Flash: New Cal/OSHA Chief Named
California looks to the Northwest for new leadership at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Here’s the new chief. Cal-OSHA Reporter
A Florida shift away from OSHA could take 9 years
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has told legislative leaders that it could take about nine years to move away from workplace regulation by Fed-OSHA. This is the result of a bill state lawmakers passed during a November special session aimed at the state taking over regulation of workplace issues and ending Fed-OSHA’s oversight. Tampa Bay Times
Dozens protest outside Amazon warehouse where six died in roof collapse
About 50 protesters gathered outside of the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Thursday afternoon. Six employees died at the site after the roof collapsed during a tornado is December. The demonstrators say they want safety improved at the facility, and for the company to change its policy on cell phones in the workplace. Fox2Now
Deaths in Illinois of ages 18 to 49 soar in 2020-21; most of excess not COVID-related
More than a quarter more people ages 18 to 49 in Illinois have died in each of the past two years than in each of the three years prior, but COVID-related deaths in that age group account for just a minority of the excess deaths. While it is listed as the third leading cause of death in Illinois for all ages in 2020, the leading cause of deaths Illinois Department of Public Health lists for those 18 to 44 is accidents, assaults, suicides and heart disease. Just the News
Denmark is first EU country to scrap all COVID restrictions
Denmark officials last week said the country would lift almost all COVID-19 restrictions and stop designating it a “societally critical” disease, in the latest sign western European countries are easing or even eradicating strict measures brought in to combat the Omicron variant. Sweden, Norway and Finland also have announced they will be easing restrictions in the coming weeks. ZeroHedge
According to Fed-OSHA, some 2 million employees in the United States are victims of workplace violence each year. The best step employers can take to protect employees is to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence, which should clearly define the types of conduct that are not acceptable. This would include threatening language or conduct, unwelcome physical conduct, sexual assault and other threatening or intimidating conduct, writes Peg O’Brien. Concord Monitor/NH Business Review
Nevada regulators look to protect employees faced with extreme heat
Since the 1900s, Nevada has seen average air temperatures increase. But despite issues identified around heat exposure in the workplace, labor regulators sometimes found it difficult to cite employers when complaints arise. Since 2020, the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations has been drafting a heat illness rule that would require employers to take measures to guard against overexposure to high temperatures. Nevada Independent