Products August 11, 2011

DoL App Turns Up Heat on Heat-Related Illness

August 11, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The Labor Department is turning up the heat on heat-related illnesses with a new mobile app.

 

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The free app, available in English and Spanish, combines heat index data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the user’s location to determine necessary protective measures. Based on the risk level of the heat index, the app provides users with information about precautions they may take, such as drinking fluids, taking rest breaks and adjusting work operations.

Information for employers about using the heat index to calculate and address risks posed to workers also is available through OSHA’s new Web-based tool “Using the Heat Index: Employer Guidance,” which is accessible at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/index.html.

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The Labor Department says that users also can review the signs and symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, and learn about first aid steps to take in an emergency. Information for supervisors is also available through the app on how to gradually build up the workload for new workers as well as how to train employees on heat illness signs and symptoms.

Additionally, users can contact OSHA directly through the app.

The app is designed for devices using an Android platform, and versions for BlackBerry and iPhone users will be released shortly. To download it, visit http://go.usa.gov/KFE.

The Labor Department notes that employers are responsible for protecting workers by providing plenty of water, scheduling rest breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces, planning heavy work early in the day, preparing for medical emergencies, training workers about heat and other job hazards, taking steps to help workers – especially those who are new to working outdoors or who have been away from work for a period of time – acclimatize to the heat, and gradually increasing workloads or allowing more frequent breaks during the first week of an outdoor project. 

More than 30 workers died from heat stroke in 2010. Thousands become ill from heat exhaustion and other heat illnesses every year. Some of the highest illness rates occur among construction workers, farmworkers, roofers, landscapers, baggage handlers and other air transportation workers.

OSHA’s other educational and training tools about heat illnesses prevention, available in English and Spanish, can be found at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.

Investing August 11, 2011

U.S. ETF Inflows Continue Increase in July

August 11, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - June saw the U.S. exchange-traded fund industry rebound with net inflows of $9.8 billion, and July saw that trend continue as U.S. ETFs rallied, bringing in $17.2 billion.
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Morningstar reports that year-to-date inflows are roughly 60% higher than this time last year. Total ETF assets have increased roughly 25% in the trailing 12 months and closed July at $1.105 trillion, up 0.82% month over month.  

U.S.-stock ETFs provided the largest ETF asset-class level inflow for the second consecutive month. Since U.S.-stock flows fell into the red in March, there seemed to have been a loss of trend. Following May’s $2.7 billion outflow, however, flows have not only landed in the black, but also increased each month. U.S.-stock offerings posted a $3.2 billion inflow in June and followed with a $6.4 billion inflow in July.  

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Across the size/style paradigm, large-blend offerings collected the largest sum, racking up $4.7 billion in net inflows. The category was followed by its growth counterpart, which saw inflows of $2.2 billion last month. July’s most substantial outflows came from the small-blend category, which bled a sizeable $1.5 billion.  

Although Vanguard led the pack for the prior two-month period, the provider was bested in July by SSGA’s inflows of nearly $5.6 billion. iShares, the largest U.S. ETF provider, seems to have established a trend of inflows over the past several months. Following May’s $4 billion outflow and June’s $550 million inflow, the ETF behemoth saw a much more robust $3.5 million inflow in July. Despite its dominance in the space, iShares’ market share continues to shrink over time. Market share figures for iShares are down nearly 4% year over year.  

While U.S.-stock ETFs saw the single largest asset-class-level inflow, a number of noteworthy U.S.-stock offerings claimed all of last month’s top-five ETF outflows. iShares Russell 2000 Index IWM was cut the deepest, shedding $1.4 billion last month. The fund was trailed by the iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index IJH, which lost $618 million. The market indicated a flight from smaller and more refined exposures, as the Energy Select Sector SPDR XLE, Industrial Select Sector SPDR XLI, and Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR XLY claimed the third-, fourth, and fifth-largest ETF outflows. They gave up $527 million, $387 million, and $321 million, respectively. The largest inflows to U.S.-stock ETFs came to SPDR S&P 500 SPY and PowerShares QQQ Trust QQQ, which saw inflows of $3.1 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. SPY and QQQ claimed the first- and third-largest ETF inflows, respectively.  

The Morningstar report is at http://corporate.morningstar.com/us/documents/FundFlows/FundFlowsAug2011.pdf.

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