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Although smoking rates have dropped dramatically in the U.S. - from 42% in 1965 to 14% in 2017 - some groups continue to have high prevalence of cigarette smoking. That’s according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which is using the upcoming Great American Smokeout as an opportunity to highlight this “hidden epidemic.”

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) bestowed its 2019 Robert B. Hurley Distinguished Service Award on Abby Ferri, CSP at its Award Dinner on Nov. 18 at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Arlington Va. “The Distinguished Service Award is reserved for an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement and promotion of workplace safety and health,” said Charles Johnson, President of ISEA.

State and local governments and metro planning organizations are among the entities who can apply for up to half a million dollars each to use in developing, refining, and deploying safety tools that address specific roadway safety problems. The funds – which will be disbursed by the U.S. Department of Transportation – are intended to help the awardees use innovative data tools and information to improve roadway safety.

The National Safety Council (NSC) and OSHA have renewed their commitment to continue working together to promote workplace health and safety. Lorraine M. Martin, NSC president and CEO, and Loren Sweatt, deputy assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, yesterday signed an Alliance Program Ambassador relationship. The two organizations have been in an Alliance since 2003.

Construction trade and extraction workers (CTEW) are at high-risk for drug use, according to a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, that found marijuana, cocaine, and non-prescription opioid (NPO) use in particular was higher among that group. Construction trade and extraction workers: A population at high risk for drug use in the United States, 2005–2014 also revealed that: Precarious employment was associated with increased odds of marijuana and NPO use.

Wearable technologies are an increasingly popular consumer electronic for a variety of applications at home and at work. In general, these devices include accessories and clothing that incorporate advanced electronic technologies, often with smartphone or ‘internet of things’ (IoT) connectivity. While wearables are increasingly being used to improve health and well-being by aiding in personal fitness, innovative applications for monitoring occupational safety and health risk factors are becoming more common.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has released a comprehensive Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for the construction industry. The guide will assist contractors meet their legal requirements and responsibilities for equal employment opportunity by preventing violations before they occur.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to a report released recently by the CDC. That means, on average, someone in this country gets an antibiotic-resistant infection every 11 seconds and every 15 minutes someone dies.

In 2008, a worker at a Long Island Wal-Mart died after being trampled in a Black Friday stampede. According to news reports, an "out-of-control" mob of frenzied shoppers smashed through the store's front doors, knocking several employees to the ground and prompting others to climb atop vending machines for their own safety.

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. Each year, about 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work. More than 30 million are exposed to chemicals, some of which are harmful to the ear (ototoxic) and hazardous to hearing. In addition to damaging workers’ quality of life, occupational hearing loss carries a high economic price to society.