Research/Studies

Washington – Portable radios used by firefighters may fail when exposed to high temperatures, putting firefighters at risk, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Phoenix – More than one-third of Americans believe most workers’ compensation claims are made by employees who do not want to work, according to a new poll commissioned by workers’ comp pharmacy provider Summit Pharmacy.

New Haven, CT – Obese workers cost the nation about $8.65 billion per year and miss more work than normal-weight workers, according to a recent study from Yale University.

Boston – Chasing and restraining suspects, in addition to other chaotic encounters, puts police officers at an approximately 30 percent to 70 percent higher risk of sudden cardiac death, suggests a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health and Cambridge Health Alliance.

Washington – Do truck drivers who use electronic logging devices to record their hours of service experience increased pressure from management to drive while fatigued?

Boston – Employees may be more likely to participate in workplace wellness programs if employers offer financial incentives, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School’s Department of Population Medicine.

Toulouse, France – Performing shift work for many years can result in diminished brain power, and a worker would need at least five years to recover, concludes a study from the University of Toulouse.

Indianapolis – Workers who use “walking workstations” reap both physical and mental health benefits, according to a new study.

Ames, IA – Severe crashes involving heavy trucks on Iowa roadways are more likely to occur during the early morning or midday hours, according to a study from Iowa State University’s Center for Transportation Research and Education.

Salt Lake City – Shift workers who eat high-iron foods at night may disrupt their liver’s circadian clock and experience abnormal blood glucose levels, indicates a new study from the University of Utah.