Workplace Solutions

Richmond, VA — Less than two weeks after Virginia became the first state to approve an emergency temporary standard (16 VAC 25-220) to protect workers from COVID-19, the standard has gone into effect.

In women-dominated industries such as health care, as well as those in which women aren’t well represented, including construction and the trades, female workers are facing unique challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding fall protection, should we focus on the latest “gadgets” or the basic hierarchy of addressing the risk of gravity?

When selecting protective eyewear, most higher-quality options have various features and upgrades, including impact re-sistance, anti-fog technology, ultraviolent resistance and polarized lenses. What do each of these technologies provide and why should workers want them in their safety glasses?

What best practices can employers follow to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 inside confined spaces?

The next time you fuel up at a gas station, consider this: Most pump handles contain 11,000 times more germs than a toilet seat in a public restroom. And the keypad on the pump? The buttons typically have 15,000 times more germs than a public toilet seat, according to a tip sheet from KeepTruckingSafe.org.

Heat-related illnesses accounted for 783 worker deaths and nearly 70,000 serious injuries in the United States from 1992 to 2016. And in 2018 alone, 3,950 workers experienced days away from work as a result of nonfatal injuries and illnesses from on-the-job heat exposure.

Washington — In an effort to help health care facilities maintain their supplies of personal protective equipment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a reference table that summarizes strategies employers can adopt to “optimize” PPE.

Silver Spring, MD — Three new resources from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training are intended to help prevent silica exposure among construction and surface mining workers who operate mobile equipment in enclosed cabs.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA, along with the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, has published a 25-page guidance document intended to help employers safely return workers to office settings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.