The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory to notify the public and medical providers about a spike in influenza cases. The number of states reporting widespread flu activity jumped from 12 to 23 in mid-December. According to the advisory, influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominate so far this season. In the […]
There were 5,190 fatal work-related injuries recorded in 2016, a 7 percent increase from 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. This is the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities and the first time more than 5,000 fatalities have been recorded since 2008. By another measure, the fatal injury rate increased […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports it is working to develop a manual process while its online system, the National Registry for Certified Medical Examiners, is inoperative. The National Registry website went offline in early December. It was temporarily restored and, following a high volume of results submissions from medical examiners, “crashed” again […]
A gift of wellness has year-round benefits. Wellness refers to overall quality of life. Factors that influence wellness include physical fitness, nutrition and behavioral health choices. When you have a strong sense of well-being, you are more likely to be positive, productive and resilient at work and at home. Wellness-oriented gifts are thoughtful and need […]
The 2018 Winter Olympics will take place in PyeongChang, South Korea, from Feb. 9-25, followed by the Paralympic Games March 9-18. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations for U.S. travelers to South Korea, including the following: Visit a travel medicine provider four to six weeks before you depart. Ask your […]
Covered employers have two extra weeks to electronically submit their completed 2016 Form 300A to federal OSHA. The agency has extended the submission deadline to Dec. 15, 2017. Under Section 1904, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s final rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, certain employers must electronically submit injury and illness […]
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has activated an Injury Tracking Application link for employers to submit 2016 OSHA Form 300A information. In a related action, OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking to extend the date for certain employers to electronically submit 2016 Form 300A information from July 1, 2017 to Dec. […]
This is the second part of a two-part series posted by Alexis Lupo. Good health essentially begins at home, but workplace wellness initiatives can also contribute to overall healthier behavior. A Gallup poll found that employees with high engagement and well-being scores: Missed 70 percent fewer workdays because of poor health Were 27 percent more […]
World Antibiotic Awareness Week begins today to promote responsible use of antibiotic medications and fight drug-resistant strains of bacteria that cause serious illness and death. Campaign partners include the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Organization for Animal Health. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. For […]
