Workplace fatalities increased 2% in 2019 There were 5,333 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2019, a 2% increase from the 5,250 in 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, which was the rate reported in 2018. Key findings from the…
Cal/OSHA sued by group of businesses over updated COVID-19 prevention standards Businesses are suing the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) over updated coronavirus workplace safety rules, saying new mandates could cost them their businesses, according to ABC10. The National Retail Federation, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) along with small businesses Relles Florist, Mayfield Equipment Company,…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled on Dec 16th that employers are entitled — and required — to ensure a safe workplace in which “an individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of individuals in the workplace.” That can mean a company requiring its workforce to be vaccinated. There are certain restrictions on employers….
54% of Americans think employers should require COVID-19 vaccine “As the vaccination process begins, there are a lot of issues to consider. And the question as to what level of involvement employers should be taking is one of the hardest to navigate. In a survey of 2,000 adults in the U.S in November, Skyes, a solutions provider, asked if employers should require non-remote…
President-elect Joe Biden issued a 324-word statement on 12.29.20, the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He said he will ask OSHA to determine whether to establish an emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 protection, and stated: “I will direct OSHA to enforce worker safety requirements, target the worst violators, and work to increase the number of OSHA…
By Dave Johnson, Phylmar newsletter editor On October 14, the European Commission (EU), made up of 27 member states/countries, published details of a new chemical strategy to control the production of hazardous chemicals and related pollution by progressively restricting or banning their use in consumer goods. The rationale for “Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment” as stated in…
OSHA issues long-care respirator guidance OSHA issued respiratory protection guidance for assisted living, nursing home, and other long-term care facilities. The guidance focuses on the use of respirators while emphasizing a primary reliance upon engineering and administrative controls for controlling exposures, consistent with good industrial hygiene practice and the agency’s traditional adherence to the “hierarchy of controls.” The industrial hygiene “hierarchy of…
MIOSHA to launch a new state program to emphasize remote work for employees in the state Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan businesses and employees can expect a new program to encourage remote work, according to new station Fox25. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) will implement a state program on office work. Whitmer said if work can be done…
California resists naming and shaming of workplace COVID-19 cases unlike its northern neighbor California and Oregon were lauded for their early response to the pandemic, with swift and broad shutdowns aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus. In reopening their economies, both states imposed stringent requirements for masks and face coverings, according to The Coronado Times. But eight months into…
EPA: Waste generation far outpaced recycling in 2018 The U.S. recycling and composting rate took a significant dive in 2018, falling from 35% to 32%, according to new figures from the federal government., according to Resource Recycling. The U.S. EPA recently published national waste and recycling data for the 2018 calendar year. The agency found the U.S. generated 292 million short tons…