All articles tagged with #workplace safety
Walmart updated its cart-loading rules for online-order fulfillment, limiting each cart to six blue bins (down from eight) and specifying pushing when visibility is clear and pulling when visibility is limited, reversing a previous push-only directive. The change aims to boost safety amid lawsuits and rising e-commerce volumes while keeping order fulfillment efficient.
A deadly blast at the Huasheng fireworks plant in Liuyang, Hunan Province, killed 26 and injured 61 as rescue workers searched for more victims and evacuated nearby areas due to risk of further explosions. President Xi Jinping ordered a thorough investigation and urged accountability, with Premier Li Qiang calling for a broad review of workplace safety; authorities deployed 482 emergency personnel and indicated the incident may lead to changes in safety measures in China’s prominent fireworks sector.
A 24-year-old Tokyo Dome City Attractions worker, Kamimura Hina, died after being trapped for about five hours inside the Flying Balloon ride’s gondola during routine maintenance; the park suspended operations and is conducting a full investigation with authorities.
Pope Leo XIV urged Italian employment consultants to stay close to families and workers in need, emphasizing the importance of promoting safety and human dignity in the workplace, especially amid technological advances, and to mediate effectively between employees and employers.
Doctors in California are petitioning to ban engineered stone countertops containing high levels of crystalline silica due to their link to silicosis, a deadly lung disease, following Australia's lead in banning similar materials. Despite existing regulations, enforcement is weak, and many workers remain at risk, with some developing severe health issues or dying. Industry groups oppose a ban, favoring certification and better enforcement instead, but medical experts argue that a ban is necessary to prevent further tragedies.
McDonald's in the UK is implementing new sexual harassment training for managers and external reviews to address ongoing allegations of abuse and create a safer workplace environment, following increased scrutiny and reports from staff.
Eva Air apologized after requesting paperwork from a deceased flight attendant, Ms Sun, sparking outrage and investigations into her treatment and working conditions, amid concerns over overwork and workplace safety.
EVA Air is under scrutiny after a veteran flight attendant, who fell ill during a flight from Milan and died in Taiwan, was allegedly pressured to work and then improperly handled posthumously, raising serious concerns about employee treatment, workplace safety, and airline management practices.
A new report by WHO and WMO warns that rising global temperatures are increasing heat stress risks for workers worldwide, affecting health and productivity, and calls for better protections, policies, and climate action to prevent severe health outcomes and economic impacts.
The WHO and WMO warn that increasing extreme heat due to climate change poses serious health and productivity risks for workers, urging governments, employers, and communities to implement adaptation measures such as adjusting work hours, improving building infrastructure, and protecting vulnerable populations, despite the financial challenges involved.
The U.S. Department of Labor plans to overhaul over 60 workplace regulations to reduce burdensome rules, aiming to promote growth and deregulation, but critics warn these changes could increase risks for workers, especially in sectors like home health care, agriculture, construction, and mining.
A new law in New York, the Retail Worker Safety Act, takes effect to improve safety for retail employees by requiring safety programs, violence prevention, de-escalation training, active-shooter drills, and discreet emergency alert systems, aiming to address rising violence and harassment in the retail sector.
Police have determined that the death of 19-year-old Walmart employee Gursimran Kaur, found in a walk-in oven at a Halifax store, was not due to foul play. The investigation involved interviews, video reviews, and collaboration with local authorities, concluding no one else was involved. The store remains closed, and a workplace investigation is ongoing. Kaur's death has prompted a stop-work order and the removal of the oven as part of a store remodel.
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) announced the tragic death of Timothy Cartwell, a solid waste worker, who sustained fatal injuries while collecting trash. The incident occurred in the alleyway of 1800 Baker Street, and Mr. Cartwell passed away at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The Baltimore Police Department is investigating the circumstances of the accident. DPW is providing support to affected employees and has requested privacy for Mr. Cartwell's family and colleagues during this difficult time.
Marek Marzec, a 48-year-old father of three, is taking legal action against his former employers after being diagnosed with silicosis, a severe lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust from cutting quartz worktops. Marzec, who is now on end-of-life care, claims he worked in "appalling" conditions and hopes to prevent others from suffering similar fates. His legal team is calling for urgent safety measures to protect stone workers from the lethal dust, which has already claimed other lives.