NIOSH says OSHA is right about the frequency of respirator fit testing, a new study links soda to a particularly dangerous form of fat and coal miners are crying foul over millions in bonuses being paid to top executives at a bankrupt coal company. These were among the top occupational safety and health-related stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
OSHA schedules public hearing on proposed beryllium rule
January 22, 2016
OSHA has scheduled a public hearing on the agency's proposed rule to amend its existing exposure limits for occupational exposure in general industry to beryllium and beryllium compounds. The hearing will be held Feb. 29, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
CDC rolls out new round of powerful anti-smoking PSAs
January 21, 2016
A brand-new series of emotionally powerful ads kick off the fifth year of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Tips From Former Smokers” campaign. The new ads tell moving, personal stories of Americans suffering from smoking-related illnesses, including heart disease, tooth loss, depression, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Feds collect record level of penalties for rail safety violations
January 21, 2016
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) says stepped-up enforcement of railroad safety regulations led to the highest-ever civil penalty collection rate in the agency’s 50-year history.
Bankrupt coal company to pay millions to its top executives
January 21, 2016
Coal miners who are being stripped of medical benefits due to a string of coal company bankruptcies are furious over one firm’s plan to pay millions in bonuses to the executives who managed the company as it failed financially.
Wisc. company again exposes workers cave-in hazards
January 21, 2016
A-1 Excavating Inc., of Bloomer, Wisconsin was issued its 15th violation since 2000 after OSHA conducted an inspection at the company’s Middleton worksite.
UL Workplace Health & Safety releases free PPE training course
January 20, 2016
UL Workplace Health & Safety, the industry’s leading provider of workplace health and safety solutions, has released a complimentary training course on personal protective equipment (PPE).
January 20, 2016
A new study released today by the American Heart Association reveals that more than 6 million adults at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 1.3 million who have suffered from heart disease, hypertension or stroke gained health insurance between 2013 and 2014, the first year coverage was available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
W.V. logging company workers exposed to serious hazards
January 20, 2016
An OSHA inspection conducted under the agency’s local emphasis on logging safety program found employees exposed to falls and chain saws at a Clay, West Virginia worksite.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
New NIOSH study supports OSHA annual fit testing requirements for filtering facepiece respirators
January 19, 2016
Results of a recently completed National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study confirm the necessity of the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respirator fit testing requirement, both annually and when physical changes have occurred.
Samsung agrees to partial deal on workplace safety
January 19, 2016
Samsung Electronics has struck a partial deal on higher workplace safety with an organization representing sickened employees and their families. The move came a decade after a worker died from exposure to carcinogens.
FMCSA proposes new rule for determining safety fitness of motor carriers
January 19, 2016
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a rulemaking proposal designed to enhance the Agency’s ability to identify non-compliant motor carriers.
Two serious injuries in one month expose hazards at Alabama co.
January 18, 2016
OSHA inspections at an Alabama manufacturing facility following two serious injuries resulted in a host of citations for safety and health violations.
Oil industry association launches certification program for auditors
January 18, 2016
The American Petroleum Institute’s Global Industry Services department (API Global) has established a new and comprehensive Auditor Certification Program, which is the first to be developed by industry experts.
Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to dangerous type of fat
January 18, 2016
Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages every day was associated with an increase in a particular type of body fat that may affect diabetes and heart disease risk, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.
Nearly 30,000 employers used OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program in 2015
January 18, 2016
OSHA says its On-site Consultation Program provided safety and occupational health advice to 27,871 small and medium-sized businesses across the country in 2015.
