An institute whose research has had a tremendous impact on worker safety over the past six decades is closing its doors – and safety advocates aren’t happy about it.

Sometimes, when you’re reading about the tragedies in the Weekly Toll, there are a few that you think, “Well, that’s too bad, but what are you going to do….?” Like this one in this week’s Weekly Toll:

Three years ago, General Motors chief executive Mary Barra admitted that for years the automaker had concealed an ignition-switch defect, which has now been linked to at least 124 deaths. And she assured federal regulators that there would be a new pro-safety and pro-consumer attitude at the company.

Transportation safety improvements spurred by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations are highlighted in a video released yesteerday as part of the NTSB’s ongoing commemoration of its 50th anniversary.

Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 364 fatalities recorded in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To remind and educate employers in the construction industry about the dangers from falls and dropped tools, 3M™ Fall Protection is proud to participate in the OSHA National Safety Stand-Down, May 8-12, 2017.

OSHA has new resources that employers can use in their discussions with employees during the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, which runs today through May 12. Two videos have been posted on the Stand-Down homepage and a series of infographics can be downloaded from OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign webpage.

In the first three months of 2017, five miners died in accidents that occurred when they were working alone on mine property. To raise awareness of the potential dangers in doing so, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has launched an initiative to focus on the hazards miners may encounter when they work in areas away from others.

OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction takes place next week, May 8-12. It’s a voluntary event during which employers are asked to take a break – or “stand down” – and have a conversations with their workers about fall hazards and fall prevention. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall hazards they see on the job.

A Texas measure that would encourage school districts and educators to include workplace health and safety training information in the curricula of grades 7-12 schoolkids got a boost from AIHA President Steven E. Lacey, PhD, CIH, CSP, who traveled to the state to testify in support of the bill at a House Public Education Committee hearing.

The fourth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, which will be held May 8-12, will include a free webinar and a Facebook chat.