Changing minds at work

Barbara Ruland

The accelerating pace of technology-driven changes in our lives creates increasing pressure on employees who are already juggling multiple work and family demands.

New initiative aims to reduce repeat heart attacks

Every 42 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. Just after noon on March 26, 2016, Julie Kubala, become one of those statistics. She’s working now to ensure she doesn’t become a different one – about 21 percent of women and 17 percent of men age 45 and older will have another heart attack within five years of their first one.

OSHA wants to hear how you’re keeping workers safe from the heat

With summer in full swing, millions of Americans who must work outside or in certain indoor environments are coping with hot temperatures – and their effects on health.

EPA issues final formaldehyde rule

The EPA last week issued a final rule to limit exposure to formaldehyde, a carcinogen that is used as an adhesive in a wide range of wood products, such as some furniture, flooring, cabinets, bookcases and building materials including plywood and wood panels.

Former ASSE president dies as a result of motorcycle accident

ASSE is sad to share news of the passing of Jerry Ray, ASSE’s 1997-98 President and a well-liked and highly respected leader of the occupational safety and health profession.

No protection for workers dealing with mercury

A Schenectady hazardous materials remediation contractor exposed its employees to mercury poisoning and did not provide proper safeguards to workers doing mercury removal work at the General Electric Co. Power and Water Main Plant State Superfund site in Schenectady, an OSHA investigation has found. 

AIHA reveals speaker lineup for fall conference

Acclaimed author and entrepreneur John Spence will give the keynote presentation at the 2016 American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) Fall Conference, which will be held Oct. 24 and 25 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, Texas.

Flawed safety culture behind toxic releases at Tesoro Martinez Refinery

A serious process safety incident classified as a minor injury. Workers exposed to toxic chemicals. Lack of PPE. Training rushed in order to save money.

ASSE President's message

It's all about risk

Thomas F. Cecich CSP, CIH

I started my career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina State University working with the state’s furniture and textile industries as they were trying to comply with a new law, the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Wisconsin shipyard hit with $1.4M OSH fine

Employees of Fraser Shipyards, Inc. were exposed to lead levels up to 20 times the exposure limit as they retrofitted a ship’s engine room, OSHA has found. The reason? Speed.

NTSB: Driver of Tesla was using car’s tech at time of Fla. crash

The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) doesn’t yet know what caused the fatal Tesla-truck crash in Florida earlier this year, but it has concluded that the Tesla driver was using the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance features Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer lane-keeping assistance.

Aircraft emissions are contributing to climate change

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a determination under the Clean Air Act that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from certain types of aircraft engines contribute to the pollution that causes climate change and endangers Americans’ health and the environment.

Scientists looking at developing standards for cannabis

At a recent conference of measurement science experts, ASTM International Chairman Ralph Paroli, Ph.D., of the National Research Council of Canada, delivered a keynote presentation on the increasing interest in developing consensus standards for cannabis as more governments and countries legalize marijuana.

Protecting the safety and health of poultry-processing workers

Dr. David Michaels

For some workers, a simple trip to the bathroom could result in the loss of a job. Poultry-processing workers are sometimes disciplined for taking bathroom breaks while at work because there is no one available to fill in for them if they step away from the production line.