Hazards

Olympia, WA — The deaths of 11 landscaping services workers in a five-year period has prompted a hazard alert from the Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program.

Scottsdale, AZ — Scrolling on your phone at bedtime may lead to decreased energy and attentiveness at work the next day, results of a recent survey suggest.

Cincinnati — A recent series of reports from NIOSH details the agency’s “immediately dangerous to life or health” values for three chemical substances commonly found on worksites.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants feedback as it considers revising a final rule requiring “robust worker safety programs” that protect against carbon tetrachloride, a carcinogenic chemical substance.

Waltham, MA — California’s heat regulations have led to fewer work-related injuries on hot days, according to the results of a recent study conducted by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Saint Paul, MN — After investigating recent deaths involving permit-required confined spaces, Minnesota OSHA has adopted a Local Emphasis Program focused on protecting workers in transportation tank cleaning operations.

Washington — Aiming to help protect workers and volunteers before, during and after hurricanes or floods, NIOSH has published an updated guidance document featuring key resources and messaging.

Washington — Independent owner-operator truckers must participate in Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing programs but aren’t required to complete supervisor reasonable suspicion training because “they do not supervise anyone,” the agency says.

Houston — A new research initiative from the University of Houston and Underwriters Laboratories is set to examine potential toxic emissions from small-scale lithium-ion battery manufacturing.

Washington — Tens of thousands of workplace injuries a year are linked to hotter temperatures, according to a recent study out of Harvard University and George Washington University.