ReportWire

Tag: Workplace safety

  • How Tariffs Are Making Workplaces More Dangerous

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    Recent data on consumer spending ahead of the holiday season suggests that price increases from import tariffs may already be reducing shoppers’ purchases. But another, less obvious effect of duties may also make it less safe to go to work. According to a new report from a trade association representing construction, manufacturing, energy agriculture, medical, and other companies, many member businesses are delaying procurement of workplace safety materials made abroad. That adjustment to higher costs risks creating a downstream effect of potentially rising accidents on the job.

    The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) says many businesses that rely on personal protective equipment (PPE) as a workplace safeguards are buying less of it. Imported first-aid kits, respiratory protectors, high-visibility clothing, and even steel-toed work boots are among the many items that now cost more, according to ISEA. A survey of association members blamed the purchasing cuts on those higher outlays since import tariffs were imposed. The move not only increases the risk of injury for the 125 million employees who use those materials to ensure their protection on the job. It also exposes their employers to greater threats of accidents that already cost U.S. businesses $176.5 billion each year.

    According to “The Hidden Costs of PPE Tariffs “report, the ISEA says import levies are forcing many businesses whose employees face higher risk of workplace mishaps to make a very hard choice. Either they pay the increased costs of protective equipment that duties have created immediately, or scale purchasing plans back in the hopes customs taxes will be lowered over time — or perhaps be overturned by a looming Supreme Court ruling.

    In most cases, business owners have decided to bide their time.

    Nearly 60 percent of companies surveyed said they’d delayed planned purchases of safety materials, “in many cases using PPE far beyond its useful lifespan.” Another 41 percent of participating businesses said they’d sought to offset the higher costs tariffs have generated by switching to cheaper made, often less effective protection equipment.

    The reason? Fully 93 percent of respondents reported their costs for safety materials have risen since import duties were announced in April. By contrast, the study didn’t establish a figure for the average increase of PPE prices under tariffs, or even offer an ballpark percentage of those hikes.

    However, it did find 90 percent respondents believe that companies cutting procurement of costlier PPE materials “will have a negative impact on the safety” of workers. But faced with choice of paying more now or waiting to see if tariffs decrease, many employers have decided to take a calculated risk.

    “Workplaces will cut corners to accommodate the extra costs,” said one unidentified ISEA member cited in the report. “They’ll use PPE too long, buy inferior and less protective PPE, and not use PPE when they should. We haven’t yet seen the full consequences.”

    The report projected how the resulting increase in workplace risks might play out.

    It warned that if “worker injuries increase by just a single percentage point, over 40,000 workers will be injured on the job, costing the American economy $1.8 billion.” That’s on top of the $176.5 billion accidents already cost companies each year. ISEA CEO Cam Mackey called that a tragic waste in more ways than one.

    “When tariffs make it harder to afford quality protective gear that keeps workers safe, everyone pays the price,” Mackey said in comments about the report’s release this week. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting the people who make America run — the workers building the infrastructure that keeps our cities moving, manufacturing the machinery that defends our nation, powering the energy systems that drive our economy, and caring for our families. Ensuring their safety should be a national priority.”

    Injuries aren’t the only way higher PPE costs are affecting business owners and employees. The survey found 44 percent of participating companies — which collectively contribute $15 trillion in annual GDP growth — have already delayed hiring plans in reaction to rising costs, including those of safety materials. Another 33 percent of respondents said they’re considering doing likewise.

    Release of the report is part of the ISEA’s continued drive to convince the Trump administration and members of Congress to exempt PPE and other safety materials from import tariffs. Doing that, it argues, would prioritize the protections of U.S. workers exposed to workplace risk by sparing their employers the cost of trade war duties.

    “Businesses don’t want to cut corners on safety,” said Mackey. “But when costs rise and budgets tighten, difficult choices follow. We’re asking policymakers to help prevent that situation before it starts.”

    The early-rate deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Bruce Crumley

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  • Why Leaders and Workers Think Differently About Workplace Safety Risks

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    Workplace safety is very much in the news at the moment, thanks to reports about “bad doors” and weak ergonomic design in workspaces, the threat of heat-related injuries at work, and AI’s role in boosting safety on the job. But a new study sheds a different and slightly worrying light on the topic, which may cause you to rethink your workplace safety and education programs. The report, from Colorado-based small business insurer Pie Insurance, shows that there are wide gaps between what employers think about certain key safety issues, and how their employees view those same risks.

    The insurer noted in its 2025 Small Business Employee Voice on Workplace Safety Report that both staff and leaders agree that around half of all workplace injuries can be prevented. Still, more than two-thirds of employee respondents said they remain concerned about safety at work, industry news site InsuranceBusinessMag notes. Fully 58 percent have actually witnessed workplace injuries happening in the last year, and 43 percent say they’ve sometimes felt pressured by their companies to work in conditions that were actually unsafe. This may be a “it’s an emergency get it done, we need this now,” leadership mentality, or it may be a sign of deeper disregard for safety matters — but the fact that over four in 10 of all workers surveyed feel like this is concerning.

    One main area where employees and workers disagree on workplace safety is mental health. Pie’s report says that mental health has become the leading workplace safety worry among workers: 32 percent of those surveyed identified it as the top issue. This may surprise some, since “safety” has been traditionally a word connected with physical injury risks — Pie’s survey supports this, with 20 percent of respondents calling it their top concern, while 9 percent rated environmental issues at the top and 4 percent chose equipment safety. 

    Where workers and employers disagree is shown most clearly in how each group envisions support systems for mental health issues. Fully 91 percent of employers say they’re confident about support, but just 62 percent of employees agree. The matter is of serious concern to workers, though, with 36 percent saying that work stresses carry over to impact their personal lives, affecting their motivation, anxieties and sleep.

    Pie’s study also found a disconnect between how employees feel about reporting safety issues — 17 percent of respondents said they didn’t feel comfortable doing it. Of these people, over one in three feel this way because they worry their company will retaliate, a third feel like it would make them seem like a “difficult” worker, and 31 percent simply don’t report because they feel like it would result in zero mitigation actions by their employer. 

    Another gap exists over training on workplace safety, with 63 percent of surveyed employers saying they offer properly formatted training, but just 29 percent of workers say they get regular safety training and fully 28 percent said they’ve never had any.

    What’s your big takeaway from this? You may, after all, think that you’re properly in tune with your workers when it comes to safety, and there may even be a pretty large number posted next to that “days since last accident:” sign.

    The fact is that you and your staff may not be singing from the same sheet music. Pie’s data suggests that gaps between employee and employer attitudes are much more common than you think.

    InsuranceBusinessMag points out another issue that may arise from this disconnect: data show smaller and medium-size companies are “increasingly expanding into higher-risk work to remain profitable.” As they do this, workplace safety risks and costs and, as a result, insurance issues will multiply, spotlighting workplace safety.

    It might be time to revisit your workplace safety protocols, run a training session with your staff, and promise them that if they report issues they spot there will be no reprisals. Addressing workplace mental health could also be a priority, and that’s something you can affect by checking and modifying company culture. Offering perks like flexible working or hybrid work solutions, and even getting training yourself on how to spot and help your worker’s mental health problems are good first steps.

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    Kit Eaton

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  • AI Might Just Make the Workplace Safer. Here’s Why

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    Much of the focus on artificial intelligence now centers on its actual and potential capability to improve business productivity and profitability, and its threat to automate countless employees out of their current jobs. But a new analysis of workplace safety data broadens the scope of AI’s likely impact, estimating that the new technology could lower occupational injuries by an average 6 percent annually over the next five years.

    That forecast was the top finding from a recent study by Arizona injury law firm Lambert Goodnow. It crunched years of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, World Economic Forum, and other organizations to make two important conclusions. The first was that nearly one-third of all current work tasks are expected to be automated using AI by 2030, at an average rate of 22 percent across all economic sectors. The second was that as a result of that tech-driven change, accidents in U.S. workplaces are anticipated to decrease by nearly 6 percent each year over the same period.

    “The predicted automation of 30 percent of tasks by 2030 is expected to reduce U.S. workplace injuries by 5.9 percent, preventing approximately 161,000 injuries annually within five years,” the Lambert Goodnow analysis said, noting improvements will vary considerably across different jobs and business activities. “(W)hen looking at an industry-level breakdown, some of the most dangerous are likely to only become 2 (percent) safer.”

    The study examined workplace injury rates in various sectors and industries in both public and private businesses — a blend that makes some comparisons challenging. But its overall conclusions show the AI safety improvement trend will likely affect a much larger number of employees than the forecast’s percentages of declining incidence might suggest.

    For example, injury rates at private healthcare companies are expected to drop by 6.3 percent through AI automation. While that decrease is only slightly higher than the expected 5.9 percent U.S. average, “this change could prevent nearly 30,000 injuries annually at the national level,” the report said.

    The study noted that forecasted the rate at which tasks are automated with AI over the next five years vary significantly across business sectors. They ranged from as much as 40 percent by administrative, support, waste management, remediation, professional, scientific, and technical services, to as low as 22 percent in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food businesses.

    But using a historically substantiated calculation that a 10 percent increase in automation has typically produced a 2 percent drop workplace injuries, the report said safety gains from AI would be considerable across industries and individual businesses, regardless of their adoption rates.

    Still, the study indicated the biggest beneficiaries of AI workplace safety improvements are those likely to integrate it fastest over the next five years. But even sectors that are slower to embrace the new technology are expected to see injury rates drop. Those include agriculture, forestry, and fishing businesses; real estate, rental, and leasing companies; and finance, management, and insurance firms.

    Similarly, the report said sectors with lower potential for introducing AI tech are still expected make significant workplace safety gains in simple human terms.

    “Arts, entertainment, and recreation, for example, is predicted to see a 4.3 percent drop in injuries,” the study said, noting that would be 1.5 percent lower than the national average. “A 1,600 drop in injuries annually in the industry is, however, still an impressive figure.”

    Despite the forecast of increased AI-linked safety improvements over the next five years, the report said the tech won’t eliminate the risks in businesses or sectors whose activities lead to higher injury numbers in the first place. It also won’t alter their individual incidence rates to the same degree.

    “Four of the ten most dangerous (professions) have low automation potential and are likely to remain at least 97 percent as dangerous as they are today.” the study said of businesses whose large workforces will limit how much their injury per 100 employees rates decrease. “For example, while the national average injury incidence rate is projected to fall to 2.29, the rate in state-run nursing and residential care will only fall to 8.7, which is close to four times higher. Others, like couriers and scientific professional services, are far more automatable, but also are significantly larger than some others on this list.”

    Still, even small declines in accidents from AI automation translate into thousands of employees being spared injuries and deaths that would have happened otherwise.

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    Bruce Crumley

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  • Florida abandoned workplace safety for its public employees and attacked their unions instead

    Florida abandoned workplace safety for its public employees and attacked their unions instead

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    Tens of thousands of state and municipal employees in Florida have lost their union representation — and their union contracts — this year, due to consequences of a  “reform” law approved in 2023.  And while the issue is little-discussed, one clear example of the law’s impact is its potential to undermine the few workplace health and safety protections that Florida’s public sector has in large part historically been excluded from.

    It started 50 years ago.

    Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, millions of workers in Florida’s private sector — which make up the majority of the state’s workforce — are covered by basic health and safety regulations that are meant to help protect people from injury, illness, and death on the job.

    Thanks to OSHA, workers have a right to protections such as the information and training for chemical hazards in the workplace, safety equipment like respirators, and a workplace that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

    But there’s a glaring loophole baked into the law that has never been fixed: It doesn’t cover state, city or county employees.

    In Florida, that means the federal government doesn’t have authority to require or enforce basic workplace safety protections for the more than 900,000 employees in local and state government, including the public employees who fix malfunctioning traffic lights, pick up your trash, drive your kids to school, and clear debris and fix power lines after major storms.

    Labor unions, for their part, can negotiate protective language into union contracts for public employees who are exempted from OSHA’s federal protections, and many— including the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the Service Employees International Union — have.

    The federal government’s landmark workplace safety law has a glaring loophole that excludes Florida’s state and municipal workers.

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    According to Ronnie Burris, a former wastewater treatment employee of 25 years and union official for LiUNA Local 630 in Jacksonville, all of his local’s municipal contracts — covering certain groups of workers employed by Orlando, Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach and other cities — contain explicit requirements for the public employer to “comply with federal, state, and local legislation concerning safety, health, sanitation, and working conditions.”

    “That’s been negotiated in all the contracts,” Burris told Orlando Weekly in a phone call.

    In practice, he explained, this means if an employer did violate federal OSHA regulations, the affected employee wouldn’t be able to go to OSHA, since the federal agency doesn’t have jurisdiction. But they would have the right to file a grievance through their union over a breach of their union contract.

    That, Burris confirmed, is the union difference. “If they’re non-union, then I’m not sure that [the employer] have to follow anything.”

    As of last year, less than one-third of Florida’s public sector had union representation according to federal data, and even that low number has taken a drastic nosedive.

    In the wake of a union “reform” law approved by the GOP-controlled state Legislature and Florida Gov. DeSantis last year, more than 68,000 public employees in Florida — including thousands represented by LiUNA — have so far lost their union contracts, as well as the certification from the state that would allow their unions to negotiate new ones. Cops and firefighters were excluded from the new law, so their unions weren’t decertified.

    Burris’s Local 630 recently lost certification (and contracts) for 11 public sector unions, as a result of the law, covering over 1,700 employees in Florida altogether.

    These now-dissolved unions provided negotiating power for mechanics and other trades workers at the Orlando International Airport, as well as certain groups of workers employed by the cities of Melbourne, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Edgewater, and employees of Levy, Breward, Columbia, Alachua and Nassau counties.

    Some of these unions were established decades ago. The union at Orlando International Airport, governed by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, was first certified in 1977. The now-defunct union in Alachua County — formerly representing over 200 employees, from janitors to tax clerks and equipment operators — was certified the same year.

    “Most municipalities want to keep their employees safe,” Burris allowed. But without any sort of mandate or regulation in place, he said, there is no authority forcing employers to abide by or respect the same rules afforded to private sector employees under OSHA, and the state government doesn’t require similar protections either.

    Deadly consequences
    Even union representation has its limitations, however. The general lack of OSHA coverage for Florida’s public sector laid the groundwork for a deadly explosion in Daytona Beach back in 2006, which eventually led to a federal investigation.
    Three union-represented city employees were working on the roof of the Bethune Wastewater Treatment Plant in Daytona, damaged from recent hurricanes, unaware that they were working above a massive methanol tank.

    Sparks from a cutting torch the men used to remove parts of the damaged roof ignited methanol vapors from the tank, creating an explosion and a “fireball on top of the tank,” according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s report.

    All three employees were swallowed by flames. One worker, 43-year-old Michael Martin, managed to survive with severe injuries, while the two others — 59-year old Eric Johnson and 40-year-old Clyde Jones — died from the devastating incident, later deemed preventable.

    The federal board noted in its investigative findings that Daytona Beach had “no program to evaluate the safety of non-routine tasks” and there was “no evidence” to suggest the employees who died that day had received any methanol hazard training in the past 10 years. Jones’ family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, and his widow called on state leaders and Congress to establish greater protections.

    Florida abandoned workplace safety for its public employees and attacked their unions instead (3)

    Courtesy of Daytona Beach via Chemical Safety Board

    But it was clear this wasn’t just a city of Daytona Beach problem. “No state or federal oversight of public employee safety exists in the State of Florida,” the federal board noted, bluntly, in its findings.

    The investigation board recommended in its 2007 report that Florida lawmakers and the governor (then-Republican Charlie Crist) enact legislation to implement policies “covering the workplace health and safety of Florida public employees that are at least as effective as OSHA.”

    Nearly 20 years later, this has not happened.

    Some municipal governments — including Orange County — have voluntarily adopted health and safety programs that follow OSHA standards. But some safety officials have admitted that simply adopting these programs may not be enough.

    During that investigation into the 2006 wastewater treatment plant incident, Brian Berke, an employee safety manager for Palm Beach County at the time, testified that his county’s voluntarily created health and safety program reflected its “strong responsibility” to provide a safe work environment for county employees.

    “Extreme pressures,” however — such as “cost-cutting” — “could be brought to bear on even our program in the future,” Berke admitted. “It is my belief that only mandatory regulatory requirements, whether coming from a state or federal level, are needed to support and nurture safety efforts within the public sector.”

    Marc Brody, then a union official for AFSCME Council 79 — which represented the workers at the treatment plant — agreed. Brody, the union’s director of education, described OSHA’s public sector loophole as “scandalous” in his own testimony.

    “Many public-sector unions, including ours, have tried to include safety language in our contracts,” Brody said. But the problem, he added, was that in many cases, this language “has really no teeth, and you have no way to back it with administrative criminal sanctions and violations.”

    A failure to opt in

    The public sector “loophole” has been around since OSHA was first established half a century ago, and efforts to close it (dating back decades) have so far been unsuccessful.

    The 50-year-old law does offer the option for states like Florida to opt in their public sector workers, by creating a state OSHA plan with standards that are at least as effective as federal standards. Adopting a state plan, a move that can also serve to bolster compliance for the private sector, was another recommendation of the federal board that investigated the deadly 2006 accident in Daytona Beach.

    Only about half of states in the U.S. have created their own state OSHA plans, however, excluding an estimated 7.9 million public employees in the country from OSHA’s protections.

    Florida, a state that’s home to the third-largest workforce in the U.S., has never created a comprehensive state OSHA program.

    In Florida, the lack of a state program leaves enforcement for the state’s much larger private sector fully up to a very limited number of federal OSHA investigators. As of 2021, Florida had only 53 federal OSHA compliance regulators to enforce protections for over 8.4 million workers in Florida’s private sector.

    According to federal data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, analyzed by the AFL-CIO, however, public employers have in recent years reported higher injury rates. In 2022, state and local public sector employers reported a combined injury rate of 4.9 per 100 workers, compared to a reported rate of 2.7 per 100 workers in the private sector. 

    “No state or federal oversight of public employee safety exists in the State of Florida”

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    Florida’s Republican leaders, believe it or not, briefly flirted with the idea of creating a state plan in 2021. But the proposal to explore this option ultimately led nowhere and has seemingly been abandoned.

    During a brief state legislative special session that fall, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed a controversial bill (HB 5-B) that was pitched as an effort to withdraw from federal OSHA oversight and establish a state plan to alternatively enforce workplace regulations for Floridians in the public and private sectors.

    The proposal, approved by state lawmakers along party lines with Republicans in favor, emerged only after OSHA had issued a rule — later blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court — that would have placed a COVID-19 vaccination requirement on workers at large employers.

    The Florida bill — later described as “theater” by lone GOP dissenter Jeff Brandes — gave the Governor’s Office $1 million to come up with a proposal for state OSHA plan, and to provide a status report to leaders of the Florida House and Senate by January 17, 2022.

    The report released that January ultimately estimated that the process of taking over federal oversight would take up to nine years, and would require the state to establish a new state agency. Such an endeavor would be costly, and would still have required the state to offer the bare minimum oversight that OSHA does (and enforce the same rules).

    click to enlarge LiUNA Local 630 members - Courtesty of LiUNA Local 630

    Courtesty of LiUNA Local 630

    LiUNA Local 630 members

    The January 2022 status report, signed by a DeSantis staffer, added that it’s “too early” to definitively determine if the plan would be prudent. Despite a vague commitment to provide a “detailed timeline” and an estimation of required resources, there is no evidence of such a plan actually moving forward.

    Dr. Rich Templin, chief lobbyist for Florida’s largest federation of labor unions — the Florida AFL-CIO — said the GOP’s plan was insincere from the start.

    “Our position was, if you guys want to do this, we’re not opposed to it, but bring everybody to the table,” Templin told Orlando Weekly. “But that’s not what they wanted. They just wanted headlines.”

    “Did they just abandon it? Yes,” he shared bluntly. “They just let it go. They got their headlines, and they just let it go.”

    A request for an update sent by Orlando Weekly to the Governor’s Office has been unreturned as of publication.

    A pattern of deregulation

    Beyond basic safety regulation, Florida has lacked a state Department of Labor entirely since 2002, after the Florida legislature approved a plan at the behest of then-Gov. Jeb Bush to abolish it.

    Most programs and services in that department were passed off to other departments or agencies, but some — including minimum wage enforcement and a now-defunct workplace safety division — were not.

    Before Florida’s elected leaders dissolved the labor department, that department had for a time housed a Division of Safety, created under the Florida Occupational Safety and Health Act.

    The division offered more protections afforded to state and municipal employees today, both establishing and enforcing state standards on workplace health and safety from at least 1993 to 2000. Violations of these standards were subject to a penalty of up to $50,000 per violation, according to state records.

    Motivated by a national move by conservative leaders toward cost reduction and decentralization, however, Florida’s state leaders decided to repeal the Florida OSH Act in 1999, effectively dissolving the division and laying off nearly 100 staff in the process, according to former union official Brody.

    Jeb Bush deregulates workplace safety regulations (please clap) - University of Arkansas at Little Rock

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock

    Jeb Bush deregulates workplace safety regulations (please clap)

    Just a few years later, state leaders got rid of the state labor department altogether, following a years-long push by Jeb Bush, who directed the state to identify workforce programs that could be “eliminated, consolidated, or privatized.”

    Today, labor unions in Florida can help fill some gaps in protection, but limitations in enforcement and a lack of resources persist.

    Business lobbyists for major employers of largely private sector workers in the tourism industry and construction trades have pushed state leaders in Florida to deregulate child labor and to prevent local governments from guaranteeing workers access to certain workplace protections — including protection from extreme heat on the job.

    AFSCME, one of the largest public sector unions in the state, recently adopted a resolution at its national convention that represents a commitment to try and negotiate contracts that offer protections from exposure to extreme heat, specifically.

    As temperatures in some of the hottest states and communities in the U.S. surge, the Biden administration recently released a proposed federal standard to help protect workers from extreme heat, mandating certain rights for workers once temperatures on the job exceed 80 degrees.

    But even if the administration does manage to finalize and implement that rule — the process is expected to take years, and could be scrapped under a Trump administration — that standard still wouldn’t cover state and municipal workers in states like Florida and Texas that don’t have state OSHA plans.

    Bipartisan legislation recently introduced at the federal level in June — sponsored by Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) — could change that, but it’s unclear if there will be enough political will to push it near or past the finish line.

    “Our dedicated public sector workers throughout our country deserve to be safe at work and the robust level of protection that OSHA coverage provides,” said U.S. Rep. Fitzpatrick in a news release.

    “Congressman Deluzio and I are committed to protecting hardworking public servants throughout our nation’s communities, and I implore my colleagues to join us in this vital effort to safeguard workers.”

    This story has been updated to clarify the use of the term “withdraw” in regards to HB 5-B (2021).

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    McKenna Schueler

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  • Addressing Workplace Harassment: Insights From Juliene Hefter’s Seminar in Liberty Hill, Texas

    Addressing Workplace Harassment: Insights From Juliene Hefter’s Seminar in Liberty Hill, Texas

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    LIBERTY HILL, Texas, July 12, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Juliene Hefter, Executive Director/CEO of the Association of Aquatic Professionals, delivered a compelling speech at the “Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Seminar 2024” held in Liberty Hill, Texas. The seminar, focused on workplace safety and sexual harassment, aimed to equip attendees with actionable strategies to foster respectful environments within their organizations.

    During her speech, Hefter highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment and the critical need for proactive measures in addressing and preventing such misconduct. Drawing from her extensive experience and personal encounters, she underscored the importance of setting boundaries, effective communication, and bystander intervention in combating harassment.

    “Sexual harassment is a widespread issue that impacts both genders in various contexts,” remarked Hefter. “We must create environments where individuals feel safe and respected.”

    Sharing personal anecdotes from her career, Hefter emphasized the significance of allies and supportive workplace cultures. “Creating a culture of respect starts with each of us,” she stated. “Supporting colleagues and speaking out against inappropriate behavior are fundamental in cultivating a safe workplace.”

    The seminar also addressed practical strategies for organizations to implement, including clear anti-harassment policies, regular training sessions, and establishing robust reporting mechanisms. Hefter stressed the role of leadership in setting the tone for respectful behavior and ensuring that victims receive adequate support and protection.

    “In organizations, leadership commitment is key to fostering a harassment-free workplace,” noted Hefter. “By implementing comprehensive policies and providing necessary resources, we can create environments where everyone can thrive.”

    In conclusion, Juliene Hefter’s seminar in Liberty Hill underscored the importance of collective action in combating workplace harassment. By promoting awareness, encouraging dialogue, and implementing effective strategies, organizations can create environments where mutual respect and professionalism prevail.

    “As individuals and organizations, we have a responsibility to cultivate cultures of respect,” affirmed Hefter. “Let us continue to advocate for safe workplaces and support those affected by harassment.” 

    For more information on Juliene Hefter’s initiatives and upcoming events, please visit the Association of Aquatic Professionals website.

    Source: Association of Aquatic Professionals

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  • Elevator drops 650 feet at a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 workers and injuring 75

    Elevator drops 650 feet at a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 workers and injuring 75

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    JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An elevator suddenly dropped around 200 meters (656 feet) while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75, the mine operator said Tuesday.

    It happened Monday evening at the end of the workers’ shift at a mine in the northern city of Rustenburg. The injured workers were hospitalized.

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  • Amazon’s focus on speed, surveillance drives higher warehouse worker injuries, study finds

    Amazon’s focus on speed, surveillance drives higher warehouse worker injuries, study finds

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    An employee looks for items in one of the corridors at an Amazon warehouse.

    Carlos Jasso | Reuters

    Amazon warehouse workers are suffering physical injuries and mental stress on the job as a result of the company’s extreme focus on speed and pervasive surveillance, according to a new study.

    The study, released Wednesday by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Urban Economic Development, includes responses from 1,484 current Amazon workers across 42 states and 451 facilities, in what the authors are calling the largest nationwide survey of Amazon workers to date.

    Nearly 70% of Amazon employees who participated in the survey said they’ve had to take unpaid time off due to pain or exhaustion suffered on the job in the past month, while 34% have had to do so three or more times. The most common injury reported by workers was sprains, strains or tears, and nearly half of respondents said they had moderate or severe pain in the leg, knee or foot in the last three months on the job. More than half of workers said they’re burned out from their work at the company, and that response rate intensified the longer the employee had worked at Amazon.

    The data adds to a drumbeat of scrutiny around Amazon’s workplace safety and treatment of warehouse employees. Regulators, lawmakers, rights groups and employees have criticized Amazon — which is the second-largest employer in the U.S., behind Walmart — over its labor record. The researchers estimate Amazon is the largest warehouse employer in the country, accounting for an estimated 29% of workers in the industry.

    Amazon had roughly 1.46 million employees globally, as of the quarter ended June 30, and the majority are warehouse and delivery workers.

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are investigating conditions at several warehouses, while the U.S. Department of Justice is examining whether Amazon underreports injuries. In June, a Senate committee led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also launched a probe into Amazon’s warehouse safety.

    Amazon has said it has made progress on lowering injury rates and that the company has made adjustments to working environments in order to reduce strain and repetitive movements. It has begun to automate some tasks and is also rolling out more robotic systems in warehouse facilities that the company claims can improve safety, although that prospect has been debated.

    Workers fulfill orders at an Amazon fulfillment center on Prime Day in Melville, New York, US, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. 

    Johnny Milano | Bloomberg | Getty Images

    About 64% of workers who participated in the survey said they feel the safety of workers is a high priority at Amazon, but that sentiment is lower among those who reported negative impacts to their physical health from the job.

    The survey was funded by Oxfam America, and advocacy groups the Ford Foundation and the National Employment Law Project.

    Amazon spokesperson Maureen Lynch Vogel disputed the study findings in a statement and said “there’s nothing more important” than employees’ health and safety.

    “This is not a ‘study’ – it’s a survey done on social media, by groups with an ulterior motive,” Vogel said. “If anyone actually wants to know the facts, they can read the data that we publish each year and submit to OSHA, which shows that rates in our buildings have improved significantly and we’re slightly above the average in some areas and slightly below the average in others.”

    Amazon said musculoskeletal disorders, or problems like sprains and strains are the most common type of workplace injury across all industries, adding that employees get adequate breaks and that the company provides mental health resources for staffers. Amazon also said it informs managers that productivity or speed shouldn’t be pressed at the expense of worker safety.

    Role of speed and surveillance

    Safety critics have increasingly zeroed in on Amazon’s speedy pace of work and close monitoring of employee productivity as factors that lead to a heightened risk of injuries.

    The survey results underscored that point, finding that those who reported injuries on the job while working at Amazon are more likely to say that keeping up is hard than workers who have not been injured.

    Approximately 44% of workers surveyed said they couldn’t take breaks when they need to, according to the study. “A key mechanism for workers to maintain a fast pace of work without injury is the ability to take breaks and recover from periods of intense work,” the researchers said.

    Amazon packages move on a conveyer belt at a fulfillment center in England.

    Nathan Stirk | Getty Images

    Employees pointed to “technology-enabled workplace monitoring” as something that reinforces the pace of work, while 53% of respondents said they always or most of the time “feel a sense of being watched or monitored in their work at the company.”

    “We see clear evidence in our data that work intensity and monitoring contribute to negative health outcomes,” the researchers said.

    Amazon uses a variety of metrics to measure warehouse workers’ activity on the job, the researchers said, including rate, or the number of tasks they’re expected to complete per hour; task time, which measures the average time between scans with a barcode scanner; and idle time, or “time off task,” which measures time a worker isn’t scanning items while on the clock.

    Workers have argued that the time off task policy makes working conditions more strenuous and that it’s used as a tool to surveil workers. Amazon in 2021 adjusted its time off task policy so that it averages data over a longer period.

    WATCH: Amazon’s worker safety hazards come under fire from regulators and the DOJ

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  • Ford Executive Chairman Calls for End to UAW Strike

    Ford Executive Chairman Calls for End to UAW Strike

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    Updated Oct. 16, 2023 2:28 pm ET

    Ford Motor Executive Chair Bill Ford called for a resolution to an “acrimonious” round of talks with the United Auto Workers and warned that a continuing strike could hurt the company’s ability to keep factory jobs in the U.S.  

    Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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  • Retailers talk a lot about rising theft. But a retail industry report finds a key metric for it hasn’t increased that much.

    Retailers talk a lot about rising theft. But a retail industry report finds a key metric for it hasn’t increased that much.

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    Retail executives over the past year have talked a lot about “shrink” — or the losses they take due to theft, fraud or employee error — amid a flood of headlines about sometimes violent organized thefts at stores. But results from a retail-industry survey released Tuesday found the metric rose only modestly last year.

    The report from the National Retail Federation, a retail industry group, found that the average shrink rate in 2022 crept higher to 1.6% from 1.4% in the prior year, when calculated as a share of sales. The figure from 2022 is in line with those seen in 2020 and 2019.

    Still, the losses amounted to billions of dollars — $112.1 billion, up from $93.9 billion in 2021 — according to the report. And the report said that retailers were increasingly concerned about the violence of those crimes.

    “Far beyond the financial impact of these crimes, the violence and concerns over safety continue to be the priority for all retailers, regardless of size or category,” David Johnston, the NRF’s vice president for asset protection and retail operations, said in a statement.

    The NRF, working with the Loss Prevention Research Council — a research group founded by some of the nation’s biggest retailers — surveyed people in the industry who work in loss-prevention and asset protection. The report contained responses or information from 177 retail brands. The survey was distributed in May, June and July.

    The report was published the same day that Target Corp.
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    said it would close nine stores across four states next month, citing theft and dangers to employees.

    “In this case, we cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said in a statement.

    The chain joins other retailers sounding the alarm about retail theft and closing stores, amid what executives have described as a spike in organized retail theft, or theft with the intent of reselling the goods. However, executives’ takes on earnings calls have differed slightly, and retailers are contending with other issues — like the fallout from inflation — that have hit financials.

    Also see: Costco CFO says inventory ‘in good shape,’ thefts have not ‘dramatically’ increased as earnings top estimates

    The fight over theft has played out, perhaps predictably, on partisan lines, with some blaming what they say are lax crime policies in large cities. But other analysts point to changes in the flow of foot traffic through population centers since the pandemic, and say the data is often too squishy and subjective to make any hard calls about the state of crime — and whether it’s rising or falling, particularly at retailers — in a particular area.

    More than two-thirds of the retailers surveyed by the NRF “said they were seeing even more violence and aggression” from organized retail theft compared with a year ago. Twenty-eight percent reported being “forced” to close a specific store location, the report said, while 45% said they cut operating hours, and 30% said they reduced or changed an in-store product selection as a result of retail crime.

    “The types of products shoplifters are targeting may not be based solely on price point,” the National Retail Federation said.

    “Products can range from high-price, high-fashion items to everyday products that have a fast resale capability,” the group said. “While ORC groups have traditionally targeted specific items or types of goods, that list has expanded to new categories like outerwear, batteries, energy drinks, designer footwear and kitchen accessories.”

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  • Room Alert Helps Protect Employees From Heat Illness While Maintaining DOL and OSHA Compliance

    Room Alert Helps Protect Employees From Heat Illness While Maintaining DOL and OSHA Compliance

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    Proactive environment monitoring platform warns employers when conditions are approaching levels that can cause heat-related illnesses for their staff


    WARREN, R.I., July 31, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    AVTECH Software (AVTECH), the leading provider of Room Alert environment monitors, sensors, and software, announces that its products are helping protect employees from heat-related illness while maintaining Department of Labor and OSHA compliance under recently announced guidance from The White House.

    Now celebrating its 35th year in business, AVTECH manufactures Room Alert, the world’s most popular environment monitor for business continuity plans, outage prevention, and workplace safety. Room Alert is made in the USA and proactively monitors environment conditions such as temperature, humidity, flood, power, smoke, and more. Room Alert is currently used in 187 of 196 countries by organizations ranging from thousands of small businesses to Boeing, Sprint, Microsoft, over 80% of the Fortune 1000, the United Nations, and many government agencies. 

    Extreme heat has been raising temperatures around the world to never-before-seen levels, and recent guidance from The White House has instructed the Department of Labor and OSHA to increase enforcement of heat violations to protect workers. Among recent recommendations from OSHA as they work on a federal heat standard is for employers to monitor and maintain safe temperatures and heat indices to help prevent heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses.

    AVTECH is proud to offer the perfect solution for businesses to comply with these regulations to protect their staff. The Room Alert environment monitoring platform is designed to continuously monitor temperature, humidity, heat index, and other environmental factors that can negatively impact employee health and safety. Room Alert can alert employers via email, text message, or mobile push notification when temperatures or the heat index exceed safe levels, enabling them to take immediate action to protect their employees. Room Alert can also provide historical data showing temperature compliance should a workplace incident potentially occur.

    “We understand the importance of keeping employees safe and healthy,” said Richard Grundy, AVTECH President and CEO. “Our Room Alert environment monitors are easy to install, use, and maintain, and they provide real-time alerts that can help employers prevent heat-related illness and maintain compliance with Labor Department and OSHA guidelines. Room Alert provides the perfect platform to help businesses protect their people, property, and productivity to provide Peace of Mind.”

    Room Alert environment monitors are compatible with a range of sensors, including temperature, humidity, flood, smoke, motion, and more. They can be used to securely monitor indoor and outdoor spaces, including server rooms, data centers, warehouses, cold storage, classroom or lab environments, and many other workplaces.

    To learn more about Room Alert and how it can help organizations protect their staff against illness caused by extreme temperatures and high heat index, please visit AVTECH.com/heatsafety.

    About AVTECH

    AVTECH Software (AVTECH), a private corporation founded in 1988, is a computer hardware and software developer and manufacturer based in Warren, RI with an international sales office in Dubai, UAE as well as an international distribution facility in Shannon, Ireland. AVTECH’s Room Alert products are made in the USA and proactively monitor critical facilities and assets for conditions such as temperature, humidity, power, flood/water leakage, smoke/fire, air flow, room entry, motion, cameras and more. Room Alert is in use in over 185 countries and can be found in over 80% of the Fortune 1000, most state and federal agencies, and all branches of the U.S. military. 

    Source: AVTECH Software, Inc.

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  • The Growing Trend of Personal Injury Impacts on Small Business | Entrepreneur

    The Growing Trend of Personal Injury Impacts on Small Business | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The personal injury industry is worth roughly $53.1 billion as of 2022. The majority of these claims fall under motor vehicle accident claims or medical malpractice.

    With more than 64,000 personal injury law firms in the United States, it’s an increasing reality that small business owners will face a claim against them or their insurance provider over the years.

    Although a car accident claim may not be directly relevant to all small business owners, other types of personal injury claims are. More relevant claims would likely involve product liability or a workplace accident lawsuit.

    For small businesses to grow, businesses to incorporate more services and offer their expertise to more people. But as business owners increase their reach, many will eventually encounter a situation involving a personal injury claim.

    Personal injury claims are among the most common types of lawsuits filed. For example, in 2020, personal injury/product liability increased by 97% over the previous year.

    Related: 7 Workplace Injuries That Can Put You Out of Business

    Suppose someone is injured while on your property or by one of your products; you and or your insurance provider may be in a position to be held liable for the injury. But how could this have been avoided in the first place? Various factors play into establishing fault.

    Accidents and the unforeseen occur constantly. It’s critical, though, to think as critically as possible and prepare yourself and your staff for the possibility of this situation. Savvy small business owners will know to not only be ready for this possibility but assume it will happen eventually.

    Protect your team through adequate insurance coverage

    At a minimum, small business owners are recommended to carry commercial general liability insurance. This will help support your staff in case of an injury on your property. It goes in tandem with creating a safe work environment, which is also critical. Keep floors clean, walkways available, and doors are clearly marked. If you work with specialized equipment, ensure all staff members are trained and certified to use said equipment.

    Be up to date on the law and keep an evolving record

    The rules that govern local small businesses include employment, environmental and product liability laws. Knowing the latest changes and amendments to these and related laws are essential, as they will impact your business operations. Keeping digital and printed records of all rules is recommended for quick accessibility and reference. Document everything if something occurs on your property leading to an accident, injury, or complaint. If you are sued or face a legal challenge, showing all your steps with written documentation can be hugely beneficial.

    Related: What Happens When Self-Driving Cars Crash? The Legal Ramifications of Automation

    Keep a written policy on customer service and be responsive to customer complaints

    To minimize confusion and help your staff interact with customers, display your customer service policy for any patrons visiting your establishment or office. This policy should include clear guidelines for an emergency involving an injured guest or staff member. If anyone is injured on your premises, request medical assistance immediately. Taking any injuries seriously in this situation is paramount.

    It may not be easy but keep a positive outlook

    It’s understandable to feel stressed when faced with injuries and a potential personal injury suit against you or your insurance policy. You should consult with an experienced legal counsel in these scenarios. Many personal injury lawyers often also provide defense litigation services. Talking with a legal expert who knows both sides of the personal injury coin can go a long way in helping to provide you relief in a stressful situation.

    Small business owners are expected to keep their products and property safe. This was what’s commonly referred to as the duty of care. Many personal injury claims will revolve around the legal claim that this duty was broken.

    Duty of care is typically defined as a base requirement that a person be attentive, exercise caution, and be mindful while in public. The small business owner and their patron/user are expected to follow this. A personal injury case could be possible if one party is found to have acted in a directly negligent fashion.

    Related: 5 Reasons Personal Injury Law Firms Are Thriving

    Defending yourself and your business from an accusation of negligence will be a significant deciding factor in the validity of the case. This is why thinking ahead is crucial to running a successful business. In addition, speaking to a trusted legal counsel on potential issues that could arise in connection with your business will help to minimize risk and protect all parties.

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    Hank Stout

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  • Gig Worker Safety in Question After Recent Attacks On Drivers | Entrepreneur

    Gig Worker Safety in Question After Recent Attacks On Drivers | Entrepreneur

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    In mid-April, three gig workers fell victim to violent crime in Florida: a woman was kidnapped and sexually assaulted after making a Doordash delivery, a couple’s car was shot at after turning onto the wrong driveway attempting to drop off an Instacart order, and a man was murdered after making an Uber Eats delivery.

    While the news is unsettling, for some gig workers, feeling unsafe is an increasing concern.

    “The safety of drivers and couriers is a top priority, and we’ll continue investing in critical safety features like the ability to chat with a live safety agent, record trip audio in the app in nearly 150 U.S. cities, and share their trip with loved ones,” a spokesperson for Uber told Entrepreneur.

    Roberto Moreno, who formerly worked for GrubHub and Postmates in San Diego County, told the AP Monday that he stopped working for ride-sharing and delivery services altogether due to concerns for his safety.

    “We have to look out for ourselves because the companies don’t do it,” he told the outlet.

    Moreno also noted the disparity between verification needed from drivers and riders. Drivers are required to submit a selfie, get background checks, and give other personal information, but when it comes to riders, “we don’t know anything about the passengers or the people who we’re delivering to,” he said.

    Related: DoorDash Employee Says Customer Pulled Knife on Her During Creepy Delivery: ‘I Just Want Some Human Contact’

    Gig Workers Rising, an activist group fighting for the safety and protection of gig workers, found that 80 app-based workers had been killed while on the job between 2017 and 2022 — with 31 murdered in 2022 alone, signifying an increase in violence. The report was based on press releases, police records, and court documents.

    “App workers worldwide are grappling with a business model and workplace practices that leave them facing an unparalleled and racialized health and safety crisis,” the organization wrote in the report.

    In 2021, NBC News spoke to 15 gig workers — all of which said they often “feared for their safety,” and that it seems as though violence spiked during and following the pandemic.

    That same year, Uber rolled out new safety measures to protect drivers such as thorough verification for riders who use untrackable payment options like gift cards. Last fall, the company implemented more safety features such as freezing rider accounts that appear fake or offensive, the option to video record the ride using the front-facing camera, as well as recording audio during a trip.

    “We’ve designed these new features to provide more peace of mind when driving and delivering,” the company wrote in the release.

    Still, among all the gig-driven apps, Uber had the most instances of workers killed in 2022 at 39% of total crimes, according to the report from Gig Workers Rising.

    In regard to the report by Gig Workers Rising, Uber noted that the death of Milton Pillacela Ayora (which was attributed to Uber in the report) was not connected to the Uber platform, and that another recorded death, Michael Wallace, was in 2018 but still included in the most recent report.

    Related: Uber Courier Drivers Are Concerned Their Cars Are Being Used to Move Drugs

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    Madeline Garfinkle

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  • Is it safe to live near recycling centers? Questions surge after Indiana plastics site burns.

    Is it safe to live near recycling centers? Questions surge after Indiana plastics site burns.

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    As the fire at an Indiana plastics-recycling storage facility burned over several days and officials scrambled to calm evacuated residents and measure air quality, larger safety questions emerged across a nation that relies on recycling to help offset the impact of teeming landfills and littered waterways.

    Authorities in the eastern part of the state on Sunday finally lifted a dayslong evacuation order after it was determined immediate environmental concerns related to the fire had passed.

    But the man-made disaster had already done its part, leaving many wondering if recycling centers — challenging to regulate because they range from small community-led efforts to major industrial facilities — are as safe as Americans think they are?

    Public health experts told MarketWatch the nation needs to take a harder look at how we store and dispose of chemicals-heavy plastics in particular, along with other recycled materials that can act as a tinderbox in certain conditions. It may be a wakeup call to the scores of Americans who embrace recycling as one of the longest-tested and straightforward solutions to help the environment. What happens after recyclable materials leave the home can be quite another story, however.

    Read: Recycling is confusing — how to be smarter about all that takeout plastic

    Worker safety in the handling of large recycling machinery remains a priority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other agencies, but less scrutiny may be given to the emissions those workers breathe in, and in the case of the Indiana emergency, what pollution community members near a recycling center may be exposed to.

    “Any company, regardless of its intentions, must be held accountable for regulations, not only for the safety of its employees, but for the communities around it,” Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist, who is the national spokesperson for the American Lung Association, told MarketWatch.

    “This [Indiana crisis] is alarming — a good deed [such as recycling] undone by the consequences of not having sound safety precautions,” said Galiatsatos, who is also an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and helps lead community engagement for the Baltimore Breathe Center.

    As for the fire in Richmond, Ind., a college town and county seat of about 35,000 people near the Ohio border, the city’s fire chief, Tim Brown, made clear that there were known code violations by the operator of the former factory that had been turned into plastics storage for recycling or resale. This dangerous fire was a matter of “when, not if,” Brown said in the initial hours that the fire, whose origin is not yet known, burned.

    The city of Richmond’s official site about the disaster described the fire as initially impacting “two warehouses containing large amounts of chipped, shredded and bulk recycled plastic, [which] caught fire.” The site does offer cleanup help advice.

    Brown, the fire chief, reported that just over 13 of the 14 acres which made up the recycling facility’s property had burned, according to nearby Dayton, Ohio, station WDTN. Brown told reporters the six buildings at the site of the fire were full of plastic from “floor to ceiling, wall to wall,” along with several full semi-trailers. He said Sunday that fire fighters would continue to monitor for flare-ups, according to the Associated Press.

    Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said the owner of the buildings has ignored citations that dinged his operation for code violations, and the city has continued to go through steps to get the owner to clean up the property, including preventing the operator from taking on additional plastic.

    “We just wish the property owner and the business owner would’ve taken this more serious from day one,” Snow said, according to the report out of Dayton, which cited sister station WXIN. “This person has been negligent and irresponsible, and it’s led to putting a lot of people in danger,” the mayor added.

    But some environmental groups say lax enforcement puts citizens at risk.

    “Indiana is already top in the nation for water and air quality violations, but the consequences are too negligible here for industry to adhere to the laws,” said Susan Thomas, communications director at Just Transition Northwest Indiana, a climate justice group based in the state.

    “We need real solutions to the climate crisis, not more false ones that shield chronic polluters from justice,” she said.

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had collected debris samples from the Richmond fire and searched nearby grounds for any debris, which will be sampled for asbestos given the age of the buildings housing the recycling facility. Residents have been warned not to touch or mow over debris until the sample results are available. Testing was also carried out on the Ohio side of the border.

    No doubt, the catastrophe had impacted daily life. Wayne County, Ind., health department officials and fire-safety officials told residents to shelter in place and reduce outdoor activity if they even smelled smoke. According to the health department’s help line, symptoms that may be related to breathing smoke include repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea or lightheadedness.

    Any safer than a landfill?

    When a lens on recycling is widened, it comes to light that how facilities handle their plastic and other materials may not involve much more care than that given to chemical-emitting plastic left to break down in a landfill, say the concerned public health officials.

    Of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the U.S., only 5%-6%, or about two million tons, is recycled, according to a report conducted by the environmental groups Beyond Plastics and The Last Beach Cleanup. About 85% went to landfills, and 10% was incinerated. The rate of plastic recycling has decreased since 2018, when it was at 8.7%, per the study.

    Generally speaking, when plastic particles break down, they gain new physical and chemical properties, increasing the risk they will have a toxic effect on organisms, says the environmental arm of the United Nations. The larger the number of potentially affected species and ecological functions, the more likely it is that toxic effects will occur.

    And although the conditions of the Indiana fire differ from those experienced earlier this year when a Norfolk Southern Corp.
    NSC,
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    freight train carrying hazardous materials in several cars derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, the public’s concern for that event — which also sparked an evacuation after a chemical plume from a controlled burn — spread widely on social media.

    Now, add in Richmond. The public, at large, is increasingly wondering if officials are doing their job to prevent such disasters, and whether the full extent of chemical exposure is known.

    “This [fire in Indiana] overlaps in a general sense the chemical safety question raised by the Ohio derailment — and it shouldn’t have just been raised by that one event, but that certainly brought it into focus,” said Dr. Peter Orris, chief of occupational and environmental medicine at the University of Illinois – Chicago.

    Orris said lasting solutions pushing awareness and safety around the storage and transportation of chemicals and chemical-based plastic must span political differences over the reach of regulation. He recalled a time just after the 9/11 terror attacks when a fresh look at the transportation of toxic chemicals and the storage and shipment of ammonia and other substances that can have nefarious uses in the wrong hands drew support from unusual partners.

    “Shortly after 9/11 a rather broad coalition, including environmental interests such as Greenpeace, and consumer groups, with congressional support, alongside Homeland Security all pushed a model bill about where and how you could transport toxic chemicals, especially going through populated areas,” he said. “Dealing with new concerns around chemicals and recycling plastic may require the same breadth of interests.”

    Already, the Biden administration has shown the will to target chemical exposure in U.S. water. Earlier this year, the EPA moved to require near-zero levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, part of a classification of chemicals known as PFAS, and also called “forever chemicals” due to how long they persist in the environment. Both the chemical companies and their trade groups have pushed their own steps toward reducing risk, they say. Exposure to some of the chemicals has been linked to cancer, liver damage, fertility and thyroid problems, as well as asthma and other health effects.

    Read more: Cancer-linked PFAS — known as ‘forever chemicals’ — could be banned in drinking water for first time

    And, Orris stressed, regulating recycling with a one-size-fits-all approach may not work.

    Surprisingly, it can be the smaller recycling facilities that take bigger steps in curbing emissions than their larger counterparts. Orris in recent years reported on efforts of a San Francisco recycling plant that made emissions reduction a priority, including by banning incineration. The same research trip turned up issues with a Los Angeles-area plant, exposing “real problems with its policies and procedures beginning with the neighborhood smell from organic materials to other issues with toxins.”

    How can plastic be so dangerous?

    Specifically, the chemicals that help fortify plastic for its many uses present their own unique conditions.

    As plastic is heated at high temperatures, melted and reformed into small pellets, it emits toxic chemicals and particulate matter, including volatile gases and fly ash, into the air, which pose threats to health and the local environment, says a Human Rights Watch paper, citing environmental engineering research. When plastic is recycled into pellets for future use, its toxic chemical additives are carried over to the new products. Plus, the recycling process can generate new toxic chemicals, like dioxins, if plastics are not heated at a high enough temperature.

    There are other concerns. Plastic melting facilities can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carcinogens, which in higher concentrations can pollute air both inside facilities and in areas near recycling facilities.

    “Plastics, the way they burn, put out dangerous toxins. And plastic can create its own unique chemistry even when it comes into interaction with benign chemicals,” said Galiatsatos of Johns Hopkins.

    “There are the lung issues from people breathing in these chemicals and the toxins associated with them. But there is more: systemic inflation from breathing in chemicals, and that can lead to heart disease,” he said.

    “I wish we would pay the same amount of attention to plastics, their recycling and their disposal, as we do with sewer systems. When was the last time we heard of a waste system-based cholera outbreak in the U.S.?” he asked rhetorically. “Exactly. That we care about. Yet plastics, especially the burning of chemicals, we treat too lightly.”

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  • Amazon gets 3 more warehouse-safety citations as OSHA warns company to ‘take these injuries seriously’

    Amazon gets 3 more warehouse-safety citations as OSHA warns company to ‘take these injuries seriously’

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    The federal government on Wednesday hit Amazon.com Inc. with worker-safety related citations and penalties at three more warehouses, two weeks after issuing citations at the company’s warehouses in three different states.

    The latest citations are the result of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s investigation of Amazon
    AMZN,
    +1.96%
    warehouses stemming from referrals from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. At all six locations, OSHA investigators cited the company for exposing warehouse workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders and asked for a multitude of changes and corrections.

    “Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary Doug Parker in a statement Wednesday. “They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards.”

    See: Amazon cited for warehouse working conditions ‘designed for speed but not safety’

    The newest citations come from investigations into Amazon warehouses in Aurora, Colo.; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, N.Y. At all three sites, OSHA inspectors concluded that workers are suffering from musculoskeletal injuries “as a result of lifting heavy items while attempting to meet pace of work and production quotas,” according to each of the hazard letters that were sent to those warehouses’ operations managers. Those concerns were similar to those raised by OSHA at the three other Amazon warehouses in Florida, Illinois and a different warehouse in New York a couple of weeks ago.

    In Aurora and Nampa, inspectors also found evidence that injuries may not have been reported because Amazon’s on-site first-aid clinic “was not staffed appropriately.” In Castleton, staffers at the company’s on-site clinic, known as AmCare, “question whether workers are actually injured, pressure injured workers to work through their injuries, and steer injured workers to Amazon-preferred doctors,” Rita Young, OSHA area director, wrote in the hazard letter.

    The penalties associated with the citations at the three sites total $46,875. OSHA also asked Amazon to detail the changes it makes in response, and said the company’s response will determine whether more evaluation is needed. In addition, the agency’s inspectors may do follow-up visits within the next six months.

    Just like with the first three citations, Amazon intends to appeal.

    “We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we don’t believe the government’s allegations reflect the reality of safety at our sites,” Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in an emailed statement.

    A company spokeswoman also referred to several safety-related efforts by the company, including its partnership with the National Safety Council; equipment that’s supposed to help reduce the need for twisting, bending and reaching; and “process improvements” designed by Amazon’s robotics team.

    In anticipation of Wednesday’s OSHA citations, a group of worker advocates held a virtual news conference Tuesday. Among the panelists was Debbie Berkowitz, a former chief of staff at OSHA and now a fellow at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.

    “I want to make it clear to everybody that these OSHA citations are incredibly historic and significant,” Berkowitz said. “Don’t get thrown by the low amount of penalties,” she added, saying the Occupational Safety and Health Act is a “weak law.”

    She went on to say that “OSHA really grounded their investigations using doctors, experts, and what to do to mitigate the hazards… They show that Amazon needs to take action.”

    Also present on the news conference was Amazon warehouse worker Jennifer Crane, from St. Peters, Mo.

    “I’m glad to see OSHA investigate the safety crisis at Amazon,” she said. “The company blames us for getting injured. They push us to work at unrealistic speeds.”

    Also: As Amazon shareholders call for audit of warehouse working conditions, report finds more than double the rate of injuries than at other warehouses

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  • Apple warns that iPhone 14 Pro shipments will be hit by China production snags

    Apple warns that iPhone 14 Pro shipments will be hit by China production snags

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    Apple Inc. said Sunday that it now expects lower shipments of its high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max devices than it did previously, as COVID-19 issues hamper production in China.

    “We continue to see strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models,” the company announced in a Sunday evening press release. “However, we now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.”

    Apple
    AAPL,
    -0.19%
    acknowledged in its release that COVID-19 issues have “temporarily impacted” production of the devices at the Zhengzhou site that is the “primary” assembly facility for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. That facility is currently seeing “significantly reduced” operating capacity.

    “We are working closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker,” the company added in the release.

    Analysts have been discussing iPhone production disruption at manufacturer Foxconn’s
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    Zhengzhou facility for the past week amid fallout from COVID-19 restrictions in the city.

    “Although Apple earnings were only a week ago, supply shortages at the high end of the market and recent COVID lockdowns in China impacting a Foxconn plant could negatively impact iPhone units in the December quarter,” UBS analyst David Vogt wrote Wednesday, ahead of Apple’s press release. “While we believe iPhone demand tends to not be perishable, a slippage of a couple of million units is possible below our 86 million forecast.”

    While Apple was the only Big Tech company to see its shares rally in the wake of its late-October earnings report, shares have struggled more since then. They logged their worst weekly performance since March 2020 last week.

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  • If You Want Your Startup to Succeed, Don’t Overlook Workplace Safety

    If You Want Your Startup to Succeed, Don’t Overlook Workplace Safety

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Entrepreneurs are overwhelmed by challenges. They have to build a product with a great product-market fit, raise capital, assemble a harmonious and high-functioning team, secure supply chains at reasonable prices and build a process to run their business effectively, all while trying to make a profit. One aspect of running a business that is often neglected is workplace safety.

    It’s a matter of duty

    Workplace safety is vital from a human point of view. As the founder of a business, it is your responsibility to ensure that your workers and anyone who enters your facilities are safe. Before commercial considerations, there are considerations of duty. If you look at the most admired business leaders in the world, they all have a sense of duty toward their shareholders and their workers. Workers look up to such leaders and want to work under business leaders who reflect those values or service and duty toward the business.

    Related: New York Lawmakers Seek to Limit Warehouse Productivity Quotas, Targeting Amazon

    It’s a regulatory requirement

    It is important to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines because failure to do so can lead to heavy penalties. This is why every business is encouraged to have some kind of OSHA safety training to ensure regulatory compliance. OSHA standards apply to all businesses regardless of size or sector.

    The nature of the guidelines might vary, but your business at a minimum needs to provide adequate safety training and visible signage placed strategically across the premises, among other things. If your failures to adhere to OSHA guidelines are extreme enough, your business could ultimately lose its license.

    Related: Why it Pays to Invest in Health and Safety Systems

    Workplace safety enhances productivity

    Startups are even more reliant on their workers than big companies because startups do not have the resources to scale. Each worker is tasked with doing much more than they would under normal conditions. Workers in startups are more likely to be multifunctional than those in established firms.

    Given the pressure that each worker is under, they should feel confident within their workspace if they are to work quickly and productively. If they are plagued with doubts about their well-being, they will focus more on securing their safety than on enhancing their productivity.

    Research shows a strong link between work conditions such as workplace safety and productivity, with researchers saying that “physical, organizational and psychosocial conditions at work contribute directly to worker safety, health and wellbeing, and influence enterprise outcomes such as turnover, absence, productivity and healthcare costs”. Another study noted that “employees’ safety and health are of primary importance, as both are key elements in achieving an organization’s desired productivity and efficiency.”

    It helps create a happy workforce

    Workers respond well to working environments where it’s clear that management cares about their welfare. When it is clear that management does not care for their welfare, you run the risk of breeding dissatisfaction among your workers and losing some of them to your competitors. By working hard to improve workplace safety, you create the conditions for your workers to give their best to the organization.

    It’s important to provide safety training for your workers and establish the right protocols to protect your workers from environmental stressors, psychological harm and other risks.

    Having these efforts in place will create a productive and positive culture around your business. Poor workplace safety is a signal to workers that management is indifferent to their welfare and poorly organized. Bad management will ultimately lead to legal liability and bad decision-making in other aspects of the business.

    A company burdened with legal liabilities will have to shell out heavily on liability insurance as well as worker’s compensation, and this ultimately reduces its value. The value of a business is the sum of its future cash flows, and a business that workers see as destined to make lots of payments to deal with its legal liabilities is not a business that will thrive.

    You will notice that companies with issues of workplace safety also suffer from issues of absenteeism and productivity. This is a massive downside that results from being tight-fisted about workplace safety.

    Now, when a company puts a premium on workplace safety, that tells workers that management not only cares for them but is unlikely to make decisions that will result in legal liability or threaten the existence of the firm. That is the kind of positive signal that motivates current workers and makes it easier to hire new ones.

    Related: 5 HR Strategies To Promote Employee Health And Safety

    It limits your liability

    If one of your workers is harmed in some way while on your premises, or doing company business, that creates an immediate liability if that is due to workplace safety issues. Even if, for instance, a worker did something wrong out of ignorance, that raises an issue of the adequacy of safety training within the organization.

    With cash flow such a serious issue for startups, it makes no sense to create conditions that threaten cash flows.

    Poor workplace safety standards can lead to huge legal bills and settlements that might even threaten the existence of your business. Rather than allowing an existential threat to persist within your business, it is smarter to eliminate that risk and work to improve workplace safety.

    Related: 6 Refresher Courses Every Employee Should Take Each Year

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    Mark Pierce

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  • Lawsuit settled, film may resume after Alec Baldwin shooting

    Lawsuit settled, film may resume after Alec Baldwin shooting

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    LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of a cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on the set of the film “Rust” has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the actor and the movie’s producers, and producers aim to restart the project in January despite unresolved workplace safety sanctions.

    “We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust including Alec Baldwin,” said a statement Wednesday from Matthew Hutchins, widower of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and a plaintiff in the lawsuit along with their 9-year-old son Andros. “As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed. The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board, in January 2023.”

    The agreement is a rare piece of positive news for Baldwin, who has had a turbulent year since the Oct. 21 shooting. The actor, who was also a producer on the film, was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza. They had been inside a small church during setup for filming a scene.

    He announced the settlement agreement in an Instagram post.

    “Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son,” Baldwin said in the post. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

    Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. But a recent FBI forensic report found the weapon could not not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.

    New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator determined the shooting was an accident following the completion of an autopsy and a review of law enforcement reports.

    “I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin),” Matthew Hutchins said in the statement. “All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.”

    Rust Movie Productions continues to challenge the basis of a $137,000 fine against the company by New Mexico occupational safety regulators who say production managers on the set failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety. The state Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission has scheduled an eight-day hearing on the disputed sanctions in April 2023.

    Matthew Maez, spokesman for the Environment Department that enforces occupational safety regulations, says immediate gun-safety concerns were addressed when “Rust” ceased filming, and that a return to filming in New Mexico would be accompanied by new safety inspections.

    “They’re going through the process as they have a right to,” Maez said. “They have not paid the fine or accepted the conclusions.”

    In April, New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau imposed the maximum fine against Rust Movie Productions and distributed a scathing narrative of safety failures, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires of blank ammunition on set prior to the fatal shooting.

    Rust Movie Productions told safety regulators that misfires prior to the fatal shooting of Hutchins did not violate safety protocols and that “appropriate corrective actions were taken,” including briefings of cast and crew.

    Other legal troubles persist in relation to the film and the deadly shooting.

    At least four other lawsuits brought by crew members remain, and the state of New Mexico has granted funds to pay for possible criminal prosecutions.

    Baldwin is also a defendant in an unrelated defamation lawsuit brought by the family of a Marine killed in Afghanistan.

    The Hutchins family lawsuit, filed in February, was harshly critical of Baldwin, the films producers, and the other defendants: unit production manager Katherine Walters, assistant director David Halls, armorer Hannah Guttierez Reed, and ammunition supplier Seth Kenney.

    Their “reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures led to the death of Halyna Hutchins,” plaintiffs’ attorney Brian Panish said at a news conference.

    According to the lawsuit, if proper protocols had been followed, “Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and 9-year-old son.”

    The lawsuit said industry standards call for using a rubber or similar prop gun during the setup, and there was no call for a real gun. It also said Baldwin and Halls, who handed him the gun, should have checked the revolver for live bullets.

    ___

    Associated Press writer Morgan Lee contributed from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton

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  • Two Boyd Gaming Properties Earn Top Safety Awards From Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section

    Two Boyd Gaming Properties Earn Top Safety Awards From Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section

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    Press Release
    –

    May 6, 2022


    LAS VEGAS, May 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) of the State of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations recognizes two Boyd Gaming properties – Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel and California Hotel and Casino – for successful entry into the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). This is the first time these Boyd Gaming properties have earned this top safety honor.

    Boyd Gaming partnered with SCATS consultants to develop its comprehensive employee safety program and strives toward continuous growth.

    “Creating a safe environment for our team members and guests is a top priority for Boyd Gaming,” said Andre Filosi, Vice President and General Manager of the California Hotel and Casino, Fremont Hotel and Casino and Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel. “We are proud of our Company’s long-standing partnership with Nevada SCATS that has helped us implement comprehensive safety programs and set the standard for excellence in workplace safety.”

    Boyd Gaming is part of an elite group of businesses that have achieved SHARP status by maintaining exemplary health and safety protocols. Participation in the no-cost program provides incentives and support to employers to develop, implement and continuously improve programs at their worksite(s). By taking these proactive measures, businesses can reduce accident costs and ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulations.

    “Boyd Gaming is a committed safety leader within the casino industry,” said Todd Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer for SCATS. “It’s an honor to support Nevada-based companies like this that ensure their employees return home safe and healthy every day.”

    SCATS consultants provide employers with confidential hazard identification, program development, implementation assistance and training. Employers who implement effective safety programs and have a days-away restricted transfer (DART) rate below the national average for their industry may be recognized by SCATS. Successful SHARP participants may receive up to a three-year deferral from OSHA’s general schedule inspections.

    Businesses interested in SHARP can contact SCATS at 775-824-4630. For more information or for a schedule of free training courses offered by SCATS, businesses can call 1-877-4SAFENV or visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.

    About Boyd Gaming
    Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation’s leading sports-betting and iGaming operator. With one of the most experienced leadership teams in the casino industry, Boyd Gaming prides itself on offering its guests an outstanding entertainment experience, delivered with unwavering attention to customer service. Through a long-standing company philosophy called Caring the Boyd Way, Boyd Gaming is committed to advancing Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) initiatives that positively impact the Company’s stakeholders and communities. Our commitment to being an employer of choice has been recognized by Forbes magazine, which named Boyd Gaming the highest-ranked gaming company in America’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2021, and Nevada’s Best Employers in 2020 and 2021. For additional Company information and press releases, visit www.boydgaming.com.

    About Nevada SCATS
    The Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS), part of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations, provides free and confidential consultation and safety services to assist businesses in Nevada to be in compliance with OSHA standards. SCATS helps Nevada businesses keep their employees safe and offers on-site consultation services designed to help employers recognize and control potential safety and health hazards at their workplaces, improve their safety and health programs, and assist in training employees. SCATS also offers Workplace Safety and Health Training classes in Northern and Southern Nevada. Bilingual services are also available. Visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.

    Funding Statement: 
    The Nevada On-Site Consultation program (SCATS), at the time of initial publication of this document (5/2022), is funded by a cooperative agreement for $1,001,105 federal funds, which constitutes 34.5% percent of the program budget. 0% percent, or $ 0.00 of the program budget, is financed through non-governmental sources.

    Media contact: Jena Esposito, KPS3, jena.esposito@kps3.com

    Source: Nevada Safety Consultation and Training Section

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  • Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section Awards Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. With Top Safety Honor

    Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section Awards Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. With Top Safety Honor

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    Press Release
    –

    Apr 28, 2022


    LAS VEGAS, April 28, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) of the State of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations recognizes Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. for the successful renewal of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). This is the third time the Las Vegas facility has earned this top safety honor.

    Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. partnered with SCATS consultants to develop its comprehensive employee safety program and strives toward continuous growth.

    “SCATS has been our team’s closest health and safety ally,” said Aiko Hatano, Human Resources Business Partner, Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. “The SHARP designation is culture-changing and it will have a lasting impact on the health and safety standards for our employees and our workplace.”

    Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. is part of an elite group of businesses that have renewed their status with SHARP by maintaining exemplary health and safety protocols. Participation in the no-cost program provides incentives and support to employers to develop, implement and continuously improve programs at their worksite(s). By taking these proactive measures, businesses can reduce accident costs and ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulations.

    “Sega Sammy Creation USA Inc. has partnered with SCATS’ safety experts since first opening its facility – it’s been incredible to see how our teamwork has helped them achieve high safety standards from the start,” said Todd Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer for SCATS. “It’s an honor to support teams like this who prioritize employees’ health and well-being every day.”

    SCATS consultants provide employers with confidential hazard identification, program development, implementation assistance and training. Employers who implement effective safety programs and have a days-away restricted transfer (DART) rate below the national average for their industry may be recognized by SCATS. Successful SHARP participants may receive up to a three-year deferral from OSHA’s general schedule inspections.

    Businesses interested in SHARP can contact SCATS at 775-824-4630. For more information or for a schedule of free training courses offered by SCATS, businesses can call 1-877-4SAFENV or visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.

    About Sega Sammy Creation Inc.
    SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC. is a Japan-based company established in June 2013. The company opened its U.S. facility in Nevada in October of 2018. We manufacture exciting and never-before-seen gaming machines by utilizing the diverse resources from the SEGA SAMMY GROUP. For more information about the company, visit segasammycreation.com/en.

    About Nevada SCATS
    The Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS), part of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations, provides free and confidential consultation and safety services to assist businesses in Nevada to be in compliance with OSHA standards. SCATS helps Nevada businesses keep their employees safe and offers on-site consultation services designed to help employers recognize and control potential safety and health hazards at their workplaces, improve their safety and health programs, and assist in training employees. SCATS also offers Workplace Safety and Health Training classes in Northern and Southern Nevada. Bilingual services are also available. Visit 4safenv.state.nv.us.

    The Nevada On-Site Consultation program (SCATS), at the time of initial publication of this document (4/2022), is funded by a cooperative agreement for $1,001,105 federal funds, which constitutes 34.5% percent of the program budget. 0% percent, or $ 0.00 of the program budget, is financed through non-governmental sources.

    Media contact: Jena Esposito, KPS3, jena.esposito@kps3.com

    Source: Nevada Safety Consultation and Training Section

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  • Pinpoint Deploys COVID-19 Remote Wellness Screening Software, Protecting Students and Staff as Schools Begin Reopening

    Pinpoint Deploys COVID-19 Remote Wellness Screening Software, Protecting Students and Staff as Schools Begin Reopening

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 1, 2020


    BALTIMORE, September 1, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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    ​​Pinpoint builds upon its virtual wellness screening and monitoring platform, which both aligns with CDC guidelines and is HIPAA-compliant, to help schools safely reopen nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. With some states requiring schoolwide-screening programs in order to reopen, administrators are seeking technological solutions to keep students and faculty healthy.

    “We must all remain cautious as schools begin to reopen, as safety and wellness are the top priority for staff and students,” said Chris Nickerson, Managing Director. “Our data-centered approach is designed to screen, monitor, and track the health of organizations, and mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.”

    Pinpoint works with all schools including K-12 and higher education. Their web-based application uses SMS (email and text) to screen staff or students who may be experiencing symptoms, had contact with a diagnosed COVID-19 individual, travel restrictions, etc. Designed with adaptive algorithms and dynamically generated resources, administrators will be able to view aggregate wellness data of their campus population in real-time.

    The inexpensive, simple-to-use platform is implemented quickly with nothing to download. Along with tracking wellness, administrators are finding new ways to use the software. Schools are using as a tool to change attendance tracking, curbside drop-off and pickup, emergency drills, and access control.

    Pinpoint is currently focusing on helping schools across the country in states like New York with early reopening plans. Assisting them with vital personalized screening solutions to help staff and households to screen themselves remotely.

    “Pinpoint’s screening tool will make it possible for our District to screen all staff and students as we return to in-person learning this fall. The company has been very easy to work with, quick to respond, and helped us seamlessly implement this key piece of our reopening plan. We’re thankful for their partnership during these stressful times.” — Kristine Orr, Superintendent of Schools, South Glens Falls Central School District, New York

    Pinpoint has its roots in schools and education as it was initially developed inside a school as a software for active shooter and compliance technology in 2016.

    To find out more, or schedule a demo, visit the website at https://www.pinpoint.us/edu-solutions

    ###

    About Pinpoint

    Founded in 2016, the Pinpoint technology was developed and launched at a Baltimore school to provide instant accountability for students and teachers in active shooter and emergency situations. Utilizing innovative technology for the safety and security of our communities, schools, and businesses has been the organization’s mission from the beginning. 

    In 2020, Pinpoint launched its wellness check pathway, which is being used by employers to perform remote wellness screening and return-to-work procedures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization leverages technology solutions to increase efficiency and reach for symptom monitoring for COVID-19+ residents, screening of those at risk for COVID-19, identification mood disturbances associated and identification of domestic violence/intimate partner violence during times of increased health and economic stress.

    Contact:

    Karen Chandler

    PinpointSafety.com

    KChandler@Pinpoint.us

    Source: Pinpoint Us, LLC

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