December 20, 2024
OSHA releases injury data, DWC plans webinars and more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA has published comprehensive data on more than 890,000 workplace injuries and illnesses from over 91,000 workplaces in 2023. The release includes detailed information on incident circumstances, employer names and injury descriptions with personally identifiable employee information removed. OSHA has also produced an explanatory video about the data collection process. This publication aims to increase transparency and provide valuable insights for researchers, public health officials, businesses and employees.
OSHA finalizes rule on proper fit for construction PPE
OSHA has finalized a revision to the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for construction. The new rule explicitly requires employers to provide PPE that properly fits each employee who needs it. This change aligns the construction industry standard with existing general industry requirements. The revision aims to address longstanding concerns about ill-fitting PPE, particularly for women and physically smaller or larger employees.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
DWC announces webinar dates for new safety professionals
Registration is now open for DWC’s 2025 Essentials for New Safety Professionals webinar series. The program offers of eight hour-long sessions, with two webinars held each quarter. Topics include safety and health program development, OSHA recordkeeping, incident and near-miss management, preparing for OSHA inspections and multi-employer worksites. The series begins on January 8, 2025.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
NIOSH updates lifting equation app to prevent back injuries
NIOSH has released an updated version of its NIOSH Lifting Equation (NLE) Calc mobile app. The app helps assess and prevent back injury risks by calculating recommended weight limits and lifting indices to help employers and employees determine safe lifting practices across various industries. New features include information icons for task variables, the ability to exclude tasks from composite calculations, photo attachments and data export options. These updates aim to make lifting risk assessments more efficient and user-friendly.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
MSHA issues final rule on electric equipment approval for mines
MSHA has released its final rule called Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Electric Motor-Driven Mine Equipment and Accessories. This rule incorporates eight voluntary consensus standards approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as alternatives to existing requirements. Effective January 9, 2025, this change allows more flexibility for product designers and manufacturers, potentially promoting innovative technologies in gassy mines.