Weekly news round-up
The future of the occupational safety profession, drone regulations and Alaska’s high work-related death rate were among the top stories featured this week on ISHN.com.
NYC co. cited for fall, electrical, impalement hazards
Unguarded skylights, uncapped gas cylinders
The reasons behind New York City’s high – and rising – rate of construction industry injuries and fatalities can be seen in a recent OSHA enforcement action against a Brooklyn-based employer.
ISO 45001 developers aiming for a 2017 effective date
The voluntary international standard intended to improve workplace safety across the globe is expected to go into effect sometime in 2017 – a year later than first predicted.
DOT and FAA finalize drone regs
The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the first operational rules (PDF) for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or “drones”), opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace.
It’s jobs v. lungs in Philly refinery expansion fight
A Philadelphia refinery’s plans to expand operations is drawing opposition from local residents, clergy members and environmental activists who say it will emit toxic emissions and endanger the health of people living nearby.
Fatal fall gets NJ contractor a $57K fine
A Union City, New Jersey contractor allowed dangerous hazards that led to worker's fatal fall, according to OSHA investigators, who issued the company multiple citations in the wake of the accident.
Arc flash strikes Georgia lineman
A utilities worker in Bristol, Tennessee was injured by an arc flash Monday morning while working in a lift bucket truck.
N. Dakota oilfields claim second life in a week
In the second oilfield fatality in North Dakota this week, a worker died Monday after being struck by the boom of a crane.
A NIOSH Science Blog post:
Making Alaska a safer place to work
During 1980-1989, Alaska had the highest work-related fatality rate of any state in the nation, with a rate of 34.8 deaths per 100,000 workers per year compared to the average U.S. rate of 7 deaths per 100,000 workers per year.
Workers scale barbed wire fence to escape fireball
Company cited for PSM violations
Two contractors who scaled an 8-foot tall fence topped with triple-strand barbed wire were among those injured when an explosion blasted through a Newark, Ohio food additive manufacturer.
Construction industry wants a seat at the (political) table
Employers seek plank in party platforms
The Construction Employers of America asked the Chairs of the Democratic National Convention’s Platform Committee and Republican National Convention’s Platform Committee to include in their parties’ official platforms strong policies that acknowledges the vital role that highly skilled union building trade shops play in creating and maintaining the country’s infrastructure, supporting small business, and strengthening the middle class.
Shortcuts on safety would be “bad business” for oil industry
Safety improvements benefit everyone, according to the Executive Director of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), who expounded upon that theme in a speech earlier this year at Oil Gas Denmark’s Task Force Zero (TFZ) event in Esbjerg,
European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions continued to decrease in 2014, with a 4.1% reduction in emissions to 24.4% below 1990 levels, according to the EU’s annual inventory published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
A 27-year-old laborer lost his life ended suddenly because his employer failed to have a competent person inspect the rail supporting a scaffold system nearly 80 feet off the ground for visible defects, an investigation by OSHA has found.
Will others follow suit?
The Philadelphia City Council last week approved a tax on sweetened beverages – a move that many expect to be copied by other U.S. cities. The 1.5 cent per ounce tax applies to both regular and diet soda, as well as juice containing less than 50 percent fruit juice, sports drinks and energy drinks.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) honored the contributions of Past President Christine A.D. Lorenzo, CIH, on May 26, 2016 at the 2016 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce) in Baltimore, Maryland. Lorenzo has been integral in building upon the Association's 77-year legacy.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michael has tasked the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) with exploring how OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) might encourage more professionals to enter the occupational safety and health field.
Salvatore Schirripa, a Bensonhurst, N.Y., construction company owner, has been indicted on manslaughter and other charges following the April 2015 death of Vidal Sanchez-Ramon, his employee at a Coney Island work site. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
EU greenhouse gas emissions at lowest level since 1990
Kroger worker dies because of unsafe equipment
Philly levels tax on sugary drinks
AIHA Past President Lorenzo honored for her service
Michaels focusing on future of OSH profession
Construction company owner indicted for manslaughter
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