Safety/Health

Telemedicine could take off as coronavirus spreads

03/03/2020

The coronavirus outbreak could be the tipping point that finally popularizes the telemedicine option many health insurance plans offer, according to Mary Kay O’Neill, clinical services consultant for the Mercer consulting firm.

Flu could cost employers $13 billion this year

02/25/2020

Never mind the COVID-19 coronavirus that has dominated headlines for weeks. Old-fashioned influenza could wind up dealing a knock-out blow to employers this year, with a price tag that could exceed $13 billion.

Comply with the law when requiring employees to work overtime

02/18/2020

In general, employers have the right to require employees to work overtime, as long as they are properly paid for the additional hours. However, that right is not unlimited.

OSHA publishes coronavirus guidance for employers

02/04/2020

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a web page full of links to help employers handle the coronavirus outbreak.

Prepare workplace for coronavirus pandemic

01/30/2020

It’s too soon to tell if the coronavirus outbreak that started in China will become a worldwide pandemic, but public health officials are bracing for the worst. Prudence says employers should start planning now in case the virus starts spreading in the U.S.

Safety: New York foundry finds itself in deep doo-doo

01/28/2020

Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 33 work and safety citations to Frazer & Jones Co. at its foundry near Syracuse.

OSHA turns 50 this year

01/28/2020

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 with a yearlong celebration of past successes and current initiatives.

Cal/OSHA now requires more and faster injury reporting

01/08/2020

Recent changes to the Labor Code now require more workplace injuries to be reported to Cal/OSHA, and require serious injuries to be reported within eight hours. The changes went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Workers’ comp model could curb opioid crisis

12/12/2019

Abuse of prescription opioids has been cited as one of the leading factors in a recent decline in the life expectancy of working-age Americans. Now a federal program seeks to limit addiction by controlling how much medication injured federal government employees are allowed to receive.

OSHA set record for workplace inspections in FY2019

12/10/2019

OSHA conducted 33,401 inspections—more than in the previous three years—addressing violations related to trenching, falls, chemical exposure, silica and other hazards.