Health Care


APIC Celebrates 25th Anniversary of International Infection Prevention Week

The 2011 commemoration features a policy summit on Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C., hosted by APIC and the National Journal.

Liver Cancer Rates Increasing in North America, Study Says

Increased incidence rates may be partly due to increased chronic HCV infection as a result of unscreened blood transfusions and contaminated needles used for medical purposes, and with widespread intravenous drug use in previous decades.

OSHA Releases New Materials on Laboratory Safety

Practices and precautions to protect laboratory personnel include safety guidance for using autoclaves, use of chemical fume hoods, labeling and transferring chemicals, and latex exposure.

Exercising to Reduce Stress May Not Increase Productivity: ACOEM

This study provides new insights into how stress affects productivity, particularly in combination with exercise and other lifestyle factors.

Unsolved Crime Hangs Over Trust's Annual Meeting

The Oct. 17 annual meeting of the members of the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust should be particularly interesting because police have not solved the case of deliberate contamination of saline solution given to patients at its main hospital, named Stepping Hill.

CDC: ER Visits for Kids' Concussion on the Rise

Traumatic brain injuries rose from 153,375 in 2001 to 248,418 in 2009, said the report.

Tree Trimmer Fatally Falls from Aerial Lift, Firm Fined $39,400

OSHA issued seven serious safety and health violations following the April death of a worker who was ejected from an aerial lift after it was struck by a falling tree.

CDC: 112 Million Drunk Driving Incidents in 2010

Young men, ages 21–34, made up only 11 percent of the U.S. population in 2010, yet were responsible for 32 percent of all episodes of drinking and driving.



Workplace Deaths Drop 25 Percent in Missouri

A preliminary total of 107 workers were killed in Missouri in 2010, down from the 142 fatalities reported in 2009.

Road Casualty Figures Drop in Britain

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it welcomes the significant drops in death and injury but cautions that the success is partly due to unusual economic and weather factors which may not continue in coming years.

APIC Launches 'Clean Spaces, Healthy Patients' Initiative

APIC's survey found that infection prevention and environmental services professionals believe there is a need for additional education and resources to facilitate successful prevention of health care-associated infections.

USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in U.S.

Eighty-seven on-duty firefighters from 31 states lost their lives as the result of 83 fatal incidents that occurred in 2010.

$949,800 in Fines Issued to Trailer Maker for Toxic Fumes, Noise Hazards

OSHA's Dallas Area Office initiated a safety and health inspection at the company's facility in Texas following receipt of a complaint that employees were not adequately protected from being injured by rotating machinery parts, and employees were exposed to toxic welding fumes while fabricating trailers and noise levels above approved health standards.

Singapore Workplace Fatalities Rise in First Half of 2011

The report highlighted that the number of occupational diseases went up from 124 in 2010 to 361 in 2011, primarily due to the increased reporting of noise-induced deafness cases.

CDC Releases Surveillance Data on Waterborne Disease Outbreaks

In 2007-2008, the most recent year for which waterborne disease outbreak data are finalized, 134 outbreaks were associated with recreational water and 36 outbreaks were associated with drinking water.

Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center Opens

It is a new NIOSH Center of Excellence in Portland that will use team- and technology-based interventions to foster improved lifestyle choices, safer work, and better psychological and physical health.

FAA Renewing Mandate for O2 Concentrator Physician Statements

The agency’s notice estimates 1,735,000 passengers bring a portable oxygen concentrator aboard a commercial aircraft. All of them must carry a signed physician statement explaining the oxygen therapy they need.

AHA Expands Heart-Check Mark to Include More Healthy Foods

Fish, nuts, and other foods that have heart-health benefits including the presence of “better fats,” monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, are eligible for certification immediately.

DOL Sues Dentist for Firing Worker who Complained about Needlestick Hazards

According to the complaint, the employer discharged a dental assistant who raised concerns about an office procedure that required workers to remove protective caps from contaminated needles before putting the needles in disposal containers for sharps.

Cintas Names Top Four Restaurant Injuries

By implementing a first aid program developed with the specific challenges and injuries of a foodservice operation in mind, restaurants can help protect their workers and reduce exposure.

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