Articles Posted in 2013

Over the past few years, too many American workers have been killed or seriously injured in crane accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced a crane safety sweep, in which it plans to increase the number of inspections that it conducts at workplaces across the country. According to OSHA, over the past…

Older workers often face unique safety and health challenges, including a higher risk of back pain as a result of repetitive stress or overwork. A new study finds that when older workers receive steroid injections, their risk of potentially devastating spinal fractures rises. The researchers, whose work was published in the Journal of Bone and…

The number of older workers in the American workforce continues to remain high, as many postpone retirement for economic reasons. Older workers are not necessarily at a higher risk of workplace accidents, but they are more likely than their younger co-workers to be injured when accidents do occur. Many seniors have stayed in the workforce…

It is difficult to believe that in 2013, hundreds of and injuries have been related to the use of ladders. Fall accidents often involve workers who were standing on ladders or coming down/going up ladders. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recently released a smartphone application that is specifically geared to help workers…

A new nerve graft technique that uses a special chemical and enzyme improves bladder control in paralyzed rats that have suffered spinal injury. Inability to retain full bladder control after a spinal injury is a frequent complaint from people who have been left with paralysis after an injury. Researchers in the past have experimented with…

The Coalition for Sensible Safeguards is concerned about the lack of progress toward implementing important safety regulations that would help safeguard American workers. The Coalition for Sensible Safeguards comprises a number of organizations that include small businesses as well as labor, scientific and environmental groups. The group claims that several critical issues affecting the safety…

Few workers in the metro Atlanta region are exposed to such difficult working conditions during the summer as construction crews. Those conditions are likely to become more challenging as the temperatures soar and as road and residential construction activity rises across the state. With daytime temperatures already above 90 degrees, construction workers may experience such…

Workers who operate heavy vehicles on the job face the prospect of serious injury. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 1,600 fatalities occur each year as a result of occupational transportation incidents. Transportation-related accidents account for approximately 38 percent of all occupational fatalities annually. In 2010, there was a slight drop in…

It’s that time of the year when residential construction activity across Atlanta is on the upswing. Thousands of construction workers, especially those who carry heavy building materials, must endure severe physical stress and strain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a new bulletin to educate workers about the risk of injuries from…

Workers who suffer from sleep-related disorders may not only be less productive but also have a greater risk of workplace injuries than their well-rested colleagues. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has undertaken a campaign to educate workers about how sleep disorders affect them on the job. According to the organization, chronic insomnia…