A drone-chopper collision, race and cancer mortality and the worst mass shooting in U.S. history were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

Contractor dies at KY power plant

Investigators are trying to determine how a contractor fell into a coal ash pond and died Thursday at a Kentucky Utilities power plant in Ghent, Kentucky.
 

How to cope with mass shootings, gun violence

Includes advice on how to talk to kids, calls for public health approach to gun violence

If constant news reports about the shooting in Las Vegas are causing you stress and anxiety – and leaving you with questions about the causes of and solutions to gun violence – the American Psychological Association (APA) can help. The group has posted resources on its website to help the public deal with issues related to gun violence.

Civilian drone, U.S. Army helicopter collide over NYC

It didn’t take long for the National Transportation Safety Board to identify the operator of the drone that collided with an Army UH-60 helicopter east of Staten Island, New York on September 21st, 2017.

A NIOSH Blog post

Job complexity, race, and socioeconomic status

Examining health disparities from an occupational perspective

Kaori Fujishiro PhD

Research conducted in the United States on racial/ethnic health disparities and socioeconomic status (SES) has not fully considered occupation. Because racial and ethnic groups are not represented equally in all occupations, differences in job characteristics may help explain racial/ethnic health disparities.

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Black/white mortality differences closing in several states

Overall breast cancer death rates dropped 39 percent between 1989 and 2015, averting 322,600 breast cancer deaths during those 26 years. And while black women continue to have higher breast cancer death rates than whites nationally, death rates in several states are now statistically equivalent, perhaps reflecting an elimination of disparities in those states.

Loss prevention reps can help lower construction injuries

In a finding that could have special significance for smaller construction firms, researchers have determined that insurance loss prevention (LP) representatives – who are often a low or no-cost benefit for insurance policyholders – can help reduce the overall incidence of lost-time injuries.

AIHA urges Trump to help protect workers exposed to opioids and their synthetic analogues

The unique needs of first responders and related workers must not be forgotten as the nation combats the opioid epidemic. This was the core message of comments AIHA recently submitted to the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Workers who may be exposed include first responders such as law enforcement, DEA agents, and EMTs, as well as crime lab analysts and others.

October is National Protect Your Hearing Month

More than 36 million adults in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss, according to the American Academy of Audiology. What may be surprising to people who think that hearing loss is a problem that comes with old age: more than 18 million are younger than age 65.

A Confined Space blog post

Lac Mégantic: Blame the worker on steroids

Jordan Barab

An unmanned, half-mile long train “bomb train” carrying tank-cars full of highly explosive crude oil barrels toward a city where it is doomed to derail on a curve, killing everyone in its wake. Luckily, Denzel Washington and Chris Pine show up to save the city at the last second. Everyone lives happily every after.

Companies in Virginia, Michigan endanger workers

A Virginia air conditioning company faces $225,995 in penalties after one of its employees plunged to his death while working on a roof. The man, who worked for James River Air Conditioning Company in Richmond, fell through an unmarked, unsecured hole that did not hold his weight.

Australian searchers end hunt for missing Malaysia aircraft

Authorities in Australia have closed the book on a commercial aircraft that went missing three years ago and has never been found. In a final report published yesterday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it would be impossible to determine the cause of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on March 8, 2014, without finding the remains of the aircraft.

CDC Zika operations returning to normal

CDC has deactivated its emergency response for the Zika virus and will resume normal program operations. A team of experts from across the agency, called the Zika Coordination and Operations Transition Team (ZCOTT), will lead the transition from EOC activation to routine, long-term activities and will ensure timely coordination and collaboration on scientific, communication, and policy activities.

Gulf spill cleanup workers suffered symptoms

Workers who were likely exposed to dispersants while cleaning up the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill experienced a range of health symptoms including cough and wheeze, and skin and eye irritation, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their study appeared online Sept. 15 in Environmental Health Perspectives and is the first research to examine dispersant-related health symptoms in humans.

National monuments declared no drone zones

If you were hoping to view the Statue of Liberty or Mount Rushmore by air – via your drone – you’re out of luck. At the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is prohibiting drones from flying within 400 feet of a number of national monuments.

FDA to delay nutrition label rule

The food industry is cheering and health experts are jeering the USDA’s announcement on Friday that it is proposing to push new nutrition label requirements back by a year and a half.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

New software tracks health of emergency responders

Jill Shugart

As we recognize September as National Preparedness Month, U.S. and international emergency personnel have been overwhelmed with responses to the hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires experienced in this month alone.

At least 58 killed in Las Vegas in worst mass shooting in U.S. history

A gunman who opened fire last night onto an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas killed at least 58 people and injured more than 500 others, according to news sources. Many of those who were injured are in critical condition. Local hospitals are described as being “overwhelmed” by the number of casualties.

Federal grant makes free hazmat instructor training available in 12 states

Hazardous Materials Instructor Training is now available at no cost in a dozen states to help reduce transportation incidents involving undeclared hazardous materials.