The number of U.S. workplace deaths was down 6 percent in 2007 compared to the year before, but workplace homicides increased 13 percent, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Based on the preliminary numbers, BLS says the rate of fatal injury in 2007 was 3.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers in 2006, and the lowest annual fatality rate ever reported by the fatality census. Although workplace fatalities in general are down, BLS says that fatalities by certain incidents are up—workplace homicides involving police officers and supervisors of retail sales workers both saw substantial increases in 2007, and the number of fatal falls last year rose to a series high of 835--a 39 percent increase since 1992 when BLS initiated tracking work fatalities.

Overall, 90 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry, and the construction industry continues to record the most fatalities of any industry in the private sector, BLS says.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a fact sheet for employers on developing effective safety and health management systems to reduce work injuries and illnesses. The fact sheet contains a checklist of recommended activities and links for employer resources in OSHA to help develop safety policies and procedures.

In November 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule requiring employers to pay for almost all personal protective equipment provided to employees. Employers are reminded that they must comply with this directive by May 15th.

The rule does not require employers to provide PPE where none had been required before, according to Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin Foulke in a speech announcing the final rule. Employer payment of PPE would only apply when the equipment is used to comply with OSHA standards. In some cases, OSHA rules describe the exact PPE required; in other cases the requirements are more general.

(OSHA and the National Safety Council will have a paid webinar on April 23 covering the requirement.)

Although workplace safety experts agree that personal protective equipment is a must when employees undertake hazardous tasks, a majority of the safety professionals (66 percent) report that PPE compliance was an issue within their organization. Eighty-five percent of the safety professionals surveyed by Kimberly-Clark Professional at a National Safety Council Congress said they had observed people in their organizations failing to wear the proper gear when they should have, and 57 percent of those who had observed the noncompliance said that the workers attributed this to poor fit or discomfort.

Insufficient management support/resources for health and safety functions, and under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses were the other top workplace safety issues pointed out by the survey.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued its final rule requiring employers to pay for required personal protective equipment, with the exception of certain safety-toe shoes, prescription safety eyewear, and ordinary or everyday clothing. In addition, lost or intentionally damaged protective gear does not have to be replaced at the employer’s cost. The rule affects general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshore, and construction. It goes into effect 90 days from the Nov. 15 date of publication in the Federal Register, and must be implemented within six months by employers. Hawaii employers should note that HIOSH already requires employers in Hawaii to pay for personal protective equipment required by HIOSH regulations, except where the PPE is very personal and usable by the employee off the job (such as safety shoes and prescription safety glasses). See Haw. Admin. Rule §12-64.1-3.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006 occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—a decline from 4.6 cases in 2005. The rate in 2006 was the lowest since the workplace injuries and illnesses survey was first conducted in 1972. There were rate declines for injuries and illnesses in both goods-producing and service-providing industries between 2005 and 2006—the rate fell from 6.2 cases per 100 full-time workers to 5.9 cases in goods-producing industries and from 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers to 3.9 cases in service-providing industries.

Data from the BLS Injuries and Fatalities program provide a wide range of information about workplace injuries and illnesses by industry sector.

Hawaii was among 12 states reporting an increase of 20 percent or more in workplace fatalities in 2006, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The rate of fatal work injuries nationwide last year was 3.9 per 100,000 workers, down from a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 in 2005. Fatal highway incidents remained the most frequent type of work-related fatalities, accounting for nearly one out of four fatal work injuries. Construction accounted for the most fatalities of any industry sector, with a 3 percent increase over 2005. BLS says that the number of workplace homicides in 2006 was series low, and reflected a decline of over 50 percent from the high reported in 1994.

The training videos focus on safety in small business facilities and the construction industry, with an additional video on safety in the health care industry to come. The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health division is offering the free videos either viewable online or by order in DVD format. See the HIOSH web page for more information.

Lost time due to job-related injuries and illnesses decreased 6 percent from 2005 to 2006, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There was also a 4 percent reduction in the overall number of occupational injuries and illnesses, according to the findings. New data was reported on work injury and illness rates by occupation, gender and age group—nursing aides, orderlies and attendants had lost work days and rate of work ailments that were more than four times the total for all occupations. Men lost more days to job-related injury and illness; men had a days-away-from-work rate of 143 per 10,000 workers, compared to women with 106 days per 10,000 workers. Four out of every ten days away from work were due to sprains or strains. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao says that the new data “helps us identify those employers and employees who most need our assistance” in keeping safe and healthy at work.

The manufacturing industry accounted for 21 percent of the occupational injuries/illnesses, but only 8 percent of at-work fatalities compared to other private sector workers in 2005, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For injuries involving days away from work, the most common events for manufacturing workers were overexertion (23 percent of cases) from lifting or pushing or pulling objects; being struck by an object (15 percent); or being caught in machinery, equipment, or other objects (10 percent). BLS reports there was a 15 percent decrease in manufacturing fatalities. The number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 employed workers was 2.4 percent in manufacturing compared to the overall fatality rate in the private sector of 4.0 percent.

Workers in the health care industry—including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, nursing personnel, physicians, operating room personnel, shipping and receiving personnel, waste handlers, maintenance and laundry workers, and workers in veterinary practices—who are exposed to hazardous drugs should be routinely monitored as part of a medical surveillance program, the Centers for Disease Control recommends. Workers may be exposed when they generate dust, clean up spills, or touch contaminated surfaces, the CDC says, and that the most likely ways are via inhalation or skin contact and absorption. Medical risks of exposure include skin rashes, cancer and reproductive disorders. At a minimum, the medical surveillance program should include reproductive and general health questionnaires, periodic laboratory testing, and physical exams and follow up, the CDC notes.

Employees who work outdoors face potential dangers associated with heat exposure and stress, says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“Exposure to heat can cause heat cramps and rashes. The most serious heat-related disorders are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Symptoms include confusion; irrational behavior; loss of consciousness; hot, dry skin; and abnormally high body temperature. Drinking cool water, reducing physical exertion, wearing appropriate clothing and regular rest periods in a cool recovery area can lessen the effects of working in summer heat,” OSHA advises.

The agency has issued a fact sheet explaining heat stress and how it can be prevented. Another fact sheet provides recommendations on how to protect employees from exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and offers information on insect-caused illnesses such as West Nile Virus.

Laptops, BlackBerries, and other wireless devices intended to connect employees to the office outside of normal working hours can present potential legal dangers for employers under the provisions of the federal and state overtime laws, says the law firm of Pepper Hamilton LLP.

According to a Pepper Hamilton spokesperson, “if a non-exempt employee uses technology such as a cell phone, a remote Internet connection, or a BlackBerry outside of regular work hours and, as a result, works more than 40 hours per week, that work may have to be compensated as overtime.”

The firm advises employers to develop policies that include: limiting the amount of time that non-exempt employees can spend using these devices outside of normal work hours; requiring non-exempt employees to receive permission before using these devices after normal work hours; and requiring non-exempt employees to report all work time outside of normal working hours to ensure payment for work completed.

Pepper Hamilton also advises employers to institute policies regarding the use of cell phones for work purposes while operating a vehicle.

Employers suspecting employee theft must proceed cautiously to ensure they are not exposing themselves to legal liability, says the Pepper Hamilton law firm. The firm outlines basic steps an employer should take if an employee is stealing from the company. Companies should be on the lookout for warning signs such as frequent variances in cash balances, inventory shortages, noticeable changes in employee behavior such as buying a new car or expensive clothing, or employee complaints about missing items. The firm also provides tips on conducting an investigation and taking corrective action.