When it comes to safety in the construction industry, “the gap between what is said and what is actually done is alarming,” according to the authors of a new report that showcases research critical to the advancement of the industry. Overall, 90 percent of the hundreds of construction professionals who responded to a survey for the “People in Construction 2019 Report” by FireStarter Speaking & Consulting identified safety as a top priority.

The general session speakers over three days at Safety 2019 aim to motivate attendees to look beyond assumptions and seize opportunities. The first on Monday morning is Nicole Malachowski speaking on “The Power of Challenging Assumptions.” She believes the best organizations and leaders create cultures that engage and harness the diverse ideas, talents and abilities of every person, and in which challenging assumptions and the status quo drives extraordinary success.

After an anhydrous ammonia leak sent a Florida farm worker for medical treatment, OSHA investigators found multiple violations related to the hazardous material at his workplace. The agency cited Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. – based in Belle Glade –for failing to:

Construction workers are at risk of death or serious injury if they enter an unprotected trench and the walls col¬lapse. A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet or 4.5 meters [OSHA]. Hazards associated with trench work and excavation are well defined and preventable.

OSHA cited online pet supply company Chewy, Inc., after a worker suffered fatal injuries while operating a stand-up industrial truck. The company faces maximum penalties of $14,323 for exposing workers to struck-by and crushing hazards.

Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness as temperatures rise throughout California. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for triple-digit temperatures today in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties and forecasts high heat throughout inland parts of the state next week.

Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park in Orlando was closed for a time early Sunday after some guests and workers experienced electrical shock symptoms, with four lifeguards being transported to hospitals. News sources say people reported feeling tingling in their legs and buzzing in their ears while they were walking around the park.

Walgreens is training its pharmacists to assist with mental healthcare. As some of the most accessible health care providers in the community, pharmacists can play an important role in helping to address the growing need for mental health resources. With May being Mental Health Month in the United States, the drug store chain announced a unique collaboration with the National Council for Behavioral Health and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to provide mental health first aid training for certain Walgreens pharmacists and team members.

Less than half of the states where the drug treatment is legal protect patients from employment discrimination. Courts have generally sided with employers -- until recently. Summary: Of the 33 states where medical marijuana is legal, 14 protect patients from employment discrimination. Recent court rulings signal a potential shift in favor of employees.

Ohio employers can fire employees who use medical marijuana or refuse to hire them in the first place. Medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, but it remains illegal at the federal level and Ohio employers are testing for it like they would any other illegal drug. “Under Ohio law, employers don’t have to currently hire someone who uses medical marijuana and they don’t have to retain an employee that tests positive for medical marijuana,” said Michael Griffaton, an attorney at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP.