Worker Safety on the Increase
Last year, fewer Americans were killed in workplace accidents than in any year since the Labor Department started keeping track in 1992, according to statistics just released. There were 6,026 job-related fatalities in 1998, down from 6,238 in 1997. Highway crashes continue to be the leading cause of on-the-job death.

Ergonomics Rules May Have to Wait
Under new legislation passed by the House, workplace "ergonomics" rules intended to help reduce repetitive-strain injuries will have to wait until after a federal study is completed. The White House, which supports the new ergonomics regulations, has threatened to veto the bill. The House measure would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to hold off on rule making until after the National Academy of Sciences releases a study in January 2001.

Racial Slurs Can Be Banned in California Workplaces
California may legally ban the use of racial slurs in the workplace, says the state's highest court. The right to free speech in the workplace is not absolute, the judges found, and could be limited to prevent workplace harassment. The decision was one of the first of its kind in the U.S.

Women Workers Complain More -- With Good Reason, Says Study
A new study has found that female workers report more minor illnesses than their male counterparts not because of biological differences but due to poorer working conditions. The researchers assessed the psychological and physical health of over 1,600 male and female British workers at all levels. The women in the study were more likely to have stressful, low-paying jobs and an unhealthful workplace.