Weekly news round-up
A co-op job turns dangerous, blizzard hazards you may not be thinking about and the Chevron Refinery fire investigation finally concludes. These were among the top EHS- and public health-related stories posted on ISHN.com this week.
DOL wants your opinion on regulations
Workplaces are constantly changing, and the Labor Department regularly reviews its existing regulations to update rules that may be out of date, ineffective, insufficient or excessively burdensome.
Most discrimination complaints filed on behalf of miners in 2014
Not long after a miner who maintained a dust collector machine at a cement facility in San Bernardino County, California, contacted the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) about safety hazards, he was suspended and then terminated, in April 2014.
High cholesterol during young adulthood raises heart disease risk
New research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation shows that long-term exposure to elevated cholesterol substantially increases lifetime risk for heart disease. For every ten years you have even mildly elevated cholesterol between the ages of 35 and 55, your risk of heart disease may be increased by nearly 40 percent.
Alabama worker falls into acid-filled tank
OSHA: Company ignored hazards
A worker at WKW Erbsloeh North America Inc.'s Alabama facility was helping with tank maintenance when he slipped, fell backwards, and became submerged himself in a tank filled with highly corrosive phosphoric and sulfuric acid.
Stakeholder comments sought on update to eye, face protection
Members of the public and interested stakeholders are invited to provide comment on a proposed update to ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices.
Chronic insomniacs may face increased risk of hypertension
Insomniacs who take longer than 14 minutes to fall asleep face a greater risk of hypertension, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension. The study, conducted at West China Hospital, is the first to test whether insomnia with physiological hyperarousal, defined as a longer time to fall asleep, is linked to hypertension.
Miss. welding blast kills one temp worker, severely injures another
4 companies violated safety laws at Omega Protein plant
Two untrained temporary workers hired to cut and weld pipes at the Omega Protein plant in Moss Point, Miss. on July 28, 2014, had no idea that the storage tank beneath them contained explosive methane and hydrogen sulfide gases.
Warehouse workers face 'electrical nightmare' in NJ
Tangled extension cords, overloaded power outlets in wet locations, blocked exits, faulty forklifts, machines without safety guards and damaged floors were all in a hazardous day at work for employees at Xpedited Services LLC's warehouse in Jersey City, OSHA investigators found.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
The future of wearable technology in the workplace
An era of remarkable innovation is underway. We’re looking at the advent of brand-new technologies called “Wearable Computers”. Wearable computers, also known as body-borne computers or wearables, are defined as “miniature electronic devices that are worn by the bearer under, with or on top of clothing.”
FAA on Super Bowl: Leave your drone at home
Unmanned aircraft and NFL football don't mix
Many familiar sounds are associated with the Super Bowl: Cheering fans. Referee whistles. The spectacular halftime show. Booming fireworks. But one sound you shouldn’t hear is the whirring of an unmanned aircraft overhead.
Teenager's on-the-job training results in fall, severe injury
Construction company cited for willfully violating safety laws
A chance to get on-the-job training in construction turned tragic when a Delaware high school student suffered a severe head injury after a one-story fall off an unguarded balcony at a local construction site.
NTSB releases study to better manage gas pipeline integrity
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday adopted a safety study on integrity management of gas transmission pipelines in high consequence areas. Integrity management is the process by which pipeline operators and inspectors find and address potential problems before they result in accidents.
WHO: Noncommunicable diseases prematurely take 16 million lives annually
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) says irgent government action is needed reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and prevent the annual toll of 16 million people dying prematurely – before the age of 70 – from heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Heavy snow can bring electrical hazards
With New England coping with blizzard-level snow, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is warning people about electrical hazards that can come with blizzards, such as downed power lines, power outages, and coastal flooding.
Blast kills worker at fireworks storage facility
When two Lone Star Management LLC employees were directed to use a gas-powered forklift to move pallets of fireworks and cardboard out of an explosives storage facility, the gas ignited, causing an explosion and fire.
National Safety Council unveils the 2015 CEOs Who “Get It”
Leaders honored for commitment to safety excellence
The National Safety Council has announced the 2015 CEOs Who “Get It,” its annual recognition of leaders who demonstrate a personal commitment to worker safety and health.
Danger in the sky
FAA to airlines: E-cigs in checked bags are fire risk
As the popularity of e-cigarettes increases, the FAA wants airlines to ensure passengers don’t put their e-cigarettes in checked baggage, when they can pose a fire hazard in the cargo compartment.
Worker suffers severe injuries at Illinois grain company
A 24-year-old newly hired worker suffered multiple fractures when his leg and foot became entangled in a running mechanical auger while in a grain storage bin at Grainco FS Inc. in Newark. OSHA investigated the July 16, 2014, incident and found the company allowed hazards to exist in the grain bin.
CSB wraps up investigation into 2012 Chevron Refinery fire in Richmond, CA
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) this week will release its third and final report on the August 6, 2012, crude unit fire that occurred at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, CA – and incident that endangered 19 workers and sent more than 15,000 residents to the hospital for medical attention.
NHTSA to recommend automatic emergency braking system technology for new vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it will add two cutting-edge automatic emergency braking systems to the recommended advanced safety features included under its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
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