North Central Sight Services (NCCS), whose mission is to provide products, services and employment opportunities to the blind and visually impaired, recently modernized its warehouse operations to accommodate worker needs.
NCCS employs 29 visually impaired workers including its CEO.
NCSS workers count, package and ship AbilityOne office supplies, flash drives, labels and CD/DVD packs as part of a program under the U.S. AbilityOne Commission.
To assist workers Zebra Technologies with partner CSSI, integrated its WMS solution with Zebra’s MC3300 mobile computers. It also customized the solutions with large characters, color coding and voice-directed picking to help visually impaired employees.
“The solution has helped us modernize our warehouse from a manual-based process to an automated one that has increased worker productivity and picking accuracy which has led to the near elimination of returns,” said Terri Kio, Industry Operations Manager, North Central Sight Services. “Working with companies like Zebra and CSSI who are committed to helping visually impaired staff has made a measurable difference in our business with the technology and by making our staff feel supported in their careers.”
WMS by CSSI standardizes about 80%t of the functionality on the MC3300 mobile computer, and CSSI customizes the other 20% for each customer. For the NCSS deployment, CSSI enlarged and color-coded text on the MC3300 mobile computers and created “success” and “error” notifications that appear in green or red text respectively along with audible notifications.
“This technology makes a difference for employees in NCCS’s workplace while improving business processes and preparing for the warehouse of the future.” said Joe Tosolt, President of CSSI
According to Zebra’s 2024 Warehousing Vision Study, 83 percent of respondents are currently or planning to use Android operating system in the warehouse by 2024. Technical support for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 ends in 2020 and Windows CE7 ends in 2021, which means companies will no longer have access to security patches and bug fixes for the devices running these legacy operating systems and should transition to new mobile computers running a modern mobile operating system. Businesses like NCSS are modernizing their warehouses with Zebra’s latest Android-based mobile computers and benefitting from its ergonomic design, Mobility DNA software and features like LifeGuard for Android, which provides software and security support for up to 10 years, helping elevate the performance of front-line workers of all abilities.
“Zebra designs products with an ‘accessible-first’ approach,” said James Morley-Smith, Global Director of User Experience Design, Zebra Technologies. “This allows us to provide an improved user experience for all end-users – from those with disabilities like complete loss of sight to those with situational impairments like bulky work gloves. Zebra is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, and we support NCSS’ mission to help the blind and visually impaired.”
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OSHA's new proposed rule is aimed at clearifying the requirements to protect workers from shipyards and construction from beryllium exposure.
The agency is seeking feedback to more appropriately tailor the requirements of the standards to the exposures in these industries.
The proposal ensures consistency with the general industry standard where appropriate based on a July 2017 final rule clarifying certain requirements with respect to materials containing only trace amounts of beryllium. The proposed changes would maintain safety and health protections for workers, while facilitating compliance with the standards, and yielding some cost savings.
The proposed rule would revise the following paragraphs: Definitions; Methods of Compliance; Respiratory Protection; Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment; Hygiene Areas and Practices; Housekeeping; Medical Surveillance; Hazard Communication; and Recordkeeping. The proposal also sets a hearing date for December 3, 2019. OSHA will continue enforcement of the permissible exposure limit.
Comments, materials, and other information may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, by facsimile or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.
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With more then 5,000 workplace fatalities per year, a comprehensive safe and health management system is crucial to reducing that number across all industries.
The revised ANSI/ASSP Z10.0-2019 standard guides implementation of safety and health management systems is now available from the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) after recently being approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
“This update establishes Z10 as one of the most comprehensive systems-based standards in the world for occupational safety and health management,” said Jim Howe, CSP, chair of ASSP’s Z10 committee. “The standard is a blueprint for any company to develop and administer a safety and health management system.”
ANSI/ASSP Z10.0-2019 improves organizational alignment and communication by eliminating silos and integrating planned processes into business systems. Safety and health management systems have customized elements that are based on the organization’s characteristics such as hazard exposures, risk levels, industry type and business processes. Workforce factors such as permanent, temporary, contracted or transient employees are also considered. Safe work environments emerge from the interaction of elements such as organizational leadership, employee engagement, risk assessments, hazard controls and monitoring and measurement.
“There are widespread benefits when a business makes occupational safety and health a priority,” said ASSP President Diana Stegall, CSP, CFPS, ARM, SMS, CPCU. “Quality and productivity flourish when workers are well-protected through a systems-based approach. It also helps organizations achieve sustainable growth and meet social responsibilities.”
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A new toolkit released by the National Safety Council (NSC) is aimed at addressing opioid safety in the workplace.
The Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit, launched in partnership with Stericycle,
“Two-thirds of American adults with opioid use disorders are in the workforce,” said Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Everyone has a role to play in ending opioid overdose, including employers, who are often on the front lines. Organizations big and small will find life-saving information in this new toolkit – information that not only will help employers protect profits, but most important, their people.”
More than two dozen resources can be found in the Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit, including educational materials about opioids, prevention, treatment and recovery. It targets specific groups found in a typical workplace setting: supervisors, human resource (HR) professionals, safety professionals and employees.
The toolkit includes a sample policy for HR professionals to use when updating or creating a drug-free workplace policy; an overview of how impairment impacts safety; a guide for supervisors who need to communicate with employees about opioids; a PowerPoint presentation for company leadership to deliver to staff when the organization is ready to unveil its policy; and a suite of videos, including one from an emergency room doctor explaining how drugs affect the brain. Other relevant data and statistics can be found throughout the materials.
A survey released by NSC earlier this year indicated 75% have been directly impacted by opioid misuse, but just 17% feel extremely well prepared to address it. Among the resources employers requested are sample policies, videos or other interactive web tools, and workplace- or industry-specific data and statistics.
"Employers play a critical role in solving the nation's opioid crisis," said VADM Jerome M. Adams, United States Surgeon General. "The National Safety Council toolkit provides employers with a framework to effectively address employee opioid misuse and help employees get treatment if they need it."
The toolkit also addresses other areas of concern expressed in the NSC survey conducted earlier this year, such as:
Employers are more concerned about hiring qualified workers, employee benefits costs and worker compensation costs than they are about employee opioid use of any type – legal or illicit. However, opioid misuse – no matter what type – can impact all other issues employers cited as more concerning.
86% of employers believe taking opioids even as prescribed can impair job performance, yet only 60% have policies in place helping employees stay safe when being prescribed a prescription opioid
Only half of employers are very confident that they have the appropriate HR policies and resources to deal with opioid use and misuse in the workplace
79% are not very confident that individual employees can spot warning signs of opioid misuse
“We can work together to ensure safe workplaces free from opioid impairment,” said OSHA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt. “OSHA is proud to partner with the NSC to ensure the safety and health of America’s workers.”
The toolkit available for general download at nsc.org/opioidsatwork.
“As the official launch partner of the Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit, we are proud to be a part a simple, yet innovative, resource for business leaders who are taking steps to help combat the ongoing opioid epidemic in America,” said Cindy Miller, CEO of Stericycle. “Now more than ever, substance use and substance use disorders are affecting employees, workplaces, families and communities. This toolkit gives employers a unique opportunity to identify early warning signs and connect employees to the support they need.”
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After serving as a deputy director since Ferbruary 2017, Scott Ketcham now has been named the new director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction (DOC).
Prior to coming to OSHA’s national office, Ketcham worked for 19 years as an OSHA acting deputy regional administrator, area director, assistant area director, and compliance officer and manager in offices in the Seattle, Dallas and Philadelphia regions. Before joining OSHA, he spent five years as a staff industrial hygienist with the U.S. Army Medical Activity at Bassett Army Hospital on Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. He retired from the U.S. Army after 24 years of active and reserve service.
“Scott Ketcham is a dedicated public servant,” said Loren Sweatt, principal deputy assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health. “He has demonstrated strong leadership throughout his OSHA career, and I am confident he will continue to achieve the mission of assuring safe and healthful working conditions for construction workers in his new position.”
Ketcham holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska, a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, and is a Certified Safety Professional. He has a strong background in the general industry, maritime and construction industries.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
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New Balance Athletics, Inc., the Boston-based manufacturer of athletic shoes, announced on Sept. 12 an agreement with Purdue University Global that provides a new tuition benefit program for its associates in the United States.
New Balance, which operates five manufacturing plants in New England and 90 company owned-retails outlets, is providing a benefit that offers a tuition-free path to a college degree. The benefit includes paid tuition, waived application fees and also covers the cost of course textbooks and materials for undergraduate degrees.
“New Balance is delighted to join with Purdue Global to bring this incredible educational opportunity to our associates,” said Erin Bentz, the company’s director of global talent. “We believe our associates will greatly appreciate the opportunity to secure a degree from such a prestigious university at no cost to them and from the convenience of their own homes. This will be perceived as a tremendous benefit.”
Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue University's flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The online program offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, including business, information technology, cybersecurity, accounting and finance. Its programs are built on real-world requirements, enabling adult students to learn at their own pace and in many cases receive college credit for previous work experience.
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OSHA's Whistleblower Program has been extended to include worker retaliation complaints under the Taxpayer First Act (TFA).
Under the law that was enacted on July 1, the agency will investigate complaints of retaliation against employees for providing information regarding underpayment of tax; violations of internal revenue laws; or violations of federal law relating to tax fraud to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), another federal entity listed in the statute, a supervisor, or any other person working for the employer who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate misconduct.
The TFA also prohibits retaliation against employees for testifying, assisting, or participating in any administrative or judicial action taken by the IRS relating to an alleged underpayment of tax, violation of internal revenue law, or violation of federal law relating to tax fraud.
OSHA will process TFA whistleblower complaints using procedures under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21), 49 U.S.C. § 42121, until an interim final rule is issued.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than 20 whistleblower statutes protecting employees from retaliation for reporting violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, securities, and tax laws, and for engaging in other related protected activities. For more information, visit www.whistleblowers.gov.
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Gearing up for future transportation, Georgia Tech, Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners and Delta Air Lines are now partners in autonomous vehicle and infrastructure research.
Curiosity Lab is a 5G enabled autonomous vehicle and smart city living laboratory located in Peachtree Corners, Ga. a northern suburb of Atlanta.
“Our 5G-enabled living laboratory will give Georgia Tech researchers the opportunity to push the frontier of emerging technology in a real-world setting that is almost impossible to replicate in a closed lab,” said Betsy Plattenburg, executive director of Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners.
Researchers will have access to the Lab’s one-and-a-half-mile autonomous vehicle test track and living laboratory. Curiosity Lab features dedicated fiber, smart poles and a network operations center for researchers to track and trend data from connected internet-of-things (IoT) devices. Additional infrastructure includes a network operations center, smart poles, DSRC units, dedicated fiber and a 25,000 square foot tech incubator.
Developing an infrastructure to enable Georgia to become a “smart” city is something that Georgia Tech has been working.
In June of 2019, four cities joined the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge. “One of the things we want to do through this program is help connect the expertise and technologies that exist at Georgia Tech with communities all across the state,” said G.P. “Bud” Peterson, president of Georgia Tech, in his remarks, as reported by govtech.com
“This is a wonderful example of industry-university-local government coming together to advance innovative solutions to the built environment and mobility,” said Debra Lam, managing director for smart cities and inclusive innovation at Georgia Tech.
Delta sees wide-ranging opportunities of this technology. “Autonomous vehicle technology is one of those innovations we see as having the potential to improve employee safety, the customer experience and operational performance, and this partnership will help us explore all of those possibilities,” said Gil West, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer, in a statement.
As autonomous vehicle research advances across the world, Delta sees potential applications for autonomous cars, trucks or buses at airports and beyond. For example, autonomous vehicles could help customers make tight connections across an airport, they could deliver delayed baggage to customers or transport aircraft parts to airports.
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Industrial hygiene and occupational health professionals can now more easily access resources from the American Industrial Hygiene Associaton (AIHA).
The nonprofit organization recently unveiled its new website, which features information on worker safety issues, training programs and the AIHA University.
The modern design and revamped navigation system make it more intuitive so that in just a few clicks visitors can find the information they need, according to AIHA.
Resources include the following:
The new AIHA University provides cutting-edge education, training programs, and conferences to current and aspiring industrial hygiene and OEHS professionals.
The new AIHA University e-Library Subscription grants visitors unlimited online access to 50 of AIHA's bestselling publications, including newly released titles.
A new public resource center offers professionals as well as consumers extensive information and links on a variety of industrial hygiene topics and worker safety issues, such as disaster recovery, mold, noise exposure, environmental issues, respiratory protection, ergonomics, nanotechnology, indoor air quality, and incident preparedness and response.
The new AIHA Member Center gives members access to exclusive information dashboards and AIHA's online community, Catalyst, along with the latest information on issues affecting industrial hygiene and related occupational and environmental health and safety professions.
A reorganized communication center makes it easier for reporters to find valuable information from AIHA's press releases, position statements, and membership letters. Our communications team also answers media inquiries and puts journalists in touch with IH experts and resources.
Free downloads of white papers, infographics and other resources, which previously were hard to find with the old site's design, are now available.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has pledged another $301 million toward its Overdose Data to Action initative aimed at lowering opioid abuse.
Overdose Data to Action is a 3-year cooperative agreement that began in September 2019. It focuses on the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic and highlights the need for an interdisciplinary, comprehensive and cohesive public health approach, according to the agency's website.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the hard work of so many Americans in local communities, we are beginning to win the battle against the opioid overdose crisis,” said Alex Azar, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Our country is seeing the first drop in overdose deaths in more than two decades, more Americans are getting treatment for addiction and lives are being saved. At the same time, we are still far from declaring victory. We will continue executing on the Department’s 5-Point strategy for combating the opioid crisis, and laying the foundation for a healthcare system where every American can access the mental healthcare they need.”
The funds, which will support the work of 47 states, Washington D.C, two territories, and 16 counties and cities, are part of the HHS’ five-point strategy to help combat the opioid overdose epidemic resulting from America’s drug crisis. The CDC and HHS efforts are part of an all-of-government effort to end America’s complex and evolving overdose epidemic.
Over three years, recipients will gather and rapidly report data that includes the substances, circumstances, and locations leading to overdoses and deaths, as well as demographic data such as age, race, and gender.
Funded programs will yield information crucial to a better understanding of why, and among whom, overdoses and deaths are taking place. CDC and HHS will rapidly use that information to enhance prevention and response efforts across the country.
In addition, recipients of these new funds will work to strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs, improve state-local integration, establish links to care, and better support health care providers and health systems.
“Strengthening our nation’s public health infrastructure is essential to capturing the predictive data needed to prevent drug overdose deaths and their devastating effects on families,” said Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “We are committed to supporting our partners and communities, ensuring they have the tools needed to bring the opioid and drug use disorder epidemic to an end in America.”
CDC supports prevention of drug and opioid specific overdose by:
Using data to monitor emerging trends and direct prevention activities.
Strengthening state and local capacity to respond to the epidemic.
Working with providers, health systems, and payers to reduce unsafe exposure to opioids and treat addiction.
Coordinating with public safety and community-based partners to rapidly identify overdose threats, reverse overdoses, link people to effective treatment, and reduce harms associated with illicit opioids.
Increasing public awareness about the risks of opioids.
To learn more about Overdose Data to Action: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/od2a/index.html
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