Labor

Washington – OSHA fines will increase for the first time in a quarter century, under a provision in the recently signed congressional budget deal.

Sacramento, CA – The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has proposed a new regulation that aims to protect health care industry employees from workplace violence.

Chicago – Surgical smoke is a serious and preventable hazard that affects thousands of health care workers every year, according to a NIOSH study presented Nov. 3 at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting.

Washington – OSHA has updated its hazard communication webpage to include easier access to topics on the agency’s revised standard.

Washington – A recently released safety alert from the National Grain and Feed Association aims to help protect workers from grain engulfments and other hazards.

Dallas – Citing the increased risk of injury and illness among poultry workers, OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program focusing on the poultry industry in four southern states.

Washington – OSHA will delay enforcing a new interpretation of its Process Safety Management Standard, prompting a bipartisan group of lawmakers to call for the agency to withdraw that interpretation.

Cincinnati – Rates of occupational injury and illness from pesticides are much higher among agricultural workers than workers in other industries, according to NIOSH research.

Silver Spring, MD – The American Nurses Association is calling for all registered nurses to receive the seasonal flu vaccination and to encourage their patients to get vaccinated.

Quincy, MA – A newly funded research project aims to determine if current methods are sufficient for removing toxins from firefighters’ personal protective equipment.