Labor

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a drill entanglement safety alert to call attention to safe practices and the importance of equipment maintenance.

Washington – Exposure to low levels of methane and other combustible gases can lead to “catastrophic” consequences for helicopters traveling to and from offshore oil and gas platforms, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement recently cautioned.

Bologna, Italy – Occupational safety and health professionals have underemphasized the significance of exposures to vapors, gases, dusts and fumes that may lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in workers, international scientific academy Collegium Ramazzini claims in a statement released July 19.

Minneapolis – People with chronic low back pain are more likely to use illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota.

Richmond, VA – Virginia experienced 29 workplace-related fatalities in the first seven months of 2016, eight of which occurred in July alone, according to the state’s Department of Labor and Industry.

Baton Rouge, LA – Service industry workers in Louisiana report a higher prevalence of poor health, chronic health conditions, and risk factors such as smoking and binge drinking than all other workers in the state, according to an analysis conducted by the state’s Occupational Health and Injury Surveillance Program.

Blacksburg, VA – Employee anxiety over management’s expectations for monitoring email during non-work hours causes “anticipatory stress” that can negatively impact worker well-being and job performance, according to research from Virginia Tech.

Washington – OSHA has established an interim citation policy regarding concentrations of chemicals listed in Appendix A of the Process Safety Management Standard, according to a recent memorandum issued to regional administrators and State Plan designees.

Durham, NC – Many people begin to experience physical decline when they are in their 50s, indicating a need to work on maintaining or improving strength and endurance earlier in life, according to a new study from Duke University.

Washington – The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has scheduled a public forum to discuss critical offshore equipment failures.