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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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In August, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke in California about the Biden administration's efforts to protect farmworkers from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, two emerging public health issues at the forefront of the climate crisis. He advertised educational materials on the risks of heat illness and when temperatures might be too high to work. The NIEHS Worker Training Program (WTP) was highlighted in those materials and in a related news release for the new WTP training on the dangers of heat.
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September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which is a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. During September, we can care about suicide prevention; connect to community, culture, data, and research; and collaborate with others to address this public health problem that has impacted millions of Americans.
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September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. While the resources and information shared during National Preparedness Month and on Ready.gov can be used by anyone at any time, this year the campaign is focused on preparing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities . The theme for 2024 is “Start a Conversation” to encourage families to steps to become more prepared.
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With fall coming into view, public health officials across the country are beginning the annual task of encouraging Americans to vaccinate and protect themselves from some combination of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus. Maximizing the benefit of these vaccines by calculating the optimal time to get them is never going to be an exact science. If you are willing and able to make and keep more than one vaccination appointment, there are a variety of factors to take into consideration about when to time the shots, with the current COVID-19 surge across the U.S. complicating that decision-making
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Families experience their own recovery when they are actively part of their loved one’s recovery. In recovery, the focus is , and can feel invisible, blamed, or out of the loop. It can be difficult for families to find support they need as well. This webinar will focus on family members who will share their own family recovery story and how they learned to improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential as a family. It will take place September 16, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m. EDT.
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Many women over 40, especially women of color, have faced a career marked by lower pay, career breaks to raise children or to care for aging parents, and often have accumulated far less retirement savings compared to men. The Department of Labor Women’s Bureau is hosting a webinar to share information regarding age discrimination and provide essential resources to help plan for retirement with confidence. It will take place September 24, 2024, 12 – 1 p.m. EDT.
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From record storms, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and other disasters to increasing disruptions to systems people rely on for food, water, shelter, income, health, safety, and other basic needs, the global climate-ecosystem-biodiversity crisis is rapidly escalating. The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) is hosting a webinar to describe an initiative to help organize and operate Transformational Resilience Coordinating Networks in North America and worldwide. The webinar will take place October 1, 2024, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. EDT.
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The New Jersey Work Environment Council is sponsoring free webinars to provide information and build skills to help apply the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program (RMP) rule to prevent chemical disasters. The workshops are for workers and community members across the nation who would like to learn more about the RMP rule, including its important new provisions. The “Risk Management Program Rule Overview and How to Get RMP Information” webinar will take place October 2, 2024, 1 – 3 p.m. EDT; the “RMP Site Management Must Hold a Public Meeting After an Offsite Chemical Release” webinar is October 16, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m. EDT; and the “RMP Worker Rights and Stop Work Authority” webinar is November 20, 2024, 1 – 3 p.m. EDT.
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Frontline worker engagement is crucial for operational success and safety in today's fast-paced, data-driven work environments. This webinar will discuss recent advances in the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies that complement best practice solutions for core environment, health, and safety ( and sustainability programs and practices. Topics include foundations of best practices in frontline worker engagement, focusing on clear communication, context-relevant training, and engagement strategies. The webinar will take place October 3, 2024, 12 – 1 p.m. CDT.
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A new video from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) describes how to use the agency’s new Severe Injury Report data dashboard. The dashboard includes all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, or eye losses reported to OSHA. The narratives featured in the dashboard include a description of the severe injury, its source, and the body parts involved.
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Over a billion people work in agriculture, construction, and other outdoor jobs in tropical regions worldwide. The Nature Conservancy recently studied how often conditions in the tropics are hazardous for outdoor workers, finding that, on average, the combination of heat and humidity makes it unsafe for heavy outdoor labor for almost 20% of all hours in a year. Workers often lack the power to demand protections, like mandatory water breaks, or the ability to shift their hours to work when it is coolest. Government and corporate guidelines and policies can help keep people safe.
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The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced nearly $62 million for 20 projects across 15 states to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies. Clean hydrogen is a flexible energy carrier and an essential input to several important chemical processes, such as fertilizer production and steelmaking. It can be produced from a diverse mix of domestic clean energy resources, including renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with safe and responsible carbon capture. Among the selected projects are innovative, first-of-a-kind efforts to improve community engagement and ensure the benefits of the clean energy revolution are felt by all Americans.
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The Department of Transportation is making available $800 million in funding under the Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) program as part of ongoing work to tackle the climate crisis. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), LCTM will support the use of low-carbon materials and products used in transportation that reduce air pollution, specifically greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to funding the use of cleaner construction materials that reduce pollution and carbon emissions for transportation projects, the program will provide resources for agencies to implement processes and coordinate with industry to quantify the emissions of construction materials.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $15 million in research grant funding to 10 institutions for research to reduce per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure from food and protect our farmlands and farming communities. Using EPA funding, research teams will investigate topics including how PFAS accumulates in crops and livestock; the effects of biosolids, compost, and irrigation water on PFAS plant uptake and accumulation; and strategies to reduce the risks of PFAS contamination in the food supply.
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The Department of Labor (DOL) announced $49 million in grant awards to prepare workers for good-quality, secure jobs in high-demand industries in their communities. The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative grants will support 35 projects across 18 states. Nine of the grants will support communities in the Rural Partners Network, which the Biden-Harris administration launched in 2022 to connect rural communities with the resources needed to create jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic mobility.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of the final Achieving Health and Environmental Protection Through EPA’s Meaningful Engagement Policy. The new policy outlines updates on how the agency intends to engage with the public and provide meaningful public participation opportunities in all its programs and regions. Although this document does not create new legal requirements or mandatory obligations for EPA, the recommendations finalized in the policy provide the public with meaningful engagement opportunities for program and regional needs.
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The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is looking to hire a senior industrial hygienist to join their Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S). The EH&S mission is to provide guidance and services to the campus community that promote health, safety, and environmental stewardship. The senior industrial hygienist provides direct safety and health services with an emphasis on industrial hygiene practices, especially the anticipation, recognition, and control of health hazards with consideration of substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment solutions.
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