Monitored Workers Report More Injuries

As U.S. employers deploy more artificial-intelligence-powered and automated tools to monitor and manage workers, new research from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth examines concerns about how these technologies might negatively affect workers’ health and safety.
Among the study’s conclusions, is that these technologies — particularly electronic productivity monitoring and automated task-and-schedule management systems — are strongly related to negative health and safety outcomes for workers.
The research found that workers who report more intensive electronic productivity monitoring also report higher incidence of workplace-related injuries in the past year, especially more serious injuries requiring medical attention, time off from work, and changes in job activities.
READ MORE

A recent DDI study of 70,000 manager candidates found that 49% lack effective conflict management skills, while only 12% exhibit high proficiency in this area.
The research from the global leadership company concluded that the deficiency is alarming as unmanaged conflict can cripple productivity, creativity, and morale, ultimately impacting turnover rates.
“With rising political tensions and growing employee distrust of leaders, workplaces are becoming more polarized. Conflict can have a ripple effect throughout organizations, stifling productivity, creativity and morale — and ultimately driving higher turnover,” said Stephanie Neal, director of DDI’s Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research.
READ MORE

OSHA has completed the restructuring of its regional operations and created a new region to cover several Southeastern states and combined some West Coast operations.
A new region based in Birmingham, Alabama will serve that state, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle.
OSHA has also expanded its existing San Francisco region by combining management of its operations in Seattle in one regional office.
The regions, previously named Regions 9 and 10, now comprise the new San Francisco region.
The agency will now also use geographic designations to identify its regions rather than numerals.
READ MORE

Kentucky’s OSHA agency has adopted its own “walkaround” inspection rule, effective Oct. 1, similar to the new federal rule on the activity.
Kentucky employees may designate a third party – including union representatives in non-union facilities – to accompany safety inspectors during walkaround inspections.
Lawyers at Fisher Phillips highlight two important changes in the state’s workplace walkaround regulations: Employee representatives are no longer required to be your employees. Instead, employees may designate a third party as their representative.
The second change, also in line with Federal rules, is that third-party employee representatives may extend beyond industrial hygienists or safety engineers. The regulation no longer lists those professionals as examples of third-party employee representatives.
READ MORE