A guide is created providing examples of leading health metrics in the workplace.
By Shereen Hashem
May 14, 2021
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the association for scientists and professionals announced new guidelines for developing health metrics in the workplace. According to a press release, the leading health metrics guidelines are designed to prevent workplace illness and injury for workers to remain completely healthy.
“The focus on identifying measures that occur before worker’s health is harmed is critical to safeguarding worker health. AIHA hopes that these guidelines help employers create healthier workplaces and prevent occupational illness and injury in the first place,” said AIHA CEO Lawrence D. Sloan, CAE.
Cal/OSHA Releases FAQ Answering COVID-19 Questions for the Workplace
Vaccinated employees in California can come to work even if theyâre exposed to someone with the disease.
By Shereen Hashem
May 14, 2021
Cal/OSHA issued a highly anticipated FAQ allowing employers to clearly know whether or not they can exclude fully vaccinated people from the workplace if they were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Prior to the FAQ released, fully vaccinated employees in California were required to stay home from work if exposed to a person with the disease under Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) but not under the U.S. CDC guidance. According to an article, the conflict was challenging for employers because businesses lost workers whose risk of transmission of COVID-19 was incredibly low, according to the CDC. These exclusion requirements left implications with paid leave obligations under SB 95, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and ETS.
Batteries Might Prevent Workplace Injury
An associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh leads a study to show AA batteries can measure shoe tread wear, leading to slips and falls.
By Shereen Hashem
May 13, 2021
Workplace injuries and deaths have a huge economic impact on the U.S. costing billions of dollars. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), work injury costs totaled $170.8 billion in 2018. One of the top causes was slip-and-fall injuries – an accident that can be completely prevented with proper footwear.
A research study was conducted by The University of Pittsburgh’s Kurt Beschorner and others to predict the risk of a slip-and-fall injury based on shoe tread. They examined the impact of worn shoes on slipping and are working with the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Traumatic Injury Prevention Council to develop safety signage.
OSHA Cites Six Contractors for Exposing Employees to Fall and Other Hazards
$244,397 in penalties are distributed due to four willful and 35 serious violations for New Jersey, Pennsylvania companies.
By Shereen Hashem
May 13, 2021
Construction workers were put at risk of serious or fatal injuries to falls on the jobsite by six contractors building luxury single-family homes in Medford. The contractors failed to comply with federal requirements to prevent falls – the leading cause of death in the construction industry.
According to a press release, multiple site investigations were conducted by OSHA. The administration cited the companies for exposing the workers to falls and other safety hazards. OSHA initiated three of the inspections as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. During the first inspection on October 20, 2020, a compliance officer observed workers exposed to fall and other safety hazards.
Lawnwise Inc. did not pay its employees for any overtime work.
By Shereen Hashem
May 11, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation at a lawn care company located near Franklin, TN. Lawnwise Inc. paid $39,373 in back wages to 31 workers after it was found that the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Wage and Hour Division investigators found the company paid its workers a fixed salary plus commissions, regardless of the number of hours they worked each week. By doing so, the employer violated FLSA overtime requirements when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek where the employer failed to pay them overtime.