Human Resources


Washington Department of Labor Adopts Hazardous Drugs Rule

The rule provides minimum requirements for developing a hazardous drugs control program. Employers, using a hazard assessment, will put programs in place to minimize or eliminate the hazardous exposures to their employees.

PBGC Chief Urges American Airlines to Maintain Pensions

Delta, Northwest, and Continental kept their pension plans going after their bankruptcies, and so should American Airlines, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Director Josh Gotbaum said in a Jan. 12 statement.

Familial Factors Don't Affect Disability Risk: ACOEM

The new study suggests that genetic and other familial factors play little if any role in long-term disability risk.

Indiana Working Group Meets on Convenience Store Safety

The Labor commissioner, IOSHA deputy commissioner, and INSafe director are members of the panel working to "facilitate the adoption and use of industry best practices" for preventing violence inside 24-hour convenience stores.

DATIA Launches International Standards Program

"This has been a serious problem for organizations operating outside the United States who want to ensure their workplace is drug free by testing applicants and employees," said Patricio Labatut and Brian Drew, co-chairmen of the association's International Committee.

Wyoming Groups Call for Stricter Workplace Safety Rules

“Eight years of being worse or second-worst in death-on-the-job is proof that there’s a problem in Wyoming that needs to be remedied,” said Wyoming AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Kim Floyd.

Flexible Work Schedules Promote Better Health, Study Says

Researchers based their findings on data from surveys of more than 600 employees and company records from Best Buy before and after the implementation of a “Results Only Work Environment” (ROWE) workplace initiative.

Awash in Prescription Meds

Both DEA and CDC consider the prescription painkiller explosion an epidemic.



Wal-Mart to Pay $275,000 Settlement over Firing a Worker with Cancer-Related Disability

In its lawsuit, EEOC charged that the company denied a 12-year employee a reasonable accommodation after he had cancer surgery, which left him with weakness in his right shoulder.

UPS Foundation's $35,000 Grant to ASSE Puts SH&E Scholarships Up for Grabs

The grant will be used to award six scholarships in the amount of $5,250 each in 2012 to students studying in the field of safety, health, and the environment (SH&E).

NIOSH Releases Video on Police Bike Safety

Over the last several years, NIOSH researchers have investigated the potential health effects of prolonged bicycling in police bicycle patrol units.

Hair Testing Company Wins FDA 510(k) Clearance

Omega Laboratories, Inc. announced it has become the first laboratory to receive clearance for its Extended Opiates Test, which detects the use of Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. The clearance included the test for codeine, morphine, and heroin.

Texas Work-Related Injuries, Illnesses Decrease in 2010

With the 2010 decrease, Texas has seen a decline in such workplace injuries and illnesses for four years in a row, according to the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Joint Commission Alert Recommends Fatigue Measures

Sentinel Event Alert Issue 48: Health care worker fatigue and patient safety was created to help health care organizations address the risks of extended work days and cumulative days of extended work hours.

Commission Starts Clock on Postal Service's Cutbacks

The proposed $2.1 billion in annual savings is before the Postal Regulatory Commission as USPS has sought an advisory opinion. The commission has set a Jan. 4 prehearing conference “to consider all possible ways to expedite and streamline this proceeding.”

Economy Impacting Incentive Rewards, Study Says

“Respondents indicated they are less optimistic than they were in the spring about their ability to plan and implement incentive travel programs and consider the economy as having a relatively negative impact on their ability to execute the programs they would like,” said IRF President Melissa Van Dyke.

Combat's Effects on Relief Workers Studied

Peacekeepers and relief workers exposed to combat were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD, the researchers reported.

OSHA Files Whistleblower Suit Against Whole Foods

OSHA has sued Whole Foods Market Group Inc. to reinstate a former employee after the company allegedly fired the worker for voicing and reporting workplace health concerns regarding a raw sewage spillage at its store in Miami Beach.

NIOSH Releases Automotive Repair Safety Agenda

Health and safety issues in the automotive repair industry include injuries involving sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations, and bruises and contusions.

OSHA Updates Tire Servicing Materials Charts

The revised materials address OSHA's Materials Handling and Storage standard that protects workers who service single-piece and multi-piece rim wheels.

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