Labor

Washington – OSHA has released two new fact sheets: one on preventing Zika virus exposure in biomedical laboratory workers and the other on evaluating Shipyard Competent Person programs.

Washington – The Mine Safety and Health Administration will be gathering suggestions and comments on planned improvements to the Mine Data Retrieval System, as well as its new search page for health and safety materials, as part of a public webinar scheduled for Oct. 19.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has put on hold until June 2 the effective date of a final rule intended to improve pre-shift examinations of metal and non-metal mines.

Hong Kong – Night shift workers are at an increased risk of becoming obese or overweight, according to new research by Chinese and Dutch scientists.

Washington – OSHA is scheduled to lead a public meeting on Nov. 14 in advance of the 34th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Ann Arbor, MI – “You learn something new every day,” an old adage suggests. And people who apply that saying at work may be more effective at dealing with stress than their co-workers who take coffee breaks, walk or listen to music to relax on the job, according to researchers at the University of Michigan.

Washington – Adults with occupational asthma face a higher risk of developing pneumococcal disease, but only 54 percent of them are vaccinated to help ward off an infection, according to a new study from NIOSH.

Philadelphia – Staffing agencies that hire temporary workers need to be regulated more vigorously, and employers that use those agencies should carry a heavier load of responsibility for workers’ safety, a trio of Temple University law students concluded in a recent report examining how staffing agencies and host employers may “pass the buck” to get around proper safety training and other requirements.

Washington – Concerned about the pace at which OSHA is hiring new inspectors, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is requesting information on the agency’s staffing levels.

Atlanta – About 79 percent of health care providers received an influenza vaccination during the 2016-2017 flu season, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.