Workers in Connecticut who have to work in or around trenches and excavations may be interested to know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will make the reduction of excavation and trenching accidents a priority in 2018. The agency plans to promote awareness regarding the hazards trenching poses to construction workers, reduce the number of trench collapses and inform workers and employers on how cave-ins can be safely prevented.
Employees still at risk for eye injuries
Although Connecticut workers are likely aware that eye protection is supposed to be worn in certain workplaces, tens of thousands of eye injuries still occur annually. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are more than 20,000 workplace eye injuries each year, many of which result in at least one missed day of work.
Mental health factors affect women's work injury rates
Both employers and employees in Connecticut should know about a new study that suggests a link between mental health factors and an increase in women's work injury rates. Though the authors of the study admit that further research will be necessary to determine why this link exists in the first place, the results are noteworthy nonetheless.
OSHA lost safety inspectors during 2017
Connecticut workers may be disturbed to learn that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration lost 4 percent of its federal inspection force during President Trump's first year in office. OSHA inspectors visit workplaces across the country to issue citations for safety violations. They also note hazardous conditions that may lead to on-the-job accidents.
Nationwide worker death rate increases in 2016
Connecticut residents may be interested to know that the number of people killed in workplace accidents across the United States went up 7 percent in 2016 over 2015. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the rate of workplace fatalities increased from 3.4 to 3.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.
Preventing digital eyestrain in the workplace
Connecticut workers who sit in front of computers all day may suffer from digital eyestrain or computer vision syndrome. These conditions encompass a number of vision-related problems that can be caused by prolonged exposure to digital screens, including computers, smartphones and tablets.
Repair technique for water pipes may be hazardous
Connecticut workers who regularly repair water pipes as part of their jobs should be aware of the results of a study conducted by researchers at Purdue University. The researchers contend that the cured-in-place pipe repair method emits dangerous substances in the air and should be reassessed for the dangers that it may present to workers, the general public and the environment.
Construction workers at high risk for some injuries
Construction workers in Connecticut and throughout the country may be more likely to suffer from accidents in which they are hit by a vehicle, piece of equipment or an object than workers in other industries. The Center for Construction Research and Training released a report that said that between 2011 and 2015, 800 construction workers died in these types of accidents. In about half of those accidents, the person was hit by a vehicle, and in the other half, the person was hit by equipment or an object. More than half of the vehicle strikes were in work zones. The highest rate of fatalities was among highway maintenance workers.
The results of survey on OSHA recordkeeping rule updates
The results of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Recordkeeping Standard and Electronic Submission Survey have been released. The survey, which had 400 respondents, reveals how companies in Connecticut and the rest of the United States are managing in expectation of the 1904 recordkeeping rule updates from OSHA. It also details which solutions will be able to provide the companies with assistance for electronic submission.
Changes in workforce affecting workers' compensation regulations
In states like Connecticut, the scope of the workforce is changing. Older Americans are choosing to work as they age, and Latinos represent a higher percentage of the labor pool than ever before. Unconventional workers like these present a unique challenge for workers' compensation regulations.
