Worker health and wellness

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Menomonee Falls, WI — It’s common knowledge that handwashing helps prevent the spread of germs in the workplace. But are people taking that message to heart? Not everyone, according to the results of a recent survey.

Sacramento, CA — California has become the first state to require professional cosmetics manufacturers to disclose ingredients – including hazardous chemicals – on their product labels.

As mental health in the workplace receives increased attention, what role – if any – should the safety professional play in gauging workers’ mental well-being? Is the question an overdue recognition of a major contributor to worker health and safety, or a distraction from the primary responsibilities of injury prevention?

Boston — Bagels and donuts during the breakfast meeting. Cake for birthday celebrations. Consuming extra food is a common occurrence for many workers. But before you grab that free donut, know this: Workplace snacks may be adding more than 1,000 calories to your daily diet.

Washington — A few days away from the office may help clear your head and leave you feeling more positive about work. But how long does that positivity last once you return? Not long at all, say about two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

Toronto — More than three-fourths of Canadian workers have missed time because of mental health concerns, with on-the-job stress the leading cause, according to a white paper from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and consulting firm Morneau Shepell.

London — Workers who experience depression may be less prone to miss work when managers show greater sensitivity to their mental health and well-being, recent research from the London School of Economics and Political Science shows.

Stockholm — Workers genetically predisposed to develop multiple sclerosis could face a greater risk if they are exposed to organic solvents or they smoke, a study recently published by the American Academy of Neurology shows.

Briarcliff Manor, NY — You’re at home with family in the evening when you receive an email notification. It’s from your boss. Do you respond? A new study finds that pressure to check work email from home can negatively affect your health, your relationship with your significant other, and his or her health.

Secaucus, NJ — Lyme disease is becoming more common outside the Northeast and more prevalent in the United States overall, a recent study by lab services provider Quest Diagnostics shows.