Holiday Retail Hires Are More Injury Prone

In the season where retailers are expected to hire as many as 500,000 seasonal workers, a new study finds 38% of retail worker injuries happen within their first year on the job.
Consultancy Sentry’s 2024 Retail & Wholesale Injury Report found that 20% of claims with significant behavioral health factors originated from the retail and wholesale sector.
Some 1 in 5 high-risk claims originated from the retail and wholesale industry.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has banned trichloroethylene, more commonly known as TCE, and perchloroethylene, known as PCE,under a new rule announced Monday.
A pair cause multiple types of cancer and other illnesses, according to the agency.
TCE is a toxic chemical used in consumer and commercial products for cleaning, degreasing, lubrication, adhesion and paint; PCE is a solvent used by dry cleaners.
The EPA says safer alternatives for both chemicals are easily available in most use cases.
The agency plans to phase out PCE in dry cleaning over 10 years.
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The National Safety Council has renewed its Research to Solutions (R2S) and MSD Solutions Pilot Grant programs for a third year, with $300,000 committed to grants.
The programs seek to advance innovation in musculoskeletal disorder, or MSD, prevention.
The R2S grants will award up to $50,000 per approved research project for a total of $200,000 to develop new solutions for MSDs, focusing on occupational injury risk reduction that can be easily integrated across a range of sectors and workplaces.
The MSD Solutions Pilot Grants will award up to $20,000 per approved project for a total of $100,000 in grants, to reduce MSDs caused by repetitive motion, awkward or static postures and forceful exertions.
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The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has awarded $870,000 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations and labor unions to help improve workplace safety and health at small and medium-sized employers and organizations.
Workplace violence prevention continues to be a key priority in the awards, including this year’s largest grant, for $85,000, to the Center for Workplace Violence Prevention.
Other grantees include: Associated General Contractors of Michigan for safety training on fall protection, crane rigging, scaffolding; Incompass Michigan for safety training for community rehabilitation organizations and workers with disabilities; and, Michigan Green Industry Association for training on tree care safety and arborist practices.
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