Most American workers (55%) said their manager or supervisor is excellent or very good for which to work, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. The majority also described their bosses as capable (69%), confident (66%), and fair (58%). On the other hand, less than one-in-five workers said negative traits, such as being dismissive, unpredictable, aggressive, or arrogant describe their boss. Importantly, these views don’t vary depending on the gender, race, and ethnicity of the supervisor, and most Americans also do not have a preference regarding their employer’s gender, Pew reported. Most workers said their direct supervisor is excellent or very good when it came to: Giving employees flexibility to balance work and their personal life (63%) Giving employees credit when it’s due (56%) Staying calm under pressure (56%) Setting high standards (53%) Being open to new ideas (52%) Being clear about expectations (50%) Notably, workers with upper incomes are more likely than those with middle and lower incomes to say their bosses are excellent or very good across several of these leadership dimensions, Pew found.
A new study has revealed the most dangerous professions for U.S. teenagers to work includes facility and ground cleaning and maintenance occupations. Personal Injury Firm Suzuki Law Offices examined workplace deaths among U.S. teenagers (ages 16-19) across various job roles from 2020-2022. Average death rates alongside average teen employment figures were analyzed to determine the death rate per 5,000 teenage workers for each profession. With 0.21 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers, facility and ground cleaning and maintenance occupations ranked ninth. “Entering into the world of work and earning your own money is an exciting time for many teenagers,” said Richard Suzuki from Suzuki Law Offices. “However, it’s important to understand the risks involved with certain occupations, particularly those that involve physical labor. This data also serves as a call to action for these professions, urging them to prioritize the protection of younger members of our society.” Topping the list of America’s most dangerous jobs for teens was heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics with 2.5 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. Carpenters ranked second, and construction laborers, security guards, and gambling surveillance officers tied for third. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ranked fourth, and construction and extraction occupations were fifth. Driver/sales workers and truck drivers ranked sixth, and other protection service workers tracked at seventh. Joint eighth place were installation, maintenance, and repair occupations; protective service occupations; and miscellaneous agricultural workers.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has opened public review for the IICRC S400 Standard for Professional Cleaning, Maintenance, and Restoration of the Commercial Built Environment. The IICRC S400 standard focuses on the commercial built environment and defines frequencies, objectives, results, principles, and practices to clean, maintain, and restore the built environment. The built environment is defined as materials, building assemblies, structures, furniture, fixtures, and equipment located inside a building envelope. The standard is available for review and comment as part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 45-day public review period until July 15. Download the revised draft standard and submit your comments online here.
The National Safety Council (NSC) has designated June as National Safety Month to spotlight awareness about safety and health risks, specifically focusing on reducing workplace deaths and injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 5.7% increase in fatal work-related injuries occurred in 2022 compared to the year prior, with 5,486 people losing their lives due to workplace accidents in 2022. According to the NSC, "slips and falls on the same [floor] level are a leading cause of preventable workplace injuries. They have been a leading cause of workplace injury for many years." To help prevent slip-and-fall accidents, building managers are encouraged to have independent distributors conduct a floorcare audit, recommends AFFLINK. This comprehensive assessment involves thoroughly inspecting the facility's floor surfaces, identifying potential hazards, and recommending solutions to mitigate them. It should reveal: Where unexpected changes in the floor surface occur. Note dangerous transition areas between floor surfaces that can lead to a slip or fall. Identify grease and oil build-up on floors, which can attach to shoe bottoms and spread throughout a facility. Suggest where high-performance matting is needed. High-performance matting captures and holds moisture, grease, and oil, preventing it from spreading. Point out areas that are poorly lit. Determine if the floor is being cleaned properly. "A clean floor is a safer floor," said Michael Wilson, AFFLINK CEO and president. “To ensure this, use automatic scrubbers instead of mops and buckets wherever possible. Automatic scrubbers are more efficient and effective in removing soil and spills, reducing the risk of slips and falls.” Further, he says some floors should not have a finish applied while others are safer with a floor finish applied. AFFLINK offered these 10 tips to prevent slip and fall accidents in the workplace: Scan the work area for potential hazards before carrying or moving anything. If walking over a slippery surface, don’t step, shuffle. This will increase your stability. Check out wearable fall prevention devices that help prevent falls. Monitor air temps for safety. Last year was the hottest on record; this summer may be worse. Ensure step ladders have a locking device. Clean up spills immediately; if unable to clean up spills, surround them with warning cones. Never stand on a chair to reach for something high – get a ladder or step stool. Address damaged hard floor surfaces and carpets. Don't carry packages or boxes above your shoulders. If carrying heavy boxes up or down stairs, place both feet on each step before taking the next step. Helps maintain balance. For more safety guidance, check out more of CMM's National Safety Month coverage.
This year is projected to be a very active Atlantic hurricane season, according to forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) in its first outlook for the 2024 season. Due to a warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic, CSU’s tropical meteorology project team expects a well above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean. The CSU team forecasted 23 storms, 11 of which will become hurricanes and five of which will reach Category 3 status or stronger. The Weather Channel reports these numbers are well above the 30-year average total for both hurricanes and storms. Additionally, this is the greatest number of hurricanes and storms the CSU team has predicted in any April hurricane season outlook since 1996. In 2023, the Atlantic experienced 20 stores, seven hurricanes and three Category 3-plus hurricanes. Last year, though, the continental U.S. only experience the direct impact of one hurricane, Idalia. Thorough preparations should be made every season, regardless of predicted activity, the CSU team said. Many states that rank high for being ready to withstand a hurricane in 2024 have also experienced devastating storm damage previously, PropertyCasualty360 reported. Published every three years, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Rating the States report evaluates the 18 states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts based on residential building code adoption, enforcement, training, education, and contractor licensing. The top five states for hurricane preparedness include Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Louisiana. Delaware, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Maine ranked the lowest. This year’s hurricane season will begin on June 1, and business owners and facility managers can prepare their facilities as CMM previously reported. The hurricane forecast also aligns with record high global temperatures, as CMM previously reported. In turn, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) released a new Heat and Health Initiative to protect Americans from heat exposure, particularly during heat events.
