Evaluation Community of Practice: Disaster Training Evaluation Webinar Available on WTP Website

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program (WTP) hosted an Evaluation Community of Practice call with several grant recipients on December 14, 2023. The call resulted in a simplified disaster logic model that more clearly defines inputs and objectives of disaster preparedness and response training. The recording of the webinar and the simplified logic model are now available on the WTP website.

Webinar Recording

Barbara Rahke, Labor Organizer Who Changed the Face of The United Autoworkers, Dies At 75

Barbara Rahke died in her home on February 1, 2024, from coronary artery disease, her stepdaughter said. She was 75. In 1979, she led a successful unionizing campaign of Boston University secretaries and librarians. That campaign was the beginning of Rahke’s career as a labor organizer who transformed the face of the United Autoworkers, one of the nation’s largest unions, empowered women through workers’ rights struggles, and mentored countless women organizers. Later, she revived Philadelphia’s worker safety organization, the Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health (PhilaPOSH) expanding its reach to some of the most vulnerable workers.

The Philadelphia Inquirer [Author: Juliana Feliciano Reyes]

What Is Temu, The Company Made Famous in Super Bowl Ads?

Temu is a shopping app that promises low priced versions of everything from sneakers to jewelry to drones. According to a June 2023 report, there are concerns about the potential use of forced labor in the company’s supply chain. The company told investigators from the U.S. House of Representatives that it does not explicitly prohibit sellers on the platform from using suppliers based on their origin in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, an area known for the exploitation of Muslim-minority Uyghurs in forced labor. According to the report, Temu does not have any system to ensure compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

ABC News [Author: Max Zahn]

The CDC May Be Reconsidering Its COVID Isolation Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may soon drop its isolation guidance for people with COVID-19. Currently, people who test positive are advised to stay home for at least five days to reduce the chances of spreading the coronavirus to others, but the new guidance suggest that the agency will advise people to rely on symptoms instead. If a person doesn't have a fever and the person's symptoms are mild or resolving, they could still go to school or work. These changes could come as early as April.

NPR [Author: Pien Huang]

Practical AI for OH&S: Understanding and Application

This webinar cuts through the complexity, offering a straightforward explanation of artificial intelligence (AI) and its practical applications for occupational health and safety (OH&S). In addition, the speaker will discuss the challenges and considerations of integrating AI into OH&S practices. Key topics include understanding the data lifecycle necessary for effective AI deployment and the importance of robust governance in ensuring ethical and efficient use of AI in safety contexts. The webinar will take place on February 22, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET.

Event Registration

EPA's Final Rule for Oil and Natural Gas Operations: Webinar Trainings

In December 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule that will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, including from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide. The EPA is hosting several webinars on different aspects of the final rule. The webinar on February 27, 2024, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET will be geared towards small business and industry. The webinar on February 28, 2024, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET is for Tribes and Tribal environmental professionals. The webinar on February 29, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. ET is for communities.

Event Registration and Information

Entering the Next Generation of Incident Prevention: 5 Safety Leading Trends to Watch

This webinar will delve into cutting-edge strategies for proactive workplace safety. It will explore innovative approaches, harnessing data-driven insights to identify and mitigate potential risks. Speakers will discuss the forefront of incident prevention, from game-changing AI technology to predictive analytics to next-level contractor prevention. The webinar will take place on February 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET.

Event Registration

Concealing Infectious Illnesses at Work Common, Study Shows

Around 3 out of 4 workers have kept quiet when they’ve had an illness that could infect their co-workers, according to a recent study. Of the health care workers, 61% didn’t speak about an illness, took active steps to hide it, incorrectly used a mandatory app-based health screening tool at least once and/or intended to conceal future illnesses. The motivation, according to the researchers, is that people with an infectious illness are often socially excluded. They’re also focused on achievement-oriented goals, such as completing work projects and objectives. Few of the participants said workplace policies, such as a lack of paid time off, were a factor.

Safety + Health Magazine

When and Why People Conceal Infectious Disease

US Army To Begin Excavating Up To 300 Tons of Contaminated Soil at Former Missile Plant in Burlington

The Army Environmental Command this month is scheduled to begin excavating as much as 300 tons of contaminated soil at the Tarheel Army Missile Plant (TAMP) in Burlington, North Carolina. This is the first step in a renewed effort to clean up extensive contamination at the abandoned 22-acre site. Tunnel water, soil, and groundwater at the TAMP contain high levels of chemicals associated with chlorinated solvents, which were commonly used at the facility. These include trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride, all of which have been linked to cancer.

NC Newsline [Author: Lisa Sorg]

Training Employees to Handle Extreme Cold

Preparing employees for extremely cold conditions is essential for their health, safety, productivity, and morale, requiring companies to invest in comprehensive training to mitigate health hazards. Employees suffering from cold-related illnesses cannot concentrate, make decisions, or perform physical tasks effectively. It can lead to a higher rate of accidents and injuries, affecting the individual and putting others at risk. Creating an effective policy for freezing conditions ensures safety and compliance. Essential components to an extreme cold policy include dress codes, work schedules, and emergency procedures.

Occupational Health & Safety News Online [Author: Jane Marsh]

Biden-Harris Administration Announces First-Ever Consortium Dedicated to AI Safety

The Secretary of Commerce announced the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium, which will operate under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It will unite artificial intelligence (AI) creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations in support of safe and trustworthy AI. The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of creating and using the most advanced AI systems and hardware.

NIST News Release

New Biden Administration Rule Removes Burdens to Support Growth of Tribal Child Support Programs

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families, announced a final rule to eliminate a burdensome cost sharing requirement for Tribal child support programs. The rule cuts red tape and improves the flexibility and accessibility of federal funding so that Tribes can grow their economies and provide their citizens with vital and innovative services. This rule also promotes equity and honors Tribal sovereignty and the trust relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations.

HHS News Release

U.S. Department of Energy and FEMA Study Finds Puerto Rico Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy Future By 2050

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released a summary report for the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study. The two-year study concludes that Puerto Rico can successfully meet its projected electricity needs with 100% renewable energy by 2050. To further assist Puerto Rico's energy resilience and clean energy goals, DOE also announced that on February 22, 2024, residents can apply for DOE’s Programa Acceso Solar (Solar Access Program), which is designed to connect up to 30,000 low-income households with residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems with zero upfront costs.

DOE News Release

EPA Releases 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan, Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. Following robust engagement with community stakeholders, EPA identified eight priority strategies, which include four previously identified priorities carried forward from the 2022 Equity Action Plan and four newly identified strategies to support communities that have been historically underserved, as well as all communities across our Nation.

EPA News Release

U.S. Department of Labor Releases Updated Equity Action Plan, Part of Biden-Harris Administration Commitment to Advance Equity, Economic Justice

The Department of Labor (DOL) released its updated Equity Action Plan to support the administration’s advancement of racial equity through executive orders and other federal mechanisms. Building on the progress of the first-ever Equity Action Plan, feedback from public forums and research into the barriers workers and retirees still face, the department developed five areas of focus for its 2023 Equity Action Plan update, including supporting workers, ensuring underserved communities have access to good jobs, and other areas of interest.

DOL News Release

NYC Construction Death Toll Hit 24 in ’22, New Report Finds

Twenty-four construction workers died on the job in New York City in 2022, according to a new New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) report, up from 20 the previous year. Non-union workers are disproportionately at risk of death: At the 39 sites the Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected after a fatality in 2022, 90% of the workers were non-union. The report also cites data from the city showing that in October 2022 the Department of Buildings, which handles safety enforcement for structures built for occupancy, had the highest job vacancy rate of the city’s largest agencies and the fourth-highest vacancy rate overall at 22.7%.

The City [Author: Claudia Irizarry Aponte]

NYCOSH Report: New York City Construction Worker Deaths Increase for Third Year in a Row

Injury Characteristics and Insights: New Workers’ Comp Dashboard

The National Council on Compensation Insurance has launched a new interactive resource that combines a decade’s worth of data on workers’ compensation claims involving lost-time injuries and insights. The Injury Characteristics and Insights dashboard provides an overview of the average cost of lost time claims by cause of injury, nature of injury and body part. It also features key insights on the most common and costly injuries and injury trends.

Safety + Health Magazine

Injury Characteristics and Insights Dashboard

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seeking Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

The Army Corps of Engineers provides engineering and environmental science solutions to the nation's complex problems affecting national security, the economy and the environment in which we live. The safety and occupational health specialist will provide consultation and expert advice to field office construction managers on safety and occupational health requirements, standards, and procedures. The position is located in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

Job Posting

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