NIOSH Publishes Guidance on Healthcare Worker Respirators

• NIOSH has published a respirator selection guide for the healthcare industry, highlighting that depending on the hazard, different types of respiratory protection may be appropriate.
• Stressing the hierarchy of controls to reduce, or even eliminate, exposure to hazards, the guide notes that employers and respiratory protection program managers play an essential role in selecting the correct respirator to protect healthcare workersfrom these hazards.
• While N95 filtering facepiece respirators are the most commonly used in healthcare, other air-purifying respirators can provide equal or greater protection.
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Illinois Joins Roster of States Considering Heat Protection Legislation

• The Illinois House of Representatives is considering legislation that would direct the state’s Department of Labor to establish standards intended to protect workers from excessive heat and cold.
• If approved and signed into law, the Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act (H.B. 3762) would require employers to develop a temperature-related injury and illness prevention plan, by Jan. 1.
• The rule would include provisions for retaliation, violations, penalties and enforcement.
• All injury and illness prevention plans would have to be tailored to each workplace, with input from employees and labor representatives.
• At least six other states are considering similar measures.
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Kentucky Legislators Override Veto on OSHA Rule Alignment

• The Kentucky General Assembly’s House and Senate last week overrode Gov. Andy Beshar’s veto of HB 398, which aligns state workplace safety regulations with federal OSHA standards.
• HB 398 pivots away from more stringent state-specific regulations, which may make compliance easier for employers, according to law firm Nixon Peabody.
• It limits the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board’s ability to enforce regulations stricter than federal standards, affecting private sector employees while maintaining state authority over public sector regulations.
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Willis Survey Finds Health, Safety Risks Are Top D&O Priority

• Willis said that its latest Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Survey indicates that health and safety risks remain a leading priority for directors and officers.
• Among the concerns highlighted, physical workplace risks emerged as the most significant for 43% of respondents.
• Meanwhile, employee mental health and wellbeing, particularly linked to work-related factors, followed closely at 28%, with an additional 12% citing personal matters as contributing to wellbeing concerns.
• Willis said the survey highlights shifting priorities among directors and officers, with an increasing focus on health, safety, and social risks, while also underscoring the growing challenges posed by cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
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Safety Council Upgrades Online Learning Platform

• The National Safety Council has upgraded its online learning platform, using a new learning management system, rebrand and reimagine learning design and instructional approaches, and appeal to customers with new modalities.
• The NSC said it has redeveloped course materials to improve learning outcomes, improved administrative tools for program management and reporting, and bolstered security measures to support compliance and data protection.
• The changes come as NSC’s learning moves its learning program from long-time program supplier SafetyServe, according to its website.
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