April 14, 2023
NIOSH health screenings, Workers’ Memorial Day and more
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
NIOSH brings free health screenings to Texans
To help detect black lung disease, NIOSH is offering free health screenings for current and former coal miners in Indiana and Texas. Screenings take about 30 minutes and include a questionnaire, chest x-ray, blood pressure screening and lung function test. The mobile testing unit will be stopping in multiple Texas cities from April 24 through May 4.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Workers' Memorial Day planned for April 28
OSHA is gearing up to recognize Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28. The agency invites employers and employees to participate in a ceremony or join a local event to remember fallen and injured employees. Family and friends of deceased employees can also submit a photo to the Workers’ Memorial Wall.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
DWC publishes report on participation in Texas workers’ comp system
A new report from DWC’s Workers’ Compensation Research & Evaluation Group shares statistics about employer participation in workers’ comp. According to the report, non-subscriber rates are decreasing for most industry groups and smaller employers have the highest percentage of non-subscribers. The report also shares employer’s reasoning for skipping workers’ comp coverage.
Studies, resources, trends, news
Tips for a psychologically safe workplace
An article for Harvard Business Review shares a professor’s research into psychological safety and how it affects individual and companywide performance. The article also shares markers of a psychologically safe work environment and provides four tips on how to create one. The concepts center around open communication and productive responses.
Four workplace safety factors that may be overlooked
An Industrial Safety & Hygiene News article shares four workplace topics that are often overlooked and can negatively affect safety and health. Topics include computer time, signage, workplace violence and workflow management.