How does Obamacare affect the construction industry?

CPWR researchers take a look at the numbers

With its rapid turnover, high rates of uninsured and unusual concentration of multi-employer health insurance plans, the construction industry is one of the most complex health insurance markets in our nation.

Lack of fall protection led to roofer's death in fall at Cincinnati work site

Employer faces $117K in fines

The life of a 53-year-old roofer who died after dropping 40 feet to the ground could have been saved if his employer had provided proper fall protection, the OSHA has found.

CDC Your Health – Your Environment Blog

Community environmental health activism in South Gate, Los Angeles County, CA

Imagine that you are attending a community workshop about cleaning up the environment in your city. Local environmental justice activists are there to explain how the effects of pollution are disproportionately higher in your area than in other parts of the county. After everyone is seated, the workshop leader says, “Before we start, I want to ask for some information. Will everyone here who lives adjacent to a polluting site please stand?”

Public health experts blast Supreme Court’s stay of Clean Power Plan

APHA: Move 'puts public health at risk'

The American Public Health Association voiced deep disappointment today over the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Clean Power Plan pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

ASSE and CPWR release workplace safety resources for at-risk construction workers

More than 50 Safety Tool Boxes now available in Spanish aim to protect vulnerable workforce

Yesterday, The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and CPWR -- The Center for Construction Research and Training released a collection of construction safety materials known as the Safety Toolbox Talks.

OSHA cites Sharpe Holdings in death of worker at Missouri dairy farm

Third fatality at company since 2012

For the third time since 2012, federal investigators have cited Sharpe Holdings in the death of an employee. The most recent casualty was a 51-year-old equipment operator, who suffered serious head injuries after he was ejected from the rear of a van on Sept. 26, 2015. He died the following day.

Despite headlines, norovirus, related illnesses decreasing on cruise ships

While disease outbreaks among cruise ship passengers have made the news with apparent frequency in recent years, if you’re planning a cruise, you may be relieved to know that the rate of acute gastroenteritis on those sea-going luxury liners actually decreased among passengers from 27.2 cases per 100,000 travel days in 2008 to 22.3 in 2014.

Combustible dust standard loses momentum

A combustible dust standard is unlikely to be issued this year because of the complexity of the hazard and OSHA's full regulatory agenda, according to anarticle by Brian Dabbs in Bloomburg BNA.

Georgia worker's severe saw injury uncovers multiple safety violations

OSHA says injury was preventable, proposes nearly $70K in penalties

A saw worker at FPL Food LLC in Augusta, Georgia was severely injured Dec. 3, 2015 when a hydraulic saw lacerated his abdomen as he cut meat.

FMCSA: Truck, bus inspections, enforcement saved 500 lives in 2012

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) eleased an annual analysis that estimates that commercial vehicle roadside safety inspection and traffic enforcement programs saved 472 lives in 2012. Since 2001, these programs have saved more than 7,000 lives.

ACGIH® releases 2016 editions of TLVs® AND BEIs® book and guide to occupational exposure values

ACGIH® has released its 2016 editions of the TLVs® and BEIs® book and the Guide to Occupational Exposure Values. 

Roofers risk of falls more than 60x greater than all other jobs combined

Falls are among the most common causes of fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries. Despite ongoing efforts, falls caused 724 deaths and 229,190 severe injuries at worksites across the nation in 2013.

FairWarning Reports

Dueling labels seek to anoint products free of toxic chemicals

Brian Joseph

Internet entrepreneur and branding consultant Amy Ziff says she had to become a “weekend toxicologist” five years ago when she discovered her twins were allergic to diapers, baby wipes, creams and lotions.

Daredevil photographer falls to death atop New York City hotel

A 24-year-old daredevil photographer fell to his death as he tried to take a snapshot atop Midtown’s swanky Four Seasons Hotel on December 30, 2015.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

NIOSH ladder safety app evolves with user feedback

The award-winning NIOSH Ladder Safety App is now updated based on our users’ feedback. First introduced in 2013, the app has received much positive feedback. 

Six Russian mine rescuers die trying to reach trapped miners

The failure of a mine rescue mission on Sunday in northern Russia left six rescue workers and 26 miners dead. The miners had been trapped underground by a cave-in caused by methane explosions and fires.

Scaffold protections would prevent more than 4,000 injuries per year

When scaffolds are not upright or used properly, falls can occur. Protecting workers from scaffold related accidents would prevent many deaths and more than 4,000 injuries each year.

NIOSH: How to protect your workers from robotic coworkers

Early in the science fiction thriller Ex Machina, Nathan Bateman, the brilliant and unnerving CEO of a successful software company, says to his star programmer, “Over the next few days, you're going to be the human component in a Turing test.” Despite the ominous sound of Bateman’s statement, intensified by his underground laboratory’s location on a remote mountain, the Turing test is relatively simple.