Labor

Tucker, GA – The U.S. Poultry Foundation, part of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, is seeking proposals on a study to monitor worker exposure to antimicrobials used during poultry processing.

Washington – A chemical compound used to make high-tech products such as flat-panel displays, solar panels and energy-efficient windows may put workers at risk of developing a potentially fatal respiratory condition called indium lung disease, according to a recent study from NIOSH.

Atlanta – Productive aging is about minimizing losses and maximizing growth. That was the message from James Grosch, NIOSH Center for Productive Aging and Work co-director and research psychologist, during a Sept. 27 webinar, “Productive Aging and Work: Theory, Health Data & Practical Solutions” – part of the NIOSH Total Worker Health webinar series.

Emmitsburg, MD – An estimated 66,200 firefighter were injured on the job from 2012 to 2014, and a vast majority (87 percent) of those injuries occurred in structure fires, according to data published in the August edition of the “Topical Fire Report Series” from the U.S. Fire Administration.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration is urging miners to exercise extreme caution in and around vacuum trucks because of potentially life-threatening hazards, according to a safety alert released Sept. 27.

Beginning in late October, prospective federal contractors will be required to disclose previous labor-law violations. Not surprisingly, pro-industry supporters and worker advocates are divided over the regulation’s potential impact.

Washington – Should first-year medical residents be allowed to work shifts longer than 16 hours? The vast majority of respondents to a recent poll say “no.”

Oklahoma City – Jonnie Yvonne Vasquez occasionally needed to lift shoe boxes as part of her job at a department store in Oklahoma.One day, as she lifted boxes, Vasquez injured her neck and shoulder. Soon after, she filed claims for benefits. But her employer had opted out of traditional workers’ compensation, as it was entitled to do by state law, and denied Vasquez’s claims for treatment.

Austin, TX – Overweight and obese workers are more likely to incur high workers’ compensation costs related to major injuries, according to research from the University of Texas at Austin.

Washington – In a move to address so-called “midnight rules,” Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee have sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez requesting a list of regulations and other guidance the Department of Labor intends to release by the end of President Barack Obama’s second and final term.