Weekly news round-up
Railroad safety, OSH in Russia, getting ready for Workers’ Memorial Day and e-cigarette use among teens were among the EHS- and health-related stories posted on ISHN.com this week.
Study finds link between cleaner SoCal air, better lung function in kids
A 20-year study finds that millennial children in Southern California breathe easier than ones who came of age in the ‘90s, for a reason as clear as the air in Los Angeles today.
Live fire demonstration shows danger of home fires, value of sprinklers
With the vast majority of U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes, a recent live fire demonstration vividly showed the potential deadly destruction from home fires compared to the life-saving impact of home fire sprinklers.
Texas workers injured by five chemical releases in three days
OSHA has cited Formosa Plastics Corp. and six subcontractors for exposing workers to chemical hazards at a Point Comfort, Texas worksite.
Workers’ Memorial Day: Renewing the struggle for safe workplaces
The AFL-CIO will be among those organizations commemorating Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28th. The event, which honors those who have been killed or injured on the job, has given rise to a host of activities and observances across the U.S. and around the world.
Feds invest $21.2 million in railroad safety
FRA spends on highway grade crossing safety, positive train control, passenger rail
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded eight grants totaling more than $21.2 million that invest in highway-rail grade crossing safety, Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation, and passenger rail. FRA awarded the grants as part of a Notice of Funding Availability it issued in July 2014 to distribute new FY14 Omnibus funding as well as unobligated funds from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.
Brasfield & Gorrie recognized for outstanding safety performance
Contractor receives safety awards from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama
On April 17, Brasfield & Gorrie was recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama at their Safe Day awards banquet in Birmingham. The contractor earned four honors for its exceptional safety program and performance. The firm received the Diamond Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) Award, the highest honor ABC bestows on members for their safety efforts.
Veteran EHS Washington power broker Frank White announces retirement
The global consultancyORCHSE has announced that Frank White, co-owner and president, will retire from his position on April 30. For more than 20 years of the firm’s 42-year history – originally as Organization Resources Counselors, Inc., through its acquisition by Mercer, and now in its current independent status as ORCHSE Strategies, LLC – Frank has been the leader of the firm’s Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental services.
OSHA: Union Pacific added insult to injury by firing whistleblower
Orders company to pay worker $100K
An investigation by OSHA has determined that management of the Union Pacific Railroad added insult to injury when it blamed a worker in Roseville who was hurt on the job for his injury and then retaliated against him for reporting the injury in February 2011.
The founding of Earth Day in the U.S. in 1970 was, according to many, the beginning of the environmental movement – a recognition of environmental issues and problems and the need for actions taken to address them.
“One slip and a worker can lose a hand”
Chicago company uses damaged crane slings for 3,000-lb. loads
A Chicago-based manufacturer ignored safety requirements and put workers at risk for debilitating injuries because dangerous machines with moving parts lacked proper safety mechanisms.
12 accidents = 16 CSB recommendations
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has voted to update the status of sixteen recommendations resulting from twelve accident investigations including key safety improvements resulting from the 2006 CAI/Arnel fire and explosion in Danvers, MA and the 2005 BP Texas City refinery fire and explosion.
Ohio worker loses part of finger on second day on the job
A new employee working on a machine that forged parts lost a fingertip in a November, 2014 accident that could have been prevented, according to OSHA, if his company had trained him properly to operate the upsetter machine and if the machine had proper safety mechanisms.
Call for nominations: NSC Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2015
National Safety Council recognizes the next generation of safety leaders
The National Safety Council is accepting nominations for the 2015 NSC Rising Stars of Safety, presented by DuPont Sustainable Solutions. Awarded annually, this recognition honors individuals younger than 40 who have a track record of demonstrating leadership, innovation and involvement in their organization’s safety culture while promoting continuous safety improvement in the workplace.
Global OSH report:
Russia seeks improvement in occupational safety and health
At the first All-Russian OSH Week last week, nearly 3,000 occupational safety and health practitioners, experts, scientists and private sector representatives from Russia and abroad discussed new trends and prospects for promoting safety and health at work, ensuring safe working conditions and protecting workers’ health.
E-cigarette use triples among teens in just one year
E-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
OSHA wants info on cell tower worker hazards
OSHA is requesting information from the public about worker safety hazards in communication tower construction and maintenance activities. The agency says the information will assist it in determining what measures to take to prevent worker injuries and fatalities.
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