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Construction workers in tunnels are at risk of decompression sickness such as the bends. Without proper preventive measures, these workers may face a variety of health problems, including stroke and paralysis.

A combination of awkward postures, forceful exertions, and repetitive motions are blamed for a higher-than-normal rate of musculoskeletal disorders at several manufacturing facilities.

The panel charged with advising OSHA on the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act is set to meet later this month. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announced the meeting date and the 12 new appointees.

More than 400 workers have been killed by vehicle backovers since 2005. A federal agency is seeking input to prevent such incidents.

A plethora of respiratory and other ailments may result from exposure to dampness in buildings, say government researchers.

This year's National Ergonomics Conference and Expo saw excitement building over new products designed to reduce pain and improve efficiency among desk workers. Armed with ballots, attendees walked the expo floor and voted for the new products they believe offer the best opportunity to increase productivity and profitability while improving workplace health and safety.

Employers that allow sufficient time for breaks and meals, provide a clean eating space, and involve workers in scheduling decisions may see their workers' comp costs decline, suggests new research.

An estimated 300,000 workers in the U.S. face exposure to cadmium every year. Because of the health risks associated with it, OSHA has developed an interactive online tool to help protect exposed workers.

Integrating safety efforts for patients and workers in health care establishments can be a win-win for all involved and improve the bottom line, suggests a new monograph. It says there is a connection between worker safety and patient safety and that synergies can be created to benefit both.

"The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation is pleased to announce the unanimous election of Commissioner Martin Brady as the Chair of the Commission for 2013," said the commission in a statement.

Lifestyle and wellness interventions may help prevent the onset or exacerbation of joint pain among employees, according to researchers. Additionally, providing the proper equipment and tools can help.

Workers' comp claims involving comorbidities add up to big bucks for payers, according to new research. NCCI says the medical costs for these claims are "about twice the $6,000 average for other injured workers' claims."

Five occupations accounted for nearly 20 percent of the days away from work cases in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Musculoskeletal disorder cases were also prevalent in three of those occupations.

"Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging material science technology that has been identified as a critical U.S. scientific and commercial enterprise with global economic benefits," says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

An employee removing cardboard stacks from a pallet tripped over a pallet jack, fell backwards, and fractured his wrist. A sales employee coming in from the rain into a warehouse slipped, resulting in a sprained shoulder. An auto detailer slipped on ice and suffered brain injury.

Slips, trips, and falls and being struck by objects are among the main hazards faced by airline ground personnel. Those are also the focus of prevention efforts targeted by a partnership with OSHA.

Do you have any advice for government officials on construction safety and health? If so, you may want to consider serving a two-year term on an OSHA committee.

According to a new study, "the right typefaces can make a difference in reducing the amount of time not focused on the road, and therefore, gets us closer to our goal of improving driver safety," said Bryan Reimer, a researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab.

Hearing loss creates safety and health risks. Workers unable to hear warning sounds "can increase the likelihood of injury or death. ... It can even increase your blood pressure," says an article from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Want to help your workers get in better shape? Give them more decision-making power, suggest researchers.