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Business Wire
18 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
SHOEBOX Wins Inaugural AIHA Connect Spirit of Innovation Award for PureTest Product
FALLS CHURCH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIHA is proud to announce that SHOEBOX, a division of WS Audiology, has been named the winner of the inaugural Spirit of Innovation Award—the SPINNY—at AIHA Connect 2025, held in Kansas City, MO, May 19-21, 2025. SHOEBOX won this year's top honor for its groundbreaking SHEOBOX PureTest solution. Designed to revolutionize how environmental and occupational health professionals test and monitor hearing in the workplace, SHOEBOX PureTest integrates portability, a user-friendly interface, and clinical-grade accuracy into a single, accessible device. 'SHOEBOX exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking ingenuity we had in mind when launching the Spirit of Innovation Award,' said AIHA CEO Lawrence D. Sloan, FASAE, CAE. 'SHOEBOX PureTest offers a unique blend of mobility, efficiency, and effectiveness that enhances workplace safety and expands access to reliable hearing testing—particularly for field and remote operations.' Selected by votes of in-person and virtual conference attendees, the SPINNY Award celebrates the vital role of innovation in shaping the future of occupational and environmental health and safety. SHOEBOX PureTest stood out for its approach to hearing health monitoring, promising to set a new standard across industries. SHOEBOX developed the first ever iPad-based audiometer and released PureTest specifically for occupational hearing conservation, eliminating the need for sound booths during OSHA- mandated annual testing. With best-in-class ambient noise monitoring, SHOEBOX PureTest ensures the testing environment meets ANSI and OSHA standards. It's an ideal solution for companies managing their own hearing conservation programs or service providers managing programs for others, enabling OSHA-compliant workplace hearing testing anywhere. 'We're honored to receive the first-ever Spirit of Innovation Award,' said Rob Walesa, VP of Diagnostic Solutions at WS Audiology. 'This recognition affirms our commitment to transforming hearing testing through innovative technology. It's a testament to the passion and dedication of our incredible team.' AIHA congratulates SHOEBOX and thanks all the exhibitors who continue to drive progress and creativity in the field. The 2026 SPINNYs will return to AIHA Connect 2026, June 1-3 in New Orleans, LA, continuing to highlight the products and solutions that define the next generation of worker health and safety tools. About SHOEBOX For the last decade, SHOEBOX has been leading the evolution of hearing testing solutions for occupational hearing conservation. For more information on SHOEBOX PureTest, visit About AIHA Connect AIHA Connect is the 'must-attend' event for OEHS professionals at all levels. The annual conference focuses on the important trends, needs, research, technologies, training, and connections that make OEHS professionals more efficient in their pursuit of protecting workerand community health worldwide. About AIHA AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional standards. AIHA serves those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work. For more information, visit
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
More women in the boardroom can lead to safer companies
Including women in corporate boardrooms does more than diversify leadership —recent research shows it can also lead to safer job sites, potentially saving companies from costly safety incidents. Companies with more women on their boards tend to have fewer workplace safety incidents—especially when these women hold positions of power within the board, according to an analysis of workplace safety at 266 companies between 2002 and 2011. These findings were published in April in the Journal of Operations Management. 'What's cool about this paper is . . . by exploring the human element, it really sheds a new light on the firm's operations and why there's variability in different operational processes,' said study coauthor Kaitlin Wowak, an associate professor of business analytics at the University of Notre Dame. Companies in the U.S. spend more than a billion dollars each week on workplace safety incidents. These incidents—which range from strikes and shutdowns to worker injuries—cause reputational harm and lost profits and can lead to loss of life or limb for employees. Learning more about how workplace leadership impacts safety is one step toward mitigating these harms. To gauge differences in workplace safety between the companies analyzed, the study authors examined data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), director-level information from Institutional Shareholder Services, and regulatory violation data from the Violation Tracker database. They found boards with more women had fewer recorded incidents. These safety benefits were even more pronounced when women held positions of power on the board, such as seats on influential committees, researchers found. When women have these positions of power, they are not only able to express their perspectives more freely, but others also pay more attention to their ideas, explained Corinne Post, coauthor of the study and professor of business leadership, management, and operations at Villanova University. The researchers theorize that the difference in safety outcomes between boards with and without women may come down to men and women having different socio-cognitive approaches to stakeholder concerns, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. These different approaches stem from having different experiences to bring to boardroom discussions. Women are, for example, more likely to have experience with community outreach and philanthropy, researchers note in the study. Having these different specialties and experiences represented in decision-making are a benefit of diversified leadership more broadly, the researchers say. 'It's not just gender diversity, too, it's all forms of diversity [that are important],' Wowak said. 'When you have different backgrounds and different cognitions, you bring a different perspective to decision making that's truly beneficial.' This research is the first to establish a link between operational safety and diversity in upper leadership, adding to a growing literature that provides the business case for diverse leadership. 'I was happy to see the findings, but not surprised,' said Michael Abebe, a professor of management at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley who researches diversity in business leadership. He said the new study shows another facet of the benefits gender diversity in leadership can bring to a company—and how the research focus on diversity in leadership has changed over time. Abebe mentions that for many years, studies about diversity in leadership generally focused on the 'glass ceiling,' an invisible barrier that keeps women and minorities out of leadership even in otherwise diverse professions. But over the years, the field of study evolved to focus on the business case of diversifying companies—and how more diverse leaders can lead to positive business outcomes. The paper's authors acknowledge that this field of study is relatively new and say there is still a lot to explore at the board level and beyond. 'There are multiple different echelons that future scholars should explore, because they all impact a firm's operations in potentially different ways,' Wowak said. For companies looking to turn these present and future research findings into real change, Abebe recommends 'rethinking how we recruit, where we recruit, and go beyond the conventional' to create more pathways to the top for women in the workforce. 'Having women on the board does present an opportunity to really run better businesses,' Post said. 'It's not just about putting women in there . . . but it's putting them in a position where they can actually voice their ideas more.'
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
First Aid Market to Reach USD 6.9 Billion by 2032 Due to Increasing Workplace Safety Regulations and Public Awareness Initiatives
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 17, 2025, 18:18 IST Austin, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Aid Market Size & Growth Analysis According to SNS Insider, the global First Aid Market was valued at USD 4.66 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.48% during the forecast period 2024–2032. In the United States, the market is forecast to expand from USD 1.59 billion in 2023 to USD 2.33 billion by 2032, driven by stringent OSHA compliance, health education, and increased demand in schools and sports environments. Get a Sample Report of First Aid Market@ The growth of this market is being shaped by stringent regulatory frameworks, expanded health literacy, and enhanced preparedness against emergencies. Technological breakthroughs—such as smart bandages, moisture-sensing dressings, and multifunctional portable kits—are transforming the way first aid is administered across healthcare and public settings. Market Overview The First Aid Market has become integral to public and occupational safety policies worldwide. Global mandates—such as OSHA in the U.S. and HSE in the UK—require that businesses and institutions maintain certified first aid kits and trained personnel on-site. NGOs and public health agencies continue to push for broader access, especially in disaster-prone and underserved areas. Digitization of first aid protocols via mobile platforms and the integration of emergency tools within wellness and health apps is driving real-time response efficiency. This trend supports both individual readiness and institutional compliance, further expanding the market's footprint across industrial, educational, and household segments. Major Players Analysis Listed in this Report are: 3M (Nexcare Waterproof Bandages, Nexcare Soft Cloth Tape) Acme United Corporation (First Aid Only SmartCompliance Cabinets, PhysiciansCare Emergency Preparedness Kits) Certified Safety Manufacturing (Industrial First Aid Cabinets, Vehicle First Aid Kits) Cramer Products (Cramer Sports First Aid Kit, Cramer Instant Cold Pack) Dynamic Safety USA, LLC (Workplace First Aid Kits, Personal First Aid Pouches) Green Guard First Aid & Safety (Green Guard First Aid Stations, Green Guard Burn Care Kits) HARTMANN Group (DermaPlast First Aid Kits, Cosmopor Wound Dressings) MedTree (Paramedic Response Kits, Trauma Dressings) Fieldtex Products (EMS Trauma Bags, Personal First Aid Kits) Johnson & Johnson (Band-Aid Brand First Aid Kits, Neosporin Antibiotic Ointment) Advacare Pharma (AdvaCare First Aid Kits, AdvaCare Wound Care Packs) Firetex Protective Technologies (Firetex Burn Kits, Firetex Emergency Response Kits) Pac-Kit Safety Equipment (Pac-Kit First Aid Kits, Pac-Kit Refill Packs) First Aid Only (SmartCompliance First Aid Cabinets, First Aid Only Emergency Response Kits) Med-Nap LLC (Med-Nap Alcohol Prep Pads, Med-Nap Antiseptic Wipes) Spill Magic (Spill Magic Spill Response Kits, Spill Magic Absorbent Powders) Safety Made (Custom Logo First Aid Kits, Safety Made Promotional Safety Kits) Ready 4 Kits (Ready 4 Kits Disaster Preparedness Kits, Ready 4 Kits Travel First Aid Kits) Hawktree Solutions (Hawktree Survival Kits, Hawktree Medical Supplies) Medline Industries (Medline Deluxe First Aid Kits, Medline Quick-Response First Aid Kits) First Aid Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 USD 4.66 billion Market Size by 2032 USD 6.9 billion CAGR (2024–2032) 4.48% U.S. Market 2023 USD 1.59billion U.S. Forecast by 2032 USD 2.33 billion Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024–2032 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Segment Analysis By Type In 2023, the workplace segment accounted for the largest share of the global first aid market, contributing 27% to total revenue. This dominance stems from stringent occupational safety mandates globally, particularly in the U.S., UK, and Germany, where regulatory frameworks like OSHA demand immediate availability of first aid solutions across industrial and corporate settings. Industries including construction, logistics, and manufacturing have significantly invested in comprehensive kits and training programs to ensure rapid response to injuries. By End Use Hospitals and clinics dominated the end-use segment in 2023 with a 26% market share. Their consistent demand is attributed to the need for efficient wound management, emergency trauma response, and minor surgical aids. These facilities continue to procure advanced dressing materials, sterile wraps, and wound irrigation systems as integral parts of trauma care units. For A Detailed Briefing Session with Our Team of Analysts, Connect with Us Now@ First Aid Market Segmentation By Type First Aid Supplies – Workplace Metal-detectable & X-ray-detectable Products Advanced Wound Care Basic Wound Care Gauze Trauma Dressings Splints Slings Surgical Instruments Hot & Cold Packs Eyewash Diphoterine Povidone-Iodine Gloves Cohesive Bandages Vomit Bags First Aid Supplies – Consumer Basic Wound Care Trauma Dressings Gauze Gloves Slings Hot & Cold Packs Eyewash Diphoterine Vomit Bags Povidone-Iodine Cohesive Bandages Sports Care/Braces Cohesive Bandages Hot & Cold Packs First Aid Room Equipment Metal-Detectable & X-Ray-Detectable Products Advanced Wound Care Surgical Instruments Medicinal Products Pain Relief Medication Electrolyte Products/Hydralyte Asthma Relief Products Topicals Povidone-Iodine Antiseptic First Aid Training Products Basic Wound Care Gauze Trauma Dressings Slings Automated External Defibrillators By End-use Hospital & Clinics Fire Department Home & Offices Military Food Preparation Sports & Recreation Warehouse (Manufacturing) Others Regional Analysis North America dominated the global first aid market in 2023, contributing approximately 43% of the global share. This dominance is rooted in the U.S.'s leadership in enforcing safety compliance standards, along with widespread availability of technologically advanced emergency kits. Leading companies in this region are now offering smart refill alerts, inventory tracking, and mobile-connected products. Asia-Pacific is set to grow at the fastest CAGR, supported by the rising number of health and safety campaigns in India, China, and Southeast Asia. Government initiatives to strengthen emergency preparedness in schools, homes, and transit infrastructure are creating a robust market for both basic and advanced first aid kits. Recent Developments January 2023 – Avive Solutions received FDA approval for its next-generation AED device, making defibrillation more accessible in public settings. – received FDA approval for its next-generation AED device, making defibrillation more accessible in public settings. September 2022 – DrySee introduced a patented moisture-detection bandage aimed at optimizing wound care by visually indicating contamination risks. – introduced a patented moisture-detection bandage aimed at optimizing wound care by visually indicating contamination risks. March 2024 – UCLA researchers developed smart bandages using electrical stimulation to expedite the healing of chronic wounds. Buy a Single-User PDF of First Aid Market Analysis & Outlook Report 2024-2032@ Table of Contents – Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 6. Competitive Landscape 7. First Aid Market by Type 8. First Aid Market by End Use 9. Regional Analysis 10. Company Profiles 11. Use Cases and Best Practices 12. Conclusion About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Workers could soon be protected from working in the scorching heat – if Trump doesn't change the rules
President Donald Trump will have the chance to adopt — or ignore — new workplace safety regulations that could help prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses. Last August, nine workers in the U.S. between the ages of 19 and 71 died as a result of heat-related issues while they were working. Their jobs included everything from grass cutting to truck unloading, repairing farm equipment and construction, according to the New York Times. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began public hearings on Monday on a proposed rule intended to help prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths on the job. If the rule is passed, it would be the first of its kind. Considering heat's effects on laborers has become an especially pressing issue as global temperatures continue to rise due to human-driven climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The rule was proposed last summer by the Biden administration, and it would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when temperatures pass certain levels. Even if OSHA agrees to adopt the new rule, the Trump administration is not legally obligated to implement them, according to the New York Times. Since his return to power, Trump has largely pushed to roll back environmental and safety regulations that protect workers but can hamper productivity or otherwise cut into employers' profits. Deaths and illnesses related to heat have skyrocketed in recent years due to human-driven climate change. Last summer was the hottest on record during the hottest year on record, and on average heat kills more people every year than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined, according to the National Weather Service. David Keeling, Trump's OSHA head, has raised some concerns among workers' health watchdogs. He formerly worked as a health and safety executive at UPS and Amazon — both companies that have been fined for workplace safety violations, including issues related to heat. Worker health advocates have seen Trump's willingness to allow the public hearings as a good sign, but they remain concerned that the federal government may try to push through a weaker version of the proposed protections. Under the proposed OSHA rule, at a heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 degrees Celsius), companies will be required to provide water to their workers and break areas. At a 90F (32.2C), they must also offer workers 15-minute breaks every two hours, in addition to other heat-illness mitigation measures. The thresholds are based off a 2020 study by OSHA that identified a "heat death line," which is a temperature below which few heat deaths typically occur. The "heat death line" is 80F. According to the study, 96 percent of heat-related deaths occur at temperatures above that line. While OSHA's rule would be aimed at establishing a federal standard, at least seven states have adopted their own workplace heat rules, with others considering similar protections, according to the Times. State lawmakers in Texas and Florida — two of the hottest states in the U.S. — have passed laws stopping local governments from enacting their own workplace heat standards.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Will Trump End the First Federal Heat Protections for Workers?
Last August, nine workers across the United States, ages 19 to 71, died of heat-related causes while working jobs that involved things like cutting the grass, unloading trucks, repairing farm equipment or doing construction, according to federal workplace data. Because heat-related deaths are difficult to track, that number is likely an undercount. Starting Monday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold public hearings on a proposed rule to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths at work, which is the first federal rule of its kind. Put forward last summer by the Biden administration, the regulation would require employers to provide water and rest breaks when temperatures surpass certain levels. The Trump administration did not respond to request for comment on its plan for the standards, and it is not legally obligated to implement them. President Trump has pursued a broad deregulatory agenda, pushing to roll back environmental and safety regulations, and the rule as written has faced opposition from businesses and Republicans. Deaths and illnesses related to heat exposure have increased sharply in recent years as climate change pushes temperatures higher. Last summer was the hottest on record, in the hottest year on record, and on average heat kills more people each year than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined, according to the National Weather Service. 'All heat-related deaths are preventable because they all result from an overexposure that can be prevented,' said Dr. John Balbus, who co-chaired a government working group to address heat during the Biden administration. Mr. Trump's pick to lead OSHA, David Keeling has also raised concerns among some workers' health advocates. Mr. Keeling is a former health and safety executive at UPS and Amazon, and both companies have been fined for workplace safety citations, including for heat-related illnesses. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
