Disease management program saved company $3.78 in healthcare costs per $1 invested, RAND study shows
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New NIOSH workers’ compensation primer applies to public health, worker populations
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies has released Workers’ Compensation Insurance: A Primer for Public Health. The primer is designed to encourage work-related injury and illness prevention research among public and private sector partners. The agency says workers’ compensation insurance records can be used as a resource for […]
Distracted driver study suggests cell phone, texting restrictions improve safety
Drivers eat, reach for the phone, send text messages or are otherwise distracted about 10 percent of the time, according to a study using video technology and in-vehicle sensors. Risks of distracted driving were greatest for newly licensed teenage drivers, who were substantially more likely than adults to be involved in a crash or near […]
NIOSH updates strategic plan to protect nanotechnology workforce
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently published Protecting the Nanotechnology Workforce: NIOSH Nanotechnology Research and Guidance Strategic Plan, 2013–2016, which updates its 2009 plan. Nanomaterials are found in hundreds of products including cosmetics and clothing and in industrial and biomedical applications. The strategic plan will be used to advance understanding of […]
Private sector employers paid record $372.1 million to resolve workplace discrimination claims in FY 2013
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports it received a total of 93,727 private sector charges of discrimination in fiscal year 2013. It resolved 97,252 charges, nearly 14,000 less than in FY 2012. The decline in resolved cases is largely attributed to staffing and resource constraints the agency faced in FY 2013, including job […]
Survey shows 9% of workers do not report injuries because they fear retaliation
Nine percent of Americans injured on the job did not report their injury to their employer because they were afraid they would suffer consequences such as being fired, not being promoted or being harassed, according to a newly released survey from FindLaw.com, PRNewswire reported yesterday. Three percent of the 1,000 survey respondents said they suffered […]
FDA issues proposed rule on safety, effectiveness of antibacterial soap products
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National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 8-14
Dec. 8 will mark the start of National Influenza Vaccination Week. This observance highlights the importance of annual influenza vaccination for anyone over 6 months old, particularly people in high-risk groups. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm for educational materials, web tools and related Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activities. Additional information and resources for healthcare professionals are […]
Whistleblower complaint form now available online
It’s getting easier for employees to file complaints about unsafe work practices and get assistance in response to retaliation for reporting. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the availability of an online whistleblower reporting form today. It applies to workers covered by one of 22 whistleblower statutes.
Leapfrog Group recognizes 90 top hospitals for providing safe, high-quality care
The Leapfrog Group released its annual list of top hospitals yesterday in recognition of organizations that safely deliver high-quality care. For the second consecutive year, rural hospitals stood out, with 22 making the list (a 69 percent increase from last year); 55 urban hospitals and 13 children’s hospitals were also recognized.