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The E-Newsbrief of the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training is a free weekly newsletter focusing on new developments in the world of worker health and safety.
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A new resource, titled The Building Blocks for a Heat Stress Prevention Training Program, for preventing heat stress in workers is now available in Spanish on the Extreme Heat and Climate Resilience webpage. The resource can help identify and implement steps needed to reduce the risk of heat stress for workers in indoor and outdoor environments.
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A relatively small federal investment in the Environmental Career Worker Training Program at NIEHS results in vast societal and economic benefits, per a new program evaluation report covering 2014 to 2022. A new highlight reel, posted on X (formerly Twitter) and Linkedin, provides information on key accomplishments and statistics of the program.
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Even after multiple incidents of extreme weather, not much has changed for those living in long-term care facilities when natural disasters strike in Texas or elsewhere. A power outage can be difficult for anyone, but older adults are especially vulnerable to temperature extremes, with medications or medical conditions affecting their bodies’ ability to regulate heat and cold. Federal guidelines require nursing homes to maintain safe indoor temperatures but do not regulate how. Furthermore, while nursing homes face such federal oversight, lower-care-level facilities that provide some medical care, known as assisted living, are regulated at the state level, so the rules for emergency preparedness vary widely.
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Dollar General has agreed to pay $12 million in penalties and improve safety at its nearly 20,000 stores across the U.S. after claims that the discount retailer put its employees in danger with its practices, the Department of Labor (DOL) said. In a news release announcing the settlement, the DOL said that Dollar General will have to significantly reduce its store inventory and hire new safety managers, provide health and safety training, and develop a safety and health committee for employees. The agreement also outlines that Dollar General must correct any future safety violations regarding blocked exits or access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels within 48 hours or face fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
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Helping communities overcome barriers like telecommunications gaps or storm safety creates pathways for communities to begin addressing systemic problems that interfere with economic success. Strong civic infrastructure is crucial in building healthy communities, according to County Health Rankings. Lack of these community facilities can contribute to shorter life expectancy, less access to healthy foods, and even lower voter turnout. A rural community in Kansas is working with a nonprofit organization to address challenges and harness locals' strengths in building healthier, more vibrant communities.
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California has long relied on its prison population to help fight wildfires. It is one of at least 14 states that operate fire camps for incarcerated people to train to fight fires. It's an alternative sentencing option — an opportunity to serve the public as wildfires become increasingly urgent. For some who attend fire camp, it becomes a pathway to a life calling. The co-founder and CEO of a nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated firefighters find employment spoke in this interview about how his organization is aiming to remove roadblocks for previously incarcerated firefighters and expand the profession in the process.
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The lack of a clear and consistent definition for Long COVID presents challenges for policymakers, researchers, public health professionals, clinicians, support services, and patients. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health asked the National Academies to assemble a committee of experts to produce a consensus definition for Long COVID. The resulting report, A Long COVID Definition: A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences, presents the 2024 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Long COVID Definition, developed based on findings reported in existing literature, as well as stakeholder and patient input.
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An updated version of the SunSmart Global UV app, a key tool in combatting UV-related health issues, has been launched by a group of United Nations agencies. The new version of the app works on all mobile devices and includes new features and improvements. The app allows users to track UV levels and receive personalized sun protection advice for up to 10 locations, thereby helping people take preventive measures against excessive UV exposure, which is a leading cause of skin cancer and other related diseases.
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The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) will host representatives from Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) at Cornell University to discuss their work on equitable access to clean energy jobs, focused on inclusive pre-apprenticeships. CJI is guiding the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy by tackling the climate crisis, creating high-quality jobs, and building a diverse, inclusive workforce. The webinar will take place on July 24, 2024, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. EDT.
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This forum, hosted by the Long Island Federation of Labor and the New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health, will focus on the hazards of wildfire smoke for indoor and outdoor workers. Topics include risks and symptoms, how to protect yourself, and employer responsibilities. It will take place on July 31, 2024, from 4 – 6 p.m. EDT.
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The Biden administration finally proposed federal heat protection standards last week, more than half a century after federal experts first outlined the need for such rules. Between 1992 and 2019, more than 900 workers died from extreme heat on the job, and tens of thousands became ill. Official reports of heat-related illness and death routinely underestimate heat’s true toll, partly due to underreporting by employers, workers’ fear of retaliation if they complain and medical examiners’ failure to recognize the signs of heat stress.
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Disasters pose a wide spectrum of respiratory hazards for first responders. Dennis Terpin, a retired senior industrial hygienist/hospital safety officer and emergency manager at The University of Illinois Chicago joins the SafetyPod to discuss key topics related to this issue, such as the elements of hazard and risk assessment for those types of disasters. Terpin also examines how health and safety planning vary in terms of the type of disaster and how this impacts respiratory safety and the key components of a respiratory protection program in disaster scenarios.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 38 grant recipients across the country, totaling nearly $160 million, to support efforts to report and reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials and products. The U.S. leads the world in the production of clean construction materials, and these transformative awards will reduce climate pollution by helping businesses measure the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting and manufacturing their products.
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The Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.7 billion to support the conversion of 11 shuttered or at-risk auto manufacturing and assembly facilities across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia to manufacture electric vehicles and their supply chain. The Domestic Manufacturing Auto Conversion Grants program helps ensure that the U.S. continues to lead the world in auto manufacturing, led by the communities and workers who know this business best. The selectees will negotiate for awards to enable them to manufacture products covering a broad range of the automotive supply chain, including parts for electric motorcycles and school buses, hybrid powertrains, heavy-duty commercial truck batteries, and electric SUVs.
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration, announced the first-ever Licensure Portability Grant Program investment in a multi-state social worker licensure compact. State licensure compacts allow states to come together on a common approach to licensing health care providers, allowing providers to practice across state lines without having to apply for a license in each state. Streamlining licensure while maintaining quality standards improves access to services both by better facilitating hiring and by easing pathways to utilizing telehealth.
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Nearly 1,100 construction workers died in 2022, according to a recent data bulletin published by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. The 1,092 deaths mark a 7.6% increase from 1,015 in 2021 and the seventh consecutive year that the construction industry experienced more than 1,000 fatalities. Roofers had the highest fatality rate among construction workers at 57.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalents.
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WTP grant recipient Sustainable Workplace Alliance has created a new instructional video on mold remediation for building materials used in Puerto Rico. The video is in Spanish and will walk viewers through the steps to take if they experience water damage due to flooding or leaks in their home or any building.
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking industrial hygiene technicians for the health and safety field services group in the safety services division. These technicians will conduct various industrial hygiene sampling and related instrument maintenance, and respirator fit testing, repair, and issuance.
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Past Issues of the e-Newsbrief and Other Information Are Available on the National Clearinghouse Website
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