Chicago — Physicians contracted by mine operators to review chest X-rays of coal miners who file “totally debilitating disease” workers’ compensation claims with the Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program may have a bias strongly related to financial conflict of interest, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago suggest.

Washington — OSHA on April 26 submitted for review to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a draft of an emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19 – one of the final steps before the ETS can be published in the Federal Register.

This week, in honor of Workers’ Memorial Day, Dave Trumble, National Safety Council Labor Division member and past Distinguished Service to Safety Award winner, shares a story on the NSC “Safety First” blog about how at-work fatalities can permanently impact workplace culture, and the role training and labor advocates play in keeping workers safe on the job.

Atlanta — Prompted by available data and studies that show the risk of contracting COVID-19 via contact with surfaces is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is relaxing its exposure-prevention guidance on cleaning and disinfecting.

Washington — OSHA is requiring the recording of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines only when vaccination is required by the employer, the agency says in an addition to its series of frequently asked questions on protecting workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Experts share with Safety+Health their observations on foot protection.

“Connectivity is reshaping our world, personally and professionally,” Shane McEwen, global product marketing manager at Blackline Safety, told Safety+Health. “Where safety has traditionally lagged behind other industries in embracing connectivity, the landscape has shifted in recent years to widely integrate connectivity into safety operations.”

How do safety pros feel about the current job market? Has the COVID-19 pandemic raised the profile of the profession? Safety+Health presents the results of its annual Job Outlook survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new hurdles for workers in recovery or seeking help for opioid misuse.

"There's confusion out there on exactly what the term 'competent' means and who qualifies as a competent person," one expert says.