California: 24 school districts in 10 counties disregard state school mask mandate
Last week, the Clovis, Wheatland and Western Placer school districts joined 22 other school districts to lift the mask mandates still ordered by the state in K-12 schools in California. An attorney who has been fighting on behalf of parents to fully reopen schools and to end the mask “mandates,” notes that California Department of Public Health has only issued non-binding recommendations that schools can disregard by law. California Globe
Employers must electronically submit workplace injury form by March 2
What do employers need to know about recordkeeping in order to comply with the requirement to electronically submit their annual summary of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses, also known as the Form 300A summary? J. Micah Dickie of Fisher Phillips explains. JD Supra
Man killed at freight trucking facility in Ohio
The employee at a Northern Kentucky freight trucking facility who was fatally crushed last week while hooking up a dolly to his tractor-trailer when the semi-truck, which had two trailers attached, began to move, has been identified, according to law enforcement. A coworker reportedly was able to prevent the truck from completely running him over, however it took several minutes to put the truck in reverse as there was insufficient air pressure. Cincinnati Enquirer
Construction workers may be exposing families to toxic metals
Researchers who collected and analyzed dust samples from the homes of 27 construction workers in the Boston area found these employees may be unintentionally exposing their families to toxic metals from the workplace. Construction workers had higher levels of lead, arsenic, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and tin dust in their homes than janitorial and auto repair workers. The investigators also found that higher concentrations of toxic metals in the home were associated with lower education not having a work locker to store clothes mixing work and personal items, and not having a place to launder clothes. UPI
Nearly 1 in 4 workplace deaths in New York occur in construction
According to an analysis of data from the New York Department of Buildings, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Fed-OSHA conducted by New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, workplace deaths in construction accounted for 24% of on-the-job fatalities in New York, compared to 21% nationwide. Latino construction workers are disproportionately impacted, accounting for 18% of fatalities, yet only 10% of the population. Archinect News
OSHNC fines chicken processor for training and other violations following complaint
The North Carolina Department of Labor announced last week it is fining the operator of a chicken-processing plant in Lumber Bridge $21,000 for failing to provide employees effective information and training on hazardous chemicals and for failing to make them wear eye or face protection. A complaint to the agency alleged employees were getting sick after the company “either increased or changed its use of chemicals in response to a salmonella issue.” North Carolina Health News