For the 14th year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized chemical technologies developed by leading researchers and industrial innovators who are making significant contributions to pollution prevention in the U.S. The awards were presented on June 22 at the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM, commented yesterday on the report released recently by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled “OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) – Improved Oversight and Controls Would Better Ensure Program Quality” noting the need to allow for ASSE members and other key stakeholders to help identify improvements in the program.
The heat can be especially harmful for those who work outdoors in direct sunlight or in hot environments, making them susceptible to heat-induced illnesses such as heat stress, heat exhaustion or the more serious heat stroke.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Acting Chairman Mark V.
Rosenker today addressed the Western States Boating
Administrators Association Conference (WSBAA) on advancing
recreational boating safety on the nation’s waterways, according to an NTSB press release.
Simply working in a casino does not mean dealers must gamble with their health, according to a recent post on NIOSH’s Science Blog. There is nothing lucky about developing a respiratory illness, lung cancer, or heart disease — especially if you are a healthy nonsmoker, says NIOSH. Results of new research conducted by the institute on secondhand smoke — the exposure of non-smokers to tobacco smoke — confirm that dealers at the casinos investigated were exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke, is a combination of smoke given off by the burning end of a tobacco product and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Secondhand smoke is made up of approximately 4,000 chemicals, of which about 40 are known to cause cancers.
A federal grand jury in the Western District of New York, has returned an indictment charging Keith Gordon-Smith, owner of an asbestos removal company, with numerous violations of the Clean Air Act, submitting false statements and obstruction of justice, the Justice Department announced, according to a press release issued by the department.
Whistleblower investigations by OSHA have found that the Metro North Commuter Railroad Co. retaliated against four employees who reported work-related injuries. OSHA has ordered the railroad, which provides commuter rail service in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, to take corrective actions and pay back wages, fees and a total of $300,000 in punitive damages.
OSHA has cited Louisiana Health Care Consultants LLC, Dean Building Holdings and Bob Dean Enterprises Inc. jointly for three alleged willful and 10 alleged serious violations of federal health and safety regulations. Proposed penalties total $112,000.
OSHA announced today that it will address problems identified in its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) in response to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs: Improved Oversight and Controls Would Better Ensure Program Quality.” The report recommends improved oversight and additional controls to ensure participating companies maintain effective workplace safety and health management systems.