OH&S News

October Events Focus on Preventing Dust Explosions (Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An Oct. 19 seminar and Oct. 20-21 symposium are in Kansas City, Mo., sponsored by the NFPA and its affiliated Fire Protection Research Foundation, will include a case study by Imperial Sugar's vice president of Manufacturing & Engineering.

Seattle-Area Cardiac Arrest Survival Rate at 46 Percent (Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The EMS 2010 report, released Sept. 2, says the King County survival rate for witnessed cases of ventricular fibrillation of 46 percent makes it a national leader in that area.

CSB Commissions Methyl Isocyanate Study (Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is responding to a congressional mandate for a yearlong, $575,000 study by the National Academy of Sciences on how to reduce or eliminate the stockpile at Bayer CropScience's plant in Institute, W.Va.

Landowners, Businesses Ordered to Halt Hazwaste Pollution at Chemical Processing Site (Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An inspection’s sampling of water from various locations on the property confirmed the discharge of boron, arsenic, copper, ammonia, zinc, chromium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, selenium, aluminum, barium, cadmium, and 2-Butanone into the Weaver Branch tributary.

AIHA Becomes Signatory of Seoul Declaration for Safety (Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The declaration was designed as a blueprint for constructing a global ethos of safety and health at work and to promote a preventative safety and health culture and assert the rights of employees to work in a safe environment.

MSHA Issues Safety Alert, Fatality Update (Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.

Conditions Surrounding Death, Injury at Lumber Yard Lead to $439,400 Fine (Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

“Employers are legally bound to provide a safe work environment for their employees,” said OSHA chief David Michals. “This company has repeatedly failed to do so, costing one worker his life and grievously injuring another. This must stop.”

Research Study Calls for Disclosure of Medical Mistakes that Affect Multiple Patients (Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Health care organizations should disclose medical mistakes that affect multiple patients even if patients were not harmed by the event, according to an AHRQ-funded research paper published in the September 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

CPSC Makes Recall Data Available Via API (Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Recall data from 1973 forward is available, containing information such as brand names, product types, product descriptions, companies involved in recalls, where the products were manufactured, hazards, recall dates, and UPC codes (when those are available).

FDA Seeks Court Order against Michigan Dairy (Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The complaint is based, in part, upon illegal neomycin, penicillin, and sulfadimethoxine drug residues that the USDA found in the edible tissue of dairy cows that defendants had offered for sale for human consumption.

FEMA Hosts Webinar on Remaining Vigilant, Stopping Threats (Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The event is part of a campaign designed to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism, crime, and other threats and emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

DOL Appoints New Regional Representative (Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Serving as the Department of Labor’s liaison in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, the new “sec rep” is responsible for amplifying key programs and initiatives.

Western Swing: OSHA Opens Four New Area Offices (Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

One is in Las Vegas, bringing praise from the congresswoman who district includes that city. The other three are in Oakland, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz.

Broad New Category Proposed for Inspecting SHARP Participants (Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Imminent danger investigations, fatality/catastrophe investigations, and complaint investigations are already in the regulation; the added category would be "other critical inspections as determined by the Assistant Secretary."

MSHA: Don't Restrict Miners' Right to File Complaints (Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners' protections against discrimination.

ASSE Makes Plea for Labor Day Roadway Safety (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

As far as holiday weekends go, only Thanksgiving, July Fourth, and Memorial Day have more roadway fatalities—and nearly half of those are alcohol related.

Brass Foundry Cited for 'Deliberate' Lead-Exposure Hazards (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The citations allege, among other things, that the company did not take air samples as required for workers who were overexposed to airborne lead nor provide the required annual training associated with the hazards. An additional willful violation alleges that the company stopped providing hearing tests to employees overexposed to noise.

Emergency Physicians to Public: Prepare Now Before Disaster Strikes (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Hurricane Earl, a Category 2 storm this morning, now poses little danger to the U.S. eastern seaboard. But the hurricane season isn't over, and other threats are out there.

New Standards for High-Speed Railcars Unveiled (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued these to set a uniform design for new passenger cars on the lines being constructed. They will meet all current safety requirements and future regulations for crash energy management.

OSHA May Limit Residents' Work Hours (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels issued a statement Thursday saying the agency will review and consider a petition seeking an 80-hour maximum per week.

On-the-Spot Excavation Inspection Leads to Nearly $70K in Fines (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

"You cannot overstate the gravity of this hazard," said Patrick Griffin, OSHA's area director for Rhode Island. "A cave-in can occur in seconds with soil and debris engulfing workers before they can react or escape."

OSHA Rings Up $4 Million Day (Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Announcing a $3 million fine against one employer and $1.2 million against another, the agency continues come down hard on violations even when no fatality is involved.

AirTran Fined $500,000 for Boarding Violations, Disability Complaints (Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An investigation by DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office of disability complaints filed with AirTran and DOT revealed a number of violations of the requirement for boarding assistance. In addition, the carrier’s complaint files showed that it frequently did not provide an adequate written response to complaints from passengers.

Hospital Visitation Rule in Trouble? (Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

CMS proposed it in response to an April 15, 2010, presidential memorandum that says "every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides."

Airgas Signs Another Big University Deal (Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The Radnor, Pa.-based distributor of industrial gases and safety supplies announced the agreement with the University of Missouri on Wednesday.

Raising Workers' 'Voice' on NACOSH Agenda (Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The committee's Sept. 14-15 meeting in Washington, D.C., also features an update on Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup monitoring by OSHA and NIOSH.

OSHA Announces Interim Final Whistleblower Rules, Invites Public Comment (Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The regulations, which establish procedures for handling worker retaliation complaints, allow filing by phone as well as in writing and filing in languages other than English.

UK Offshore's Stats Worsened in Past Year (Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The Health and Safety Executive last week said the combined fatality and major injury rate for offshore oil and gas in 2009-2010 almost doubled the previous year's rate.

TSA Tweaking Hazmat Endorsement Application Form (Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Collecting optional additional information, including U.S. passport numbers, will help state programs forecast driver retention, transfer rates, and drop rates, the agency predicts.

Moving Van Firm Fined $281,000 for Holding Property Hostage (Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

FMCSA issued citations and fines against Moving Van Lines following an extensive investigation of consumer complaints against the moving company. FMCSA found the company in violation of 28 counts of failing to relinquish possession of a household goods shipment (hostage load), and one count of collecting fees more than the original binding estimate.

Explosion in Dumpster at Alloy Plant Leads to $44,000 Penalty (Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The violations include inadequate hearing and respiratory protection programs, electrical hazards, improper use of compressed air, as well as employee exposure to silica, lead, and manganese fumes.

FMCSA Seeks Planning Help with Injury Reduction in Mind (Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Three public listening sessions on Sept. 8 will help the agency hear from stakeholders, who have a chance to influence the agency's next five-year Strategic Plan.

Amtrak Employee Awarded $160K in 'Historic' FRSA Case (Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An investigation found that the company terminated one of its cleaning crew employees after she reported to her manager that she had sprained her ankle while at work. The lawsuit became the first case to be tried under a 2007 amendment to the Federal Railroad Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 20109.

Recovered Detectors Indicate Methane Surge: Massey Energy (Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The company said Monday that readings on two units recovered from the Upper Big Branch Mine indicate a "sudden inundation" of methane and almost immediate explosion occurred.

Frog Skin Shows Promise against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

Scientists have reported that frog skin contains natural substances that could be the basis for a powerful new genre of antibiotics. In a report at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, the team of stalwart frog-fanciers described enlisting colleagues worldwide to ship secretions from hundreds of promising frog skins to their laboratory in the United Arab Emirates.

Study Finds No Increased Birth Defect Risk with Certain Antiviral Drugs (Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An analysis of data from Denmark finds no associated increased risk of major birth defects for mothers who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy to the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, often used to treat herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.

Antibacterial Enzyme May Protect Food against Anthrax Contamination (Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

An antibacterial enzyme found in human tears and other body fluids could be applied to certain foods for protection against intentional contamination with anthrax, scientists reported at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

California, Mexican Foreign Ministry Celebrate 'Labor Rights Week 2010' (Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The week is a nationwide initiative that revolves around Labor Day and is the result of an on-going collaboration between local Mexican Consulate offices, federal and state labor and workforce departments, labor rights advocates, and others.

NFPA Partners with Chevrolet, OnStar to Promote Electric Vehicle Safety (Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

“This collaboration gives us an opportunity to extend our electric vehicle training and education program giving our nation’s first responders a platform to learn more about this new era of automotive transportation,” said Chevrolet Safety Director Gay Kent.

USFA, IAFF Develop Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle, Roadway Safety (Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT)

The United States Fire Administration, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters, announces the release of "Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety," which highlights the results of a Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice supported initiative to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters and law enforcement officers.