Weekly news round-up
Three workers are killed in N.C. scaffolding collapse, the NTSB IDs the cause of that Georgia movie crew death and U.S. linemen head south of the border to help their counterparts in Suriname. These were among the top occupational safety stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
Should states have right to go further than feds on chemical safety?
Two competing bills designed to revise the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) were introduced this month, and neither one is winning the approval of a public advocacy group, which says they would override states’ rights when it comes to chemical safety.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Blurry vision affects a print press operator
It turns out Jim wasn’t the only one at work with vision problems. To his surprise, Jim discovered almost all of his co-workers who worked the line with him at the label production plant had experienced some sort of vision problems over the last year—including changes in vision, blurred vision or irritation.
Having a strong sense that your life has meaning and direction may make you less likely to develop areas of brain damage caused by blockages in blood flow as you age. This research is reported in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.
Workplace medical mystery solved
Having a purpose in life may help your brain age better
The speakers who’ll be headlining at Safety 2015 June 7-10 in Dallas, Texas will present stimulating topics and potentially controversial approaches to challenges facing safety professionals.
One-hour work stoppage helps laborers avoid being struck by distracted drivers
The Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations are partnering with OSHA to sponsor a one-hour Safety Stand-Down at construction sites in Georgia in conjunction with National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week this week.
NTSB report notes CSX denied permission "repeatedly"
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its final report on the Feb. 20, 2014 accident in Jesup, Ga., in which a crew member was killed during the filming of a motion picture.
Agency head reviews achievements, challenges at "all-hands" meeting
Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to be here with you today to take stock of where we've been as an agency over the past year and where we want to go together this year. I know that every one of you wants to lead a consequential life. That's why you came to work at OSHA. And you've succeeded.
Portland, Ore., lineman Kurt Shriver, who traveled to the South American nation of Suriname in October to help launch a new safety training program for linemen, knew he was bringing knowledge that was sorely lacking. But the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local125 member was still surprised at conditions faced by workers at EBS, the state-run utility.
The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a safety message yesterday to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the accident at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, that killed 15 workers and injured 180 others. In the message Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso emphasizes the need for continued safety improvements across industry in order to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
OSHA inspectors driving by a construction worksite on Oct. 20, 2014 observed roofers working without fall protection. During the inspection that followed, the agency found that Franco Roofing, Inc. of Yonkers was cited for similar fall hazard violations in June of 2011 and then again in July of 2012, for worksites located in Yonkers, New York, and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Prioritizing problems, being a tough leader among Safety 2015 speaker topics
Safety Stand-Down puts the brakes on injuries at Georgia road sites
Trespassing cause of movie set fatality
What Michaels said to OSHA employees
IBEW workers bring safety training to Suriname
Ten years after BP’s Texas City disaster, safety gaps remain
Yonkers roofing contractor fails to fix fall hazards - again
NTSB to hold roundtable on distracted driving
Can’t get to D.C.? View live webcast
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will host a multi-modal roundtable to discuss the dangers of distractions in transportation. The roundtable, “Disconnect from Deadly Distractions,” will be held on March 31, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Three construction workers were killed and another injured yesterday in Raleigh, North Carolina when scaffolding on an 11-story building collapsed and fell into an adjoining parking lot.
A workplace fatality that brought attention to the issue of crowd control in the retail industry appears to be – finally – headed toward a resolution, after Walmart recently withdrew its appeal of a $7,000 OSHA fine over the incident.
Three N.C. workers killed in scaffolding collapse
Walmart stops fighting $7,000 fine over worker’s death
Suit stems from 9/11 first responders’ health problems
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must consider tightening its corrosive dust limits, after a lawsuit filed on behalf of the World Trade Center first responders who sustained lung damage after toiling in heavily polluted air in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
After receiving more than 1.5 million public comments, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell this month released final standards that she said will support safe and responsible hydraulic fracturing on public and American Indian lands. The standards are aimed at improving safety and protecting groundwater by updating requirements for well-bore integrity, wastewater disposal and public disclosure of chemicals.
Kansas City, Missouri, store receives 11 violations
A worker alleging the existence of asbestos, mold and hygiene hazards led to an inspection of an Advance Auto Parts store in Kansas City, where OSHA found one repeated and 10 serious safety and health violations with fines of $60,000.
EPA agrees to address assess its corrosive dust limits
Fracking rules issued for federal lands
Advance Auto Parts exposes workers to asbestos, mold hazards
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