Business & Industry Archives - Safety+Health Magazine

Washington state updates Janitorial Workload Calculator

S+H Staff — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:47:06 +0000

Tumwater, WA — An online tool designed to quantify the workload of janitorial jobs and evaluate workers’ musculoskeletal injury risk has been updated for use in large commercial and office building environments. The Janitorial Workload Calculator, developed by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, assesses musculoskeletal workload from repetitive motions, awkward postures, forceful […]

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OSHA will continue to target noise hazards in Chicago Region

S+H Staff — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:35:16 +0000

Chicago — OSHA recently extended a Regional Emphasis Program on noise hazards through the end of the year. The Chicago Region’s REP was initially set to expire May 31. “OSHA’s review of this REP shows success in identifying and targeting industries with hearing loss rates higher than the national average and encouraging employers to take […]

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OSHA updates VPP policy on safety and health management systems

S+H Staff — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:05:21 +0000

Washington — OSHA has updated its Voluntary Protection Programs policy document to include seven elements of safety and health management systems. The directive, which went into effect June 16, replaces one from January 2020 that listed four elements of SHMS. The seven elements, as described in the OSHA publications, Recommended Practices for Safety and Health […]

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MSHA cautions miners about ammonia exposure

S+H Staff — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:58:25 +0000

Washington — Miners shouldn’t solely rely on their sense of smell when continuously monitoring for ammonia, the Mine Safety and Health Administration emphasizes in a recent safety alert. A flammable, colorless gas, ammonia has multiple uses on mine sites, including for chemical processing, refrigeration systems, emissions and as a neutralizing agent. MSHA warns that exposure […]

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Roofing safety expert: Reinforcement of training is ‘the key to success’

Kevin Druley — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:18:11 +0000

Washington — With falls remaining a persistent risk among roofing workers, a recent webinar hosted by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training highlighted strategies for improving safety. During the May 8 event, instructor Matt Wittenborn and Trust Fund Field Director Joel Gonzalez of the Roofers and Waterproofers Research and Education Joint Trust […]

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Rhode Island lawmakers want to make assaulting rail transit workers a felony

S+H Staff — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:34:11 +0000

Providence, RI — Legislation recently introduced in Rhode Island would extend protection to rail transit workers who are assaulted on the job. Under current law, an “assault” is defined as “knowingly and willfully either striking or spraying with a noxious chemical, commonly used as a personal defense weapon, including Mace.” It covers a wide range […]

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NIST developing AI model to guide people to safest exits during a fire

S+H Staff — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:19:38 +0000

Gaithersburg, MD — A new artificial intelligence model is aimed at identifying – in real time – the safest evacuation routes for occupants in burning buildings. The model, known as Safe Step, was developed by a team led by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s intended to be used in “smart” […]

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House Appropriations Committee approves bill that would cut safety agency budgets

Alan Ferguson — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:29:30 +0000

Washington — The House Appropriations Committee has approved a bill that would reduce OSHA’s budget by more than 8% in fiscal year 2027 – a cut slightly deeper than what the Department of Labor has requested. Approved on June 9, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill would allocate $576.9 […]

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Survey shows that workers want mental health support from employers

S+H Staff — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:53:11 +0000

Arlington, VA — Despite strong demand for mental health-related training and resources, less than a third of employees receive any at work, results of a recent survey show. For its third annual StigmaFree Workplace Mental Health Survey, the National Alliance on Mental Illness collected responses from nearly 2,200 full-time workers at organizations with at least […]

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House hearing focuses on ‘emerging’ workplace safety concerns

Kevin Druley — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:19:12 +0000

Washington — Proposed White House budget cuts risk transforming OSHA into an “injury investigation agency instead of an agency that’s out there trying to proactively prevent injuries,” a former head of OSHA says. Doug Parker, now a health and safety policy consultant, was among a panel that testified during a May 13 House Workforce Protections […]

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