USPS Fined for Termination

• The United States Postal Service had been fined thousands for retaliating against an employee.
• The worker, who was probationary, was injured climbing into a truck. He was fired for failing to follow safety protocols.
• A judge fined the USPS for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says USPS has a history of firing probationary employees.
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Workplace Violence Stays Silent

• Many nurses don’t report workplace violence,(WPV), despite it’s prevalence.
• Only 12% of nurse report WPV, and 88% don’t provide a complete account, a recent study shows.
• One of the reasons given is that WPV is “part of the job.”
• Reluctance to come forward makes it difficult for agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to do oversight.
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Tech is Neat but Not Enough

• Safety technology is helping curb injuries, but more needs to be done.
• One expert says his company has installed blind spot technology on equipment, which helps but doesn’t avoid injuries.
• Some projects don’t easily lend themselves to technology.
• He points out that video technology is effective because it shows how the work accident occurred. This allows the company to identify safety hazards.
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Killing Asbestos, Why so Long?

• Asbestos has been causing cancer and lung disease for years, but the US has been slow to ban it.
• Industry push back and regulatory hurdles have made it difficult to accomplish a total ban.
• The connection to health wasn’t noticed until doctors and asbestos workers started getting sick.
• Over 40,000 worker deaths were caused by asbestos in 2019 alone, says a university-based institute.
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OSHA Addresses Safety Culture

• A regional head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration says values drive safety.
• He points out that citations, on their own, cannot create a culture of safety.
• According to public records, many employers are cited for repeat violations.
• Employers must instill reporting hazards as an expectation, so workers aren’t wary of speaking out.
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Farm Workers Killed

• A pickup truck crashed into a bus killing eight farmworkers. Over 40 were injured.
• The crash happened on on Highway 40 in Florida.
• The farmworkers were on there way to work in a field when the crash occurred.
• The driver of the pickup was later arrested for DUI, according to law enforcement.
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