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The possibility of an influenza outbreak is a concern of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, even though no new strain of the virus has been found. Neither is there any current risk of a pandemic.

Still, according to a recent Utah OSHA Alert, it’s wise to be prepared for all emergencies, including the possibility of a global outbreak of disease. The alert says that all employers should include a plan for a worldwide influenza outbreak.

An influenza outbreak is completely different from the common seasonal flu that plagues so many people in the fall and winter. The seasonal flu is not life threatening to the average healthy adult because most have developed immunity to it. Only those with compromised immune systems, the children, or the elderly are at risk of dying from the seasonal flu. An outbreak is caused by a new strain that people’s bodies don’t know how to fight off.

This is what happened during the Spanish Flu from 1918 to 1920. The new influenza virus was released to the public from a military base in Kansas. It spread globally from there killing more than 50 million people in 18 months.

Wartime censorship prevented publishing stories about the flu, so there isn’t much written about it. Spanish newspapers, however, were able to publish more stories about it,

which is why this pandemic is referred to as the Spanish Flu. Those who died from it, died within days of contracting the virus. Even healthy young adults.

If a pandemic were to occur, people can protect themselves by washing their hands, staying at least 6 feet away from sick people, staying home when sick, and by covering their mouths with disposable tissues when they cough or sneeze.

During a pandemic, employers can reduce contact between their employees by, for example, having conference calls instead of meetings. Barriers between their employees and the public can be erected and some employees may be able to work at home.

A pandemic could have more impact on the global economy than a single terrorist attack, according to the OSHA.

OSHA has received a number of reports that two chainsaws pose a threat to worker safety.

This is the focus of a recent Utah OSHA alert. Workers lose control of the saws when the handles break. One case of severe cuts was reported. One worker reported getting burns to the fingers from a heated muffler, and another got severe bruises and a wrist pain when they lost control after the front handles broke.

The Utah OSHA alert urges employers and employees to stop using the chainsaws immediately. Five models of two chainsaw brands have been recalled, and the Utah OSHA is warning employers to pull them until they’re retrofitted for safety.

Workers have reported suffering bruising, wrist pain, and finger burns, OSHA warns. Both brands are used throughout industry, including lumbering, construction and landscaping. The saws in the alert are four models of Troy-Bilt and one Craftsman model, all powered by two-cycle gas engines from 46cc to 55cc and equipped with an 18- or 20-inch cutting blade. The Craftsman model is the “Incredi-Pull,” a 55cc, two-cycle engine with the 18-inch bar.

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, warns that the chainsaws’ front handles may break when the saws are used heavily, and when that happens, the saw is difficult to control. Workers could be cut severely.

Manufacturers have voluntarily recalled the chainsaws, working with both OSHA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Meanwhile employers should take the chainsaws out of the workplace until they are retrofitted with the safety kits. Without those kits, serious injuries and even death can result.

The employers should get in contact with either the manufacturer of the saw or with OSHA for information about getting the free safety kit that includes a replacement handle and instructions.

The CPSC is working together with OSHA on the problem. Estimates are that property damage, death, and injury cost $700 billion yearly. The CPSC’s mission is to protect consumers, workers and families from unreasonable dangers of death or serious injury. It monitors some 15,000 kinds of products that present chemical, mechanical, or electrical dangers, or could hurt children.

Every workplace has some potential hazards characteristic to its own kind. Getting injured while operating a saw is likely to happen in a lumber mill but not in a car manufacturing plant. Getting burned while welding two sheet of metal can happen in a manufacturing environment, but not in a lumber mill. Yet there are some hazards are shared by every workplace… such as slips, trips and falls or influenza. Usually, flu is not considered a work hazard, but it is, because of being contagious.

A recent Utah OSHA alert warns the employers and the workers against a potential influenza outbreak. A flu epidemic usually happens when a new kind of viral strain manifests itself. It has not happened in a long time, but it is not impossible. In addition, when it does happen, many people end up losing their lives before a vaccine is invented.

Recently, Bird flu has struck fear in the hearts of millions. It is found in wild birds, but it can infect domestic chickens and turkeys etc. If an infected bird were eaten, the person who has eaten would be infected too. Moreover, that person can become the starting point of a pandemic, by affecting others. Luckily, Avian or bird flu has not caused many human deaths, but it has been a scourge for the poultry farmers who have had to cull millions of infected chickens.

The last influenza outbreak in humans happened in 1957. It did not take too long to contain it, but it still caused a million deaths. The one before that is known as the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, and it caused 25 million deaths in a little more than six weeks. If you compare this number with the number of deaths caused by AIDS, it appears 52 times greater because the same number of deaths was caused by AIDS in 25 years.

Many UT laws regulate various aspects of the workplace. These standards are to help make working conditions as fair as possible.

Some of the UT laws which pertain to employment issues include those that regulate safety. For instance, boilers, pressure vessels, and boilers must be inspected on a regular basis. This ensures the minimization of injuries and the cost of treating them.

Additional provisions made by UT laws include that of the prohibition of discrimination. No employee in Utah shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Most of Utah’s statutes regarding these issues are as stated within federal labor laws.

Other issues addressed by UT laws include the guidelines pertaining to workers’ compensation benefits. Those employees who are injured on the job must report the injury as soon as possible to receive these benefits. Employers have up to 180 days to do so in the state of Utah. Some of the costs that workers’ comp pays for include lost wages, medical care, and burial and death payments in case of a fatality.

UT laws also cover the regulations regarding fringe benefits paid to workers. Employers are not required to give employees holiday pay, sick pay, or severance pay. These are paid to employees at will by employers. Additional laws pertaining to wages and hours are made by the state of Utah as well, such as that workers shall receive no less than $5.15 per hour.

Additional UT laws exist that employees and employers must follow. Some are regarding the issues above as well as others. Summaries of these laws are usually posted on the premises of most places of employment. It is important for everyone in the state of Utah to stay informed of these employment laws, which are updated periodically.

The Labor Commission of Utah regulates labor laws in Utah. It is the mission of this department to make sure that all labor laws in Utah are followed in order to provide a safe and fair work environment for both the employer and employee. There are many labor laws that fall into the hands of this department and they are responsible for regulating businesses. Any place of business in violation of labor laws in Utah can be fined.

Workplace safety is one issue that is a concern for all employees and employers. A safe work environment means that everyone is following all necessary codes and guidelines and that it reduces the chance for harm or illness while working. There are many labor laws in Utah that carefully outline workplace safety. Companies should be in compliance with federal and state safety laws. Every year, this department reports statistics on the number of injuries, fatalities and illnesses that occur in the workplace. These numbers can be useful so that companies can teach their employees how to work safer.

In addition, another concern among employees that are covered under labor laws in Utah are issues relating to discrimination in the workplace. It is unlawful for any place of business to discriminate against employees according to their sex, age, race, religion or martial status. In addition, employers should know that if this happens, they are in direct violations of both state and federal labor laws. Employees that have concern about discrimination can lodge complaints with the department of labor in Utah. They can help employees find answers to these types of problems.

If you have a business or are employed in the State of Utah, you should consider learning more about labor laws in Utah. The labor department can help you find out more about specific labor law problems and questions. In addition, they can provide businesses with educational material that will help them learn how to operate their company safely and lawfully.