A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Health finds that heat exposure significantly increases the risk of workplace injuries across nearly all industries, including indoor sectors. The study, analyzing 2023 OSHA injury data, shows that the odds of injury rise nonlinearly with the heat index, particularly above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. States with occupational heat rules see a lower increase in injury odds compared with those without such regulations.

A new white paper from the National Safety Council and the Campbell Institute examines real-world applications of leading indicator programs in safety. The paper emphasizes the importance of leadership engagement, collaboration across organizational functions, and the use of meaningful metrics. It also highlights the need for nonpunitive reporting and shared accountability and includes practical applications and a case study on unifying safety metrics during a merger.

Scaffolding safety is crucial for commercial low-slope roofing projects, say safety consultant Tammy Clark and John D'Annunzio of IRT-Paragon Engineering Services. They say Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules require multiple access points for roofs with more than 25 workers in case of emergencies such as fires.

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has released a safety guide for communication tower workers that uses the STCKY (stuff that can kill you) safety approach to emphasize the identification and mitigation of high-energy hazards in communication tower work. By focusing on the most dangerous sources of energy, the guide covers 10 energy sources, including gravity, motion and electricity, with examples and control measures for each and aims to help workers systematically recognize and address potentially fatal risks on the job.

Despite signals from the Trump administration of possible regulatory rollbacks, the expanded electronic recordkeeping rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration remains in effect. Roofing contractors must continue to electronically submit detailed injury and illness data using Forms 300, 301 and 300A, as failure to comply could result in citations and fines.

A bipartisan House bill backed by 50 co-sponsors seeks to close a gap in workplace safety by extending OSHA protections to state and local government employees who are not consistently covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Currently, only workers in states with OSHA-approved State Plans routinely receive these protections. Supporters argue that all public sector workers, regardless of location, should have access to OSHA's safety standards.

More than a third of drivers do not comply with "Move Over" laws, which require drivers to slow down or change lanes when approaching roadside incidents, according to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study found that 36% of drivers did not change lanes or slow down, and many were unaware of the specifics of their state's laws. Last year, 46 emergency responders were killed by vehicles while working on the roadside.

After deadly wildfires devastated parts of Los Angeles, researchers began using silicone wristbands to help firefighters track exposure to toxic chemicals released from burning plastics and electronics. These low-cost sensors absorb hazardous compounds, offering insight into complex smoke mixtures that traditional air and biomonitoring struggle to measure. Early studies show the wristbands can detect cancer-linked pollutants such as PAHs, phthalates and PFAS, providing a promising new tool for firefighter health research.

Herrenknecht's Tunnel Enlargement System, now being used on Deutsche Bahn's Fachinger and Cramberger tunnel upgrades in Germany, creates a protected work zone that allows safe drill-and-blast excavation followed by high-quality wet-sprayed concrete for initial support. This setup improves dust control, shotcrete performance, and worker safety while streamlining the sequence to anchors, mesh, arches, and final cast-in-place linings without major disruption to train traffic.