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Increase in injuries among younger workers linked to recreational marijuana adoption

According to a study in the JAMA Health Forum, recreational marijuana law (RML) adoption correlated with a 12.9 percent increase in workplace injuries per 100 full-time employees among workers between the ages of 20 and 34. Researchers note it's "consistent with the hypothesis that recreational marijuana impedes (their) cognitive function and care." However, the researchers note "this differs from older workers, for whom prior research uncovered a decline in workers' compensation benefit receipt and nontraumatic injuries following RML adoption." Marijuana access may have differentially helped older workers manage pain.



Disability impacts health and mortality risks

When workers drop out of the workforce due to a debilitating injury, they are more likely to develop serious health problems and an elevated risk of death, studies by West Virginia University researchers have shown. Researchers examined work comp claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain and found the overall risk of death was about 40 percent higher if workers were disabled from those conditions than if they had the same diagnosis but were not disabled. Increases in deaths from cancer and heart disease were of comparable magnitude and the highest relative increases were in suicides and overdose deaths.

Researchers note that the study reinforces the importance of return to work and urge that the risks of not working be weighed in making such decisions.



Workers' Compensation Medicare Set Aside life expectancy and threshold alert

On February 24, CMS began utilizing the CDC's "Table 1: Life Table for the total population: United States, 2021" for the Workers' Compensation Medicare Set Aside life expectancy calculations.

The first alert from CMS is titled 2024 Recovery Thresholds for Certain Liability Insurance, No-Fault Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Settlements, Judgments, Awards or Other Payments, sets the threshold for physical trauma-based liability insurance, no-fault insurance, and workers' compensation settlements at $750. Settlements of $750 or less do not need to be reported to Medicare, and Medicare's conditional payments do not need to be repaid if such settlements are under the threshold amount and the relevant primary payer does not have ongoing responsibility for medical expenses.



National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents

The National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents is set for April 15-19. NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda Construction Sector Council coordinates the stand-down, working in partnership with OSHA, CPWR, and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.



Annual truck and bus 'Roadcheck' set for May 14-16

Inspectors will examine braking systems, lights, tires, and other commercial truck and bus equipment in Canada, Mexico, and the United States during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's 37th annual International Roadcheck. This enforcement effort will have a special emphasis on tractor protection systems as well as possession of alcohol and controlled substances. More than 59,000 inspections were made last year, with 19 percent of vehicles and 5.5 percent of drivers placed out of service.



Heavily used turnout gear may expose firefighters to cancer-causing chemicals

Wear and tear in firefighters' protective clothing may lead to an increased release of chemicals linked to cancer, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Weathering and heat were linked to an increase in PFAS for outer shell materials. Laundering garments had little effect. PFAS concentrations were at their highest level in outer shell fabrics with water-repellent coatings and at their lowest levels in the thermal layer.



Rail crew safety rule expanded

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is amending its regulations related to occupational noise exposure to require providing atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus to all rail crew members who spend time in the cab of a train carrying hazardous materials. A final rule published Jan. 26 adds the requirement to FRA's rules and changes the name of this part of its regulations from "Occupational Noise Exposure" to "Occupational Safety and Health in the Locomotive Cab." Workers covered by the final rule, set to go into effect March 26, include train employees, their supervisors, deadheading employees and any other workers who may be in the cab of the locomotive.



CDC study explores severe injury trends in oil and gas extraction industry

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at OSHA data from January 2015 to July 2022 to determine severe industry trends in the oil and gas extraction industry. The analysis examines the more than 2,100 work-related severe injuries (those resulting in amputation, loss of an eye, or inpatient hospitalization) reported from 2015 - 2022. Over 70 percent were incurred by oil and gas operations support activities personnel and oil and gas well drillers accounted for 23 percent. The study looks at geographical area, body part, and source of injury.



Disconnect between Boeing senior management and employees on safety culture

An expert panel issued a report criticized Boeing's safety culture on several fronts and found "a lack of awareness of safety-related metrics at all levels of the organization." It also cited an "inadequate and confusing implementation of the components of a positive safety culture."



NCCI releases Q4 2023 Quarterly Economics Briefing

NCCI's Quarterly Economics Briefing report for the third quarter of 2023 details the evolution of the labor market development in 2023 and why NCCI remains positive about the labor market and the economy heading into 2024.



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