Seniors with COVID-19 show unusual symptoms

Although COVID-19 is typically signaled by three symptoms: fever, an insistent cough and shortness of breath, physician researchers have found that older adults with COVID-19 have several atypical symptoms, due to how older bodies respond to illness and infection. Seniors may sleep more than usual or stop eating, seem unusually apathetic or confused, become dizzy and fall, stop speaking or simply collapse. Jerusalem Post

 

Labor secretary defends record during pandemic

Workplace safety, including at fast-food restaurants, hospitals and warehouses, is emerging as a major point of tension as businesses begin to reopen from mandatory lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of the virus. In response to union criticism about a lack of directives to protect employees, U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia last week defended Fed-OSHA’s response during the coronavirus pandemic. WKZO (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

 

South Dakota pork plant under investigation following outbreak

Fed-OSHA late last week confirmed it is investigating conditions at a pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in response to a coronavirus outbreak among employees last month. The Forum/WDAY

 

New COVID-19 alert to restaurants & beverage vendors

Fed-OSHA on May 1 issued a new safety alert for restaurant and food and beverage businesses operating during the pandemic, advising restaurants providing curbside and takeout service to reserve parking spaces near the front door for pickup, avoid handing food off directly when possible, and allow employees to wear masks, in addition to other recommendations. National Law Review

 

Bin safety concerns as weather warms

Entering a grain bin is always risky: grain engulfment is a major hazard that causes dozens of deaths at U.S. farms and storage facilities every year. Fatalities spiked recently with 15 deaths nationwide since last August. It often starts with wet grain, which can develop a hardened crust over loose grain. When it gives way, a person standing on the top layer can become engulfed in the loose grain below and suffocate in a matter of seconds. Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa)

 

Ohio worker dies in gravel hopper accident

Fed-OSHA is investigating after an employee at an industrial site in Ohio died after becoming trapped in a gravel hopper. Initial reports indicate that he may have climbed to the top of the hopper to try to dislodge gravel before falling in. WBNS (Columbus)

 

Essential farmworkers risk COVID-19 exposure to maintain food supply

While many Americans are working from home, farmworkers are deemed essential, meaning they’re excluded from stay-at-home orders and under additional strain during the pandemic. WEIS (Centre, Ala.)