Respiratory Protection Week is back from September 3-6, 2024. NIOSH will host a live webinar and share new products and helpful tips that support their strategic direction for respiratory protection. To learn more, see their webpage: Respiratory Protection Week, September 3-6, 2024 | NPPTL | NIOSH | CDC

Live Webinar Event

Cal/OSHA's Standards Board passed the Indoor Heat standard, California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396, "Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment" on June 20th. The standard offers protections to indoor workers from heat hazards and will be under review by the Office of Administrative Law for 30 days. The standard, if approved, would address workplace cooling, provision of water, as well as rest breaks for employees.

The updated Cal/OSHA lead standard was approved on Feb 15, 2024, and is anticipated to go into effect Jan 1, 2025. It will replace the original standard from 1978. Changes to the permissible exposure limit and action level, workplace hygiene practices, as well as medical surveillance were updated in the new standard.

The present permissible exposure limit (PEL) for lead is 50 µg/M3, as an eight-hour time-weighted average, with an action level of 30 µg/M3.

Climate change is a pressing public health crisis that is already impacting the world of work. Join the Northern California Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health for a deep dive into the chemical, biological, and physical hazards of navigating climate extremes. Learn about the rising prevalence of Valley Fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling dust or soil particles, particularly in drought-affected regions.

Summer weather is here, and Cal/OSHA's heat illness prevention standard must be followed at all outdoor worksites. Employer responsibilities include providing outdoor workers with:

• Fresh water
• Access to shade
• Cool-down rest breaks

Training is KEY to preventing heat-related injuries. Both supervisors and employees must know the common signs and symptoms of heat illness, and how to respond in case of emergency.

In August 2022, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association provided updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). The new categories include:

The COEH Builds Bridges symposium was launched in 2017 and rotates biannually between Berkeley and Sacramento, CA. The 2023 event will be held in person in Sacramento, CA serving as a merger of the 45th Annual UC Berkeley Lela Morris Symposium and 41st Annual UC Davis Occupational and Environmental Medicine Symposium.

California has been experiencing some extreme weather during this last week. Painfully hot and humid conditions have been making it difficult to stay cool. Preventative and occupational medicine expert, and our Medical Director, Dr. Sheri Belafsky was able to provide some helpful advice to avoid overheating in a recent interview with ABC 10. Read up on her tips for staying cool HERE or watch the video below.

A recent graphic created by Dr. Phil Harber, Prof. of Public Health, University of Arizona and Prof. Emeritus, UCLA
illustrates the decision-making in selecting personal protective equipment.  In choosing the right protection, consider these factors: