Hazards

Springfield, IL — A new Illinois law permits workers who have developed latent injuries or illnesses from on-the-job exposure to toxic substances to pursue legal judgments against employers beyond the previous statute of limitations.

Washington — Legislation that would direct OSHA to issue a standard requiring employers in health care and social services industries to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans was voted out of the House Education and Labor Committee on June 11, and now advances to the full House.

Boulder, CO — The amount of air pollutants in nail salons can make working in one comparable to working at an oil refinery or in an auto repair garage, according to a study from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Boston — A group of researchers from the Boston University schools of medicine and public health has developed what it calls a “fast, accurate and cost-effective approach” to test whether certain chemicals increase people’s cancer risk.

New York — A new law in New York City bans employers, labor organizations and employment agencies from testing job applicants for marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC – the active ingredient in marijuana.

Tampa, FL — A relatively small disruption in sleep routines could leave workers distracted during the next workday, according to the results of a recent study from the University of South Florida.

For millions of workers, the effects of sustained on-the-job exposure to vibration – whether hand-arm or whole-body – may lead to various health problems.

One of the biggest hurdles for teen workers is speaking up about potential hazards. “They’re trying to put their best foot forward and appear as adult and knowledgeable as possible,” one expert says.

Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta made his first appearance before the House Education and Labor Committee at a May 1 hearing exploring his department’s “policies and priorities.”

Impairment at work, whether from alcohol, marijuana or opioid use, is “a major roadblock to workplace safety, and the effects are more common than you think,” the National Safety Council says.