OSHA has launched a new educational Web resource which has extensive materials to help hospitals prevent worker injuries, assess workplace safety needs, enhance safe patient handling programs, and implement safety and health management systems. The materials include fact books, self-assessments and best practice guides.

An argument against seatbelt laws, strategies for coping with a workplace shooter and accusations of “unprecedented vitriol” against Republican lawmakers all made appearances in the ISHN Blog this year. Here’s a sampling of passionate voices from the EHS community:

Workplace violence, binge drinking and the safety of hurricane cleanup workers were all featured in this week’s top EHS-related news stories on ISHN.com:

In 2012, the Healthcare and Social Assistance (HCSA) sector was amongst the largest industry sectors in the U.S. employing an estimated 19.4 million workers (13.5% of the total workforce)[1]. On average, over the last decade, U.S. healthcare workers have accounted for two-thirds of the nonfatal workplace violence injuries in all industries involving days away from work [2].

A recent agreement between North Suffolk Mental Health Association, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Labor is intended to safeguard employees against the type of workplace violence that claimed the life of a counselor at a group home in 2011.