Tumwater, WA — Employers in Washington state with a suspended minor work permit are prohibited from bidding on public works projects, under a recently enacted state law. Employers in the state are required to have a minor work permit endorsement on their business license before hiring workers younger than 18. They also must follow state […]
Washington — Construction Suicide Prevention Week, an outreach event aimed at addressing a growing issue in the industry, is set for Sept. 14-18. Scheduled during National Suicide Prevention Month, the week includes a national stand-down and moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 14 to honor all lives lost to suicide. Data from […]
Triangle, VA — United Mine Workers of America President Brian Sanson is pressing the Mine Safety and Health Administration to immediately resume enforcement of the agency’s rule limiting miner exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Sanson cites recent NIOSH research showing that nearly 1 in 3 coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia with at […]
Washington — A Chemical Safety Board final report on a fatal August 2025 explosion at a coking plant emphasizes the importance of ensuring that facility buildings are designed to protect people and contents during incidents. The report details the incident, which occurred at the U.S. Steel Clairton (PA) Coke Works Facility. CSB investigators found that […]
Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would guarantee federal employees paid family and medical leave. Federal workers currently have access to paid parental leave under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (H.R. 1534), signed into law in 2019. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) was the main sponsor of that bill and is the main […]
Chesterfield, MO — As part of their efforts to help employers “build healthier workforces from the ground up,” the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine have released a guide. “Employers are uniquely positioned to accelerate the health of their workforce – and their dependents – through lifestyle […]
Silver Spring, MD — Chronic pain affects nearly 20% of construction workers, according to new data from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, which examines chronic health conditions experienced by construction workers. “Pain is associated with opioid use among construction workers and is of great concern due to the disproportionately high overdose […]
Washington — Federal prosecutors have indicted four former managers of an Illinois coal mine for allegedly concealing a fire and attempting to interfere with a Mine Safety and Health Administration investigation. An Aug. 6 announcement from the Department of Justice states that Cory Humphrey, Ronald Koontz, Demitrios Macropoulos and Randy Nowland have been charged with […]
Getting enough sleep is an age-old foundation for good health. Now, a new analysis shows that long-standing recommended sleep ranges have stood the test of time. Researchers from the National Sleep Foundation recently examined more than 3,200 sleep-related studies published since the organization released updated sleep recommendations in 2015. The findings? “A decade of new […]
Bootle, England — Managers and supervisors who take action early to address stress can help prevent burnout and other mental health-related issues, the Health and Safety Executive says in a new video. In the video, Taking Action Early to Prevent Work-Related Stress, the United Kingdom government working group says that feeling pressure at work is […]
Washington — Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has once again introduced legislation that would ban the commercial and industrial use of asbestos, but this time he has Republican support. Introduced Aug. 4, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 (S. 5235) is co-sponsored by Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), chair of the Senate Chemical Safety, […]
Lansing, MI — Alarmed by the more than 20 workplace deaths recorded in the state so far this year, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging employers and workers to focus on hazard recognition, training and incident prevention. “Every workplace death is a tragedy, and recent incidents are a reminder that conditions can […]
Washington — Steve Dowling is the new chief safety officer at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In an Aug. 10 press release, the agency says that Dowling, who will help direct FMCSA’s safety programs and initiatives, brings to the position more than 35 years of experience focused on enhancing commercial motor vehicle safety. He […]