Hazards

Rochester, MN – Health care workers who wear lead aprons for protection in radiology departments and interventional laboratories such as cardiac catheterization labs face a higher risk of musculoskeletal pain, indicates a recent study from the Mayo Clinic.

Washington – The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health has scheduled a public meeting on March 31 and April 1 to discuss a proposed revision to OSHA’s crane operator qualification requirement.

Washington – Workers at some dry-cleaning businesses do not wear proper personal protective equipment and as a result are exposed to cleaning solvents, according to a NIOSH report.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has extended to April 30 the deadline for public comment on its proposed rule on using the chemical compound toluene diisocyanate.

Washington – Employees who work with stone countertops are at risk of crystalline silica exposure, and employers should take steps to protect them, OSHA and NIOSH stated Feb. 18 in a joint hazard alert.

Research has linked shift work to various health issues. Scientists have been exploring the dietary intake of these workers to find out why shift work is harmful.

Although the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on U.S. highways has decreased, more drivers are now using marijuana and prescription drugs, according to two recent studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More than 4 in 10 workers would worry about safety if a colleague reported having a mental illness, according to a study from Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

A preventive exercise program may help poultry slaughterhouse workers reduce pain from musculoskeletal disorders, according to a study from the University of Bologna in Italy.

Disease management programs can help lower employer costs and reduce hospital stays for workers who have certain health conditions, including asthma, musculoskeletal disorders and congestive heart failure, a recent study from the University of Minnesota indicates.