulance approaching. What should you do? Stop, or keep driving through?

In Episode 18, the S+H editorial team discusses the pros and cons of safety incentives, along with OSHA’s evolving stance on the topic. Also: Transportation safety expert Brian Hammer answers our questions about road safety, as more workers begin to commute to their workplace again.

Washington — A group of Senate Democrats is urging the Department of Labor and OSHA to move forward on a federal standard to protect workers exposed to excessive heat.