Upon hearing of the death of Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) offered its condolences to the Kennedy family and commented that occupational health and safety has lost a strong supporter who will be hard to replace, according to an association press release. AIHA President Cathy L. Cole, CIH, CSP, said that throughout the years Senator Kennedy has been a friend to both AIHA and the profession of industrial hygiene.
Acting OSHA Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab and Houston Mayor Bill White addressed more than 2,800 attendees at the Opening General Session of the 25th Annual National Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc. (VPPPA) Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc. (VPPPA) honored the winners of the VPPPA Annual Awards during the Opening General Session of the 25th Annual National VPPPA Conference in San Antonio, Texas, according to an organization press release.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has lent its support to the chemical industry and other groups in their efforts to seek more robust federal regulation of chemicals. AIHA’s support follows the chemical industry’s recent announcement that it is open to substantial changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
EPA announced it is requesting comments on new information it has received about geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. During geologic sequestration, carbon dioxide is injected underground for long-term storage. This technology can be used to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
EPA announced three Recovery Act grants totaling $20 million in funding for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program. These recovery act grants will fund the purchase of new, cleaner or retrofitted vehicles and equipment, protecting air quality and creating and retaining jobs in three communities across the country. The program works to reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.
“The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) joins with other Americans in mourning the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy,” said ASSE President C. Christopher Patton, CSP.
“Senator Kennedy was a tireless champion for the safety and health of America’s workers. His leadership in encouraging often bipartisan efforts to advance workplace protections will be greatly missed by those with an interest in helping ensure positive and meaningful change in occupational safety and health.
One of the few barbs lobbed at OSHA chief nominee Dr. David Michaels has come from a blogger, not surprisingly. Steve Milloy, publisher of JunkScience.com, issued a press release in August stating: “Michaels runs something called the Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy (SKAPP) at the George Washington University. While its university affiliation and academic name would seem to lend it a modicum of credibility, in fact, SKAPP's origins are much more revealing.
OSHA reform legislation currently eliciting zero interest in both the U.S. House and Senate, due in no small part to the all-consuming healthcare reform World War III, will at some point, probably in 2010 or 2011, get serious consideration.