Things you should know

Resources for national safety month in June

Each week in June has a specific theme - week one is wellness, two is ergonomics, three is fall prevention and four is driving safety. The National Safety Council provides fact sheets and other materials and asks employers to raise awareness and take steps to reduce unnecessary claims.

Night shift workers at risk for diabetes: study

Night shift workers may be at increased risk for diabetes and obesity due to uncommon sleep patterns, indicates research from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. The prolonged sleep restriction, combined with circadian disruption, lowered the resting metabolic rate and could lead to a yearly weight gain of 10 pounds if the person did not change diet and activity levels. Participants also had increased glucose concentration and poor insulin secretion, which are linked to a higher risk for diabetes.

The study appeared online April 11 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Study links asbestos exposure to heart disease, stroke

Occupational exposure to asbestos may increase a worker's risk of stroke and heart disease, according to new research from the U.K.-based Health and Safety Laboratory. Researchers concluded that the risk of stroke and heart disease was significantly higher for asbestos workers than the general population.

The study was published online April 2 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Updated roadway manual aims to keep emergency responders safe

The Traffic Incident Management Systems manual has been updated for 2012. The updates provide the latest technical information and training guidance for fire and emergency service providers, as well as compliance information for the latest edition of FHWA's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

NSC releases State of the Nation of Cell Phone Distracted Driving

The National Safety Council has just issued its 2012 State of the Nation of Cell Phone Distracted Driving report.

New hazard alert card warns of silica dangers

The AFL-CIO-affiliated Center for Construction Research and Training recently issued a new hazard alert card on silica.

New fact sheet addresses solid waste industry

NIOSH recently published a fact sheet on the solid waste industry, which includes collection, treatment and disposal, and other waste remediation services.