September 29, 2023

OSHA silica initiative, NIOSH health care safety education and more

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA is launching a new initiative to protect employees in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries from silica exposure. The agency will focus on enforcing safety standards and providing compliance assistance, such as fact sheets on dust control methods and safe work practices.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Experts and clinicians developed a free course to teach health care employees about work-related hazards and how to promote a safe and healthy work environment. The course is based on scientific evidence, offers continuing education credits, and covers six key competencies, including strategies for preventing work-related injuries, ethical principles of safe working and more.

The National Safety Council (NSC)

The NSC has launched a new workplace safety program to help reduce opioid overdose deaths on the job using naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an overdose. Respond Ready Workplace aims to increase awareness of the need for naloxone in workplaces, ensure people are trained to use it and guide employers on how to obtain it.

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)

DWC Workplace Safety is offering free online training for new safety professionals to help them develop their skills and manage workplace safety programs. The training covers safety and health program development, recordkeeping, accident investigations and OSHA inspection preparation.

DWC sets weekly wage benefits for fiscal year 2024

DWC recently announced the minimum and maximum weekly benefits for workers’ compensation claims for fiscal year 2024. The state's average weekly wage for workers' compensation claims will be $1,173.81. The amounts will apply to claims that occur from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

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