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Things you should know


April is distracted driver month: free resources from NSC

According to the National Safety Council (NSC) on average, nine people a day are killed in distracted driving crashes. The NSC offers free resources to non-members to help spread the message.



USDA moves to 'formalize' faster line speeds in meat-processing plants

On March 17, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins directed the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to eliminate outdated administrative requirements for slower line speeds. Under the new policy, FSIS will extend waivers allowing pork and poultry facilities to maintain higher line speed and no longer require plants to submit redundant worker safety data. Rulemaking to formalize these speed increases will begin immediately.



Maryland report says worker misclassification costs insurance companies $59M

Maryland's Joint Enforcement Task Force on Workplace Fraud said that its examination had found more than 5,500 workers in the state in 2024 were misclassified as independent contractors, not employees. The report cited another recent analysis, by The Century Foundation, that found more than 23,700 construction workers - about 11 percent of construction workers in the state - are misclassified.



New guidance from the EPA on WCPP requirements

A new guide on following Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) requirements is intended for employers and workers whose facilities are involved in the manufacturing (including import), processing, distribution in commerce, use or disposal of chemicals regulated under Section 6 of the act.



New guidance document from NIOSH on hearing loss among recycling workers

Workers in recycling facilities are exposed to noise from machinery, including industrial shredders and balers. Additionally, they may face exposure to ototoxicants - chemicals that can cause hearing loss and balance issues when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. The guidance document provides recommendations on mitigating hazards.



NIOSH study of on-the-job inhalation injuries

An examination of OSHA injury records identifies the most frequent causes of acute inhalation incidents and finds manufacturing had the most reported injuries, followed by construction. Sixteen of 20 industries reported injuries caused by exposure to cleaning materials. The study was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.



WCRI report on degenerative comorbidities

Degenerative and comorbid conditions often coexist with primary work-related injuries, complicating treatment and recovery, leading to increased costs and extended duration of temporary disability. A new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) based on 930,000 claims with more than seven days of lost time filed across 32 states between 2015 and 2022, found 21.9 percent of claims had one comorbidity, 9.7 percent had two comorbidities, and 7.2 percent had three or more comorbidities.

The most frequent were disc disease in a neurologic back injury (33 percent) and osteoarthritis (36 percent) in a rotator cuff or shoulder impingement. Other comorbidities included hypertension, substance abuse, mental health, diabetes, and obesity.



WCRI releases 2025 Annual Report

The report highlights WCRI's studies published in 2024 and how they were used by policymakers and stakeholders.



Verisk releases Medicare 2025 watchlist report

Verisk, a data analytics and risk assessment firm, has released Medicare 2025 Watch List: Mastering Medicare's New Landscape to Stay Compliant and Reduce Risk. It provides insights into the latest CMS changes, their impact on claims, implications on the industry, and what to expect in the year ahead.



Construction workers' deaths in New York state jumped 48 percent in 2023

According to a recent report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, the construction worker fatality rate increased to 10.4 per 100,000 workers in 2023 with 74 deaths. The analysis also reveals that 74 percent of the fatal incidents statewide had preventable safety violations, and 77 percent of the deaths were nonunion workers.



Chemical safety board posts video on deadly explosion

The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has posted a safety video on the investigation into the January 2020, fatal propylene release and explosion at the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Company facility in Houston, Texas. The massive explosion resulted in the death of two workers and a nearby resident and damaged hundreds of neighboring homes.



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