Tag: illness

Carcinogens and cancer

Carcinogens in the Workplace: Considerations for EHS

Right now, the biggest safety and health concern is the COVID-19 pandemic and workplace exposures to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, you still need to be aware of the occupational health hazards of workplace carcinogens.

COVID-19 safety inspection

COVID-19 Enforcement: A Guide for EHS Professionals

Will workplace safety and health inspectors show up at your facility if workers contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and one of them files a complaint? Yes; in fact, it’s already happened.

Coronavirus

Cal/OSHA Issues Guidance on Coronavirus

On February 3, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued interim guidance covering the safety and health requirements when providing care for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and laboratories testing samples for the pathogen.

Coronavirus rendering

Coronavirus: What EHS Professionals Need to Know

Media reports of a respiratory illness caused by a newly discovered coronavirus are pervasive and relentless. How concerned should employers be about infections at your workplace or jobsite?

Valley Fever, Coccidioidomycosis

California Now Requires Valley Fever Training

Construction firms and other employers in California must begin training employees in Valley fever risks and control measures under a new state law. Employers must offer initial worker training by May 1, 2020.

Flu season ahead

Could Machine Learning and Wearables Improve Flu Forecasting?

The effort to curtail the impact of influenza just got a shot in the arm with a research award from a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to a company that’s testing a machine learning model to improve flu forecasts based on data gathered from wearable devices.

Legionella bacteria

Legionella Prevention for EHS Managers: Watch Your Water System

Last week, the Ford Motor Company reported that trace amounts of Legionella bacteria were found in the water system at their flagship Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan. According to the report, the bacteria was discovered “in three locations across the plant—including two bathrooms and the medical department.”  Rather than shut the entire plant down, Ford […]

Measles in the news

Measles and Workplace Safety

With the current measles outbreak making news daily across the country, employers are wondering what they can do to protect their workers. Can you require your employees to be vaccinated against measles? What should you do if you learn one of your employees has a case of measles?

Lung disease, COPD

CDC Notes COPD May Be Caused by Workplace Exposures

Researchers have found a prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among nonsmoking workers in the information industry and in office and administrative occupations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).