Weekly news round-up
Wildfires devastate large swathes of Northern California, Trump pulls some funding from the Affordable Care Act and OSHA gets back to (enforcement) work in hurricane-hit states. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN this week.
Standing too much at work doubles your risk of heart disease
Spend a lot of time on your feet at work? You could be doubling your risk of heart disease. Most people are aware that sitting at a desk all day is not good for their health. Prolonged sitting has been linked to a range of diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Trump ends ACA subsidies for low-income Americans
President Trump’s plan to end a key Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy will cause health care premiums to spike and insurers to exit the market according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which estimated that the action would cause the federal budget deficit to rise by $6 billion next year and by $26 billion by 2026.
Worker’s slip-and-fall claim dismissed
A jurisdictional dispute was behind the dismissal last month of a slip-and-fall lawsuit brought by a worker against the oil company that employed him.
California Hepatitis A outbreaks endanger some workers
Hepatitis A outbreaks in three California counties have Cal/OSHA urging employers to protect their workers who are at risk of exposure.
Millions of U.S. children may lose healthcare due to Congressional inaction
A program that provides healthcare for needy children has expired because Congress has failed to approve its reauthorization – a vote that was expected to be routine.
North Carolina co. takes home the gold for safety
Greenwood, Inc. emphasizes best practices
Great DART has helped earn a North Carolina company a Gold Safety Award from its state’s Department of Labor (NCDOL).
OSHA resumes enforcement in Texas and Louisiana
OSHA – which had ceased most programmed enforcement actions following Hurricane Harvey -- resumed normal enforcement throughout Texas and Louisiana on Tuesday.
World Obesity Day highlights global problem
World Obesity Day – yesterday – prompted calls from the American Heart Association (AHA) and organizations from many nations to urge all levels of government to increase their investments to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
'Khamisiyah Plume' linked to brain, memory effects in Gulf War vets
Study supports lasting harms of exposure to chemical weapons
Gulf War veterans with low-level exposure to chemical weapons show lasting adverse effects on brain structure and memory function, reports a study in the October Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
When disaster strikes, will you be ready?
CDC offers emergency response training for EHS pros
Hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and wildfires: recent headlines prove that even disasters that give us some notice – such as hurricanes – can cause far more destruction than expected, and that effective emergency response depends upon preparedness.
Ludlow Massacre archaeological project celebrates 20th anniversary
Story of workers’ rights remains important part of history more than a century later
It’s been more than 100 years since approximately two dozen miners, including women and children, were killed in what is known as the Ludlow Massacre (or the Colorado Coal Field War). The tent colony in Ludlow, Colo., was inhabited by some 1,200 striking coal miners — some of them recent immigrants — seeking safer working and better living conditions and better pay.
Death, destruction mount in Northern California wildfires
The death toll in the wildfires roaring at high speeds across Northern California has reached 23, with 30,000 buildings and five vineyards destroyed.
AIHA and ASSE announce Memorandum of Understanding
The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers® (ASSE) represent the world's foremost professionals in occupational and environmental health and safety, and have pledged to work together on all matters of mutual interest to reach their common goals.
Robotics set to lend construction workers a “helping hand”
Some robots may do the majority of back-breaking work for construction workers that repeat the same routine for hours. The Hadrian X is a bricklaying robot courtesy Australia's Fastbrick Robotics, which uses its 30-metre metal arm to lay bricks at a rate of 1,000 bricks per hour, compared to a human worker's average of 1,000 a day.
Massachusetts public workers may get OSHA protections
The Massachusetts Senate moved a step closer yesterday to joining 26 other states in extending OSHA safety standards to public sector workers. Bill S.2167, which has yet to be voted on by the Massachusetts House, would ensure that all state and local government workers are protected by the OSHA standards, which apply only to private sector workers.
EPA to repeal Clean Power Plan to fight climate change
EPA chief Scott Pruitt announced Monday that he will sign the paperwork to repeal the Clean Power Plan, an Obama administration rule to combat climate change rule by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants.
U.S. traffic deaths increased in 2016
Fatalities caused by distracted driving decreased in 2016, while deaths related to other reckless behaviors – including speeding, alcohol impairment, and not wearing seat belts – continued to increase, according to new figures released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Toxic emissions, no injuries in Tenn. chem plant blast
The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSH) is investigating last week’s explosion at an Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, Tennessee that released potentially toxic chemicals into the air.
It’s National Nanotechnology Day
It’s a big day for some teeny tiny particles. Today has been designated “National Technology Day” by the U.S. nanotechnology community. The goal, according to Dr. John Howard, Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): to inform the public about nanotechnology, share scientific accomplishments that benefit industry and society, and promote its future possibilities and benefits.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
