OSHA’s silica rule comes under Congressional scrutiny, the FAA OKs a “greener” jet fuel, and an unusually high number of needlestick injuries are found at a New Jersey hospital. These were among the top occupational safety and health related stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

Ammonia release shuts down Russell Stover Candies plant

The failure of an air-conditioning unit pipe released about 22 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the air at the Russel Stover Candies Inc.’s Iola, Kansas facility on Sept. 23, 2015, setting off alarms and sending hundreds of workers scrambling for safety.

A healthy aging workforce the focus of European OSH campaign

Europe is launching an initiative entitled, “Healthy Workplaces for All Ages,” to promote sustainable work and healthy aging from the beginning of working life to retirement.

Healthy diet may reduce high blood pressure risk in pregnancy-related diabetes

Women with pregnancy-related diabetes (gestational diabetes) are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure later in life; however, a healthy diet may significantly reduce that risk, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

Environmentalists angry over another oil spill.

As cleanup continues at the site of the latest spill along the Keystone I tar sands pipeline, news broke this week of yet another oil pipeline spill. 

Volunteer rehabbers get a visit from OSHA

A group of young people in Philadelphia working to turn both their lives and their neighborhoods around got safety training and construction training recently, through a partnership between YouthBuild Philadelphia and OSHA.

New environmentally friendly jet fuel approved by FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a new alternative jet fuel that will reduce air quality emissions and increase national energy resources because it’s renewable.

ASSE recognizes Thomas Kramer as the 2016 Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) today announced Thomas Kramer, managing principal at LJB Inc., an Ohio-based civil engineering firm, as the 2016 Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year for his leadership in helping develop more than 18 fall protection standards.

Congress takes aim at OSHA’s silica standard

By Maureen Paraventi

OSHA’s final rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline may not be so final after all. During a hearing yesterday by the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections entitled, “Reviewing Recent Changes to OSHA’s Silica Standards,” its chairman, Republican Congressman Tim Wahlberg (MI-07), hinted that Congress may attempt a legislative end run around the regulation.

Confined space hazards claim life of Louisiana worker

One worker died and two others were hospitalized in an incident last year because their employer failed to follow confined space safety procedures, according to OSHA.

Safety Stand-Down to prevent construction falls drawing near

On Tuesday, May 3rd, work in Washington D.C. will come to a halt. No, it won’t be the usual partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill. The work stoppage in question will take place at the construction site of the MGM National Harbor Resort and will be part of OSHA’s third annual National Safety Stand-Down.

NJ healthcare workers face needle-stick, toxic dangers

An OSHA compliance officer investigating a complaint at a New Jersey hospital reviewed the hospital’s OSHA 300 logs and found something that lead to an additional inspection – and multiple citations.

Mechanic electrocuted in NYC elevator

On the same day the New York City Housing Authority announced that it would take steps to make elevators in NYCHA buildings safer, a mechanic was electrocuted while working at the agency’s Coney Island Houses in Brooklyn.

Tobacco interests, health experts battle over e-cigarette regulations

By Maureen Paraventi

Just as a new report indicates a big jump in e-cigarette use among U.S. teenagers, a conservative think tank is arguing against FDA regulation of the devices, claiming that it will do more harm than good when it comes to public health.

NTSB to search again for El Faro's "black box"

Still searching for answers in 2015 sinking of cargo ship

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) resumes its search today for the vessel data recorder of the El Faro, the doomed cargo ship that sank Oct. 1, 2015 during Hurricane Joaquin. All 33 of the El Faro’s crew perished in the accident.