New efforts to protect Connecticut healthcare employees from violence

Some frontline health care employees in Connecticut say they continue to be on the receiving end of violence while at work, a problem that has not gone away amid the pandemic. A 2020 survey by the largest association of registered nurses in the U.S. showed about 20 percent of nurses reported an increase in on the job violence because of decreased staffing levels, changes in the patient population, and visitor restrictions. NBC Connecticut

 

How businesses can prioritize employees’ health and safety during pandemic

According to the Integrated Benefits Institute, poor health in employees costs employers $575 billion and 1.5 million days of lost productivity annually. Consider these tips to ensure health and sanitization are top of mind, writes Mark Sexton. Tennessean

 

Employee loses arm in Oklahoma City scrapyard incident

Fed-OSHA is investigating an Oklahoma City scrapyard after an employee lost his arm in an industrial accident Thursday afternoon. The man’s arm reportedly became caught in a conveyer belt drum used to recycle scrap metal. KFOR

 

Construction worker dies after 4-story fall in Greenville, South Carolina

A 56-year-old construction worker died after sustaining injuries from falling off of a four story structure in Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday. Fox Carolina [with video]

 

New Jersey ice cream maker fined $237K after second amputation incident since 2018

A Lakewood, New Jersey ice cream manufacturer has been fined after an employee lost his fingers repairing an ice cream wrapper machine, the second time since 2018 an employee at the plant lost fingers in the same machine, according to authorities. The company failed to shut down and isolate electric power to the machine before the work was done, according to Fed-OSHA, exposing the employee to the moving part. The agency has fined the company just over $237,000 for six alleged violations. Daily Voice

 

New Fed-OSHA program focuses on high-risk employees, employer retaliation

Fed-OSHA has launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of employees at serious risk of contracting COVID-19, and also prioritizes employers that retaliate against employees for complaints about unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or for exercising other rights protected by federal law. Manufacturing.net