Ebola continued to make headlines this week. Also among the top EHS-related stories featured on ISHN.com: new report on child laborers, mining and tree trimming fatalities and a global tobacco treaty.
NYC gets first Ebola case
Doctor returning from relief work in West Africa tests positive
October 24, 2014
A U.S. physician who just returned from Guinea has tested positive for the Ebola virus, according to news sources, who say that Dr. Craig Spencer, 33, had been in the West African country working for Doctors Without Borders.
Two miners die after explosives detonated in unventilated area
23 exposed to carbon monoxide
October 24, 2014
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has fined Star Mine Operations, LLC $1,077,800 following its investigation into the deaths of two miners at Revenue Mine on Nov. 17, 2013. The underground silver ore mine is located in Ouray County, Colorado.
Proper machine guarding would have prevented amputation
October 23, 2014
OSHA inspections following an April 14, 2014, incident in which an employee lost parts of two fingers in an inadequately guarded machine have resulted in citations for 16 serious violations against West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets.
Train-truck collision, derailment & explosion caused by driver on cell phone
Hands-free devices are distracting, says NTSB
October 23, 2014
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the May 28, 2013 train/truck collision, 15-car derailment, and subsequent explosion in Rosedale, Md. was caused by the truck driver’s failure to ensure that the tracks were clear before traversing an un-gated highway-rail grade crossing. Contributing to the accident was the truck driver’s distraction due to a phone conversation on a hands-free device at the time of the crash.
Public health
CDC: Travelers from Ebola-impacted countries will be monitored
Even those without symptoms will be checked for 21 days
October 23, 2014
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday that public health authorities will begin active post-arrival monitoring of travelers whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea.
'Catastrophic injury' suffered by worker caught in machinery
"The company knew how dangerous these machines could be"
October 23, 2014
An employee was severely injured when he became caught in unguarded arbor rollers at Kloeckner Metals Corp. on April 22, 2014. OSHA has cited the Cincinnati manufacturing plant with one repeat and three serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $56,000.
Anatomy of a plane crash
NTSB: Pilot was fatigued, didn’t know procedures
October 22, 2014
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB has determined that the pilot in a fatal 2013 plane crash in Thomson, Georgia lacked adequate system knowledge for the airplane he was flying. Consequently -- according to the NTSB’s report into the accident -- the pilot did not adhere to the airplane’s flight manual procedures for antiskid failure in flight and did not retract the lift dump -- a critical system to assist in stopping the aircraft -- immediately after making the decision to perform a go-around.
From Work in Progress, official blog of the DOL
Think child labor is a thing of the past?
October 22, 2014
This morning, Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced the release of the department’s “Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor” report. The report is prepared annually by the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, and it assesses efforts by more than 140 countries to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
How one company limited spread of Ebola in its part of Liberia
CDC says strategies used by Firestone might work elsewhere
October 22, 2014
Innovative measures have limited the spread of Ebola in a part of Liberia where Firestone Liberia Inc. had established an effective health care infrastructure, according to a report in this week’s CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Similar measures may be helpful in slowing the Ebola epidemic in other parts of West Africa.
Five violations issued in deadly Florida tree trimming accident
October 22, 2014
A 39-year-old tree trimmer was killed when the mechanical arm supporting the bucket of an aerial lift suddenly collapsed, striking the cab of the truck and ejecting the worker onto the pavement. As a result of the fatality, OSHA cited Advanced Tree Service in Newberry for five safety violations.
Public health
WHO moves ahead with global tobacco treaty
"The tobacco industry fights back"
October 22, 2014
The World Health Organization said tremendous progress was made on its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at a recent conference in Moscow, despite significant opposition from the tobacco industry.
CDC releases guidelines for healthcare workers treating Ebola patients
October 21, 2014
USA Today reports that “Hospital workers treating Ebola patients should wear double sets of gloves, disposable hoods with full face shields and special masks, according to strengthened guidelines issued” last night by the CDC. CDC Director Thomas Frieden “said all health workers also should undergo ‘rigorous training’ and practice in putting on and taking off PPE in a systematic way that reduces their risk of infection.
AIHA conference debates I2P2
October 21, 2014
By Dave Johnson
OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) was vigorously debated yesterday (10/20/2014) at the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s annual Fall Conference, held in Arlington, VA. The presidential-style debate featured I2P2 supporters James Thornton, CIH, CSP, director, health, safety and environment, Newport News Shipbuilding, div. of Huntington Ingalls Industries; and Charles Redinger, president of Redinger 306, Inc. I2P2 opponents were Tom Lawrence, Safety and Compliance Management; and David Sarvadi, Esq., Keller & Heckman, LLP, Washington, DC.
What you need to know about PELs
October 21, 2014
On October 9, 2014 OSHA announced the publication of a Request for Information (RFI) on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) in the Federal Register. With this publication, OSHA launched a national dialogue on preventing occupational illness through improved approaches to managing exposures to hazardous chemicals.
‘5 to Drive’ tries to reduce car crash fatalities involving young drivers
Immaturity, inexperience lead to dangerous choices behind the wheel
October 21, 2014
A 22-year-old man killed in a freeway crash near Detroit yesterday morning was found with a cell phone in his hand – suggesting that he may have been engaged in one of the five riskiest young driver behaviors at the time of the accident.
Workers exposed to fall hazards at Conn. work site
Xtreme Restoration & Waterproofing LLC faces more than $70,000 in fines
October 20, 2014
New Haven roofing contractor employees were exposed to potentially fatal falls at a Bridgeport work site due to their employer's deliberate failure to supply required fall protection. OSHA's Bridgeport Area Officefound employees of Xtreme Restoration & Waterproofing LLC working without fall protection atop a two-story roof at a residential work site on June 16, 2014.
Guidance document for the oil and gas industry:
Assessing risks from operator fatigue
October 20, 2014
A new document from IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues provides guidance to operating companies, contractors and service companies on assessing risks of employees’ fatigue in the oil and gas industry.
Women face higher stroke rates than men
October 20, 2014
Supermodel and Actress Claudia Mason is helping the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association raise awareness for the world’s second-leading cause of death on World Stroke Day, Oct. 29.
Dollar Tree Stores across U.S. wrack up health, safety violations
October 20, 2014
In the past five months, OSHA has issued more than $800,000 in fines to Dollar Tree Stores for the same or similar violations, and has issued 234 safety violations against the company. What has repeatedly brought the national discount chain to the agency’s attention?
