Hazards

Washington – Several final and proposed OSHA rules – including a long-delayed update to the beryllium rule – are expected to be published in the next few months, according to the agency’s spring regulatory agenda, released May 21.

Despite the downward trend in workplace fatalities, safety advocates are calling for stepped-up efforts to protect workers.

In 2012, slips, trips and falls resulted in 704 work-related deaths and roughly 220,000 cases with days away from work, according to the 2015 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”

The National Safety Council states that overdoses -- mostly from prescription opioid painkillers such as Vicodin, Oxycontin and morphine -- are the leading cause of unintentional death among adults ages 25-64.

Washington – NIOSH has announced the launch of a consortium to expand guidance and research on occupational health and safety related to nanotechnology.

Washington – Federal workplace drug-testing programs could include new and revised guidelines as part of recently proposed rules from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Washington – As hot weather approaches, OSHA is placing potentially lifesaving information at outdoor workers’ fingertips.

Washington – Safe patient-handling interventions are needed in health care facilities to help protect workers from career-ending injuries, the American Nurses Association and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) stated during a May 12 briefing on Capitol Hill.

Albany, NY – A series of eye-opening investigative in The New York Times has led to a harsh crackdown on the nail-salon industry by the state’s top politician.

Washington – Watchdog group Public Citizen is urging the Office of Management and Budget to complete a review of OSHA’s proposed standard on beryllium and open the rule for public comment.