Research/Studies

Linz, Austria — Shift work may be associated with poorer memory and slower mental processing speed, as well as lower levels of alertness and visual focus, results of a recent study out of Austria suggest.

Boston — Construction workers are at increased risk of unintentionally tracking various toxic metals from the jobsite into their homes – potentially putting family members at risk, results of a recent study show.

St. Louis — Employees with severe alcohol use disorder miss more than twice as many workdays because of illness, injury or simply skipping work, researchers from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine say.

Gaithersburg, MD — Using an equation they derived while studying the “motion of a so-called torsional pendulum,” researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology have found a “surprising link” between the equation and the work of crane operators on construction sites.

Bloomington, IN — Stigma toward people with depression may be lessening in the workplace and other settings, results of a recent study by researchers from Indiana University and Pennsylvania State University suggest.

Washington — A third of teachers and nearly 2 out of 5 school administrators have experienced verbal harassment or threats of violence from students during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of a recent American Psychological Association survey show.

Aurora, CO — “Lack of recognition as frontline workers” adds emotional strain to the physical demands, staffing obstacles and COVID-19 concerns of workers who clean and sanitize health care facilities and equipment, results of a recent University of Colorado study suggest.

Secaucus, NJ — Paced by a continuing increase in marijuana positivity rates, the positive drug test rate for U.S. workers reached its highest level in two decades in 2021, according to an annual analysis conducted by lab services provider Quest Diagnostics.

Hartford, CT — More than 2 out of 5 workers have chosen to delay routine medical care since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as many report declines in physical health, mental health and social well-being.

Journal of Safety Research contributors talk about their work. This month: Researcher Nick Turner discusses why “the way you manage people is important and, in this case, it has effects for safety.”