Hazards

Laws and attitudes are changing rapidly regarding medical marijuana, which has been legalized by nearly half of the states in the country. But each state’s law varies, leaving more questions than answers when it comes to employers with safety-sensitive positions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced July 11 that it had immediately stopped shipment of biological materials – pending review from an advisory committee – after incidents of anthrax exposure and shipment of bird flu.

Washington – NIOSH on Aug. 19 released a brochure with advice on how truck drivers can achieve better sleep while on the road or at home.

Atlanta – An investigation into a bird flu incident found that a laboratory scientist hurried through work and did not follow best practices, leading to contamination of samples and inadvertent shipment of bird flu, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chicago – Working near a window could improve an employee’s sleep and overall quality of life, suggests a study from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Washington – As part of a campaign to help prevent skin cancer, Acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak on Aug. 13 shared tips on how outdoor workers and employers can protect against sun damage.

Washington – At least 83 workers in the United States died between 2003 and 2010 because of incidents involving insects, arachnids and mites, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington – A new notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service outlines procedures for agency inspection personnel on notifying OSHA when they observe workplace hazards.

Oxford, England – Drugs taken by shift workers to help them stay awake on the job or go to sleep after work offer few benefits, according to a study from the Cochrane Occupational Safety and Health Review Group.