A controversial new emissions rule from the EPA, contaminants in a street drug send hundreds to hospitals and a fire safety group accuses a state of watering down safety requirements in its building codes. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
OSH around the world: Brick kiln hazards effort gets recognized
August 23, 2018
Two organizations that are working together to develop information to help mitigate hazardous exposures in brick kilns have won recognition from the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA).
Have questions about OSHA’s silica standard for construction?
OSHA has FAQs, video
August 23, 2018
OSHA has put together a new set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and training videos on the agency’s standard for respirable crystalline silica in construction.
Hands-Only CPR training via kiosk hits milestone
August 22, 2018
In the two years since the American Heart Association (AHA) placed 30 Hands-Only CPR training kiosks in airports and other high-traffic locations in the U.S., more than 100,000 people have learned the life-saving skill from the interactive devices.
Take emergency preparedness one step further
Ken Boyce
August 22, 2018
Regardless of where in the world your facilities are located, natural disasters present a potential risk. From tornadoes and hurricanes to massive blizzards and wild fires, countless events happen without warning throughout the year.
What you need to know about synthetic marijuana
Maureen Paraventi
August 22, 2018
More than 100 people in a Connecticut park overdose on suspected synthetic marijuana in one day, straining emergency services. Washington, D.C. sees more than 200 overdoses during the month of July. These numbers generated headlines, but health emergencies caused by synthetic cannabinoid - also known as Spice, K2, Black Mamba, Fake Weed, or Synthetic Marijuana – are not isolated incidents.
Mass. construction workers have high rate of opioid deaths
August 21, 2018
Massachusetts workers employed in construction and extraction have the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths, according to a CDC-funded study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
NFPA condemns "hijacking" of Connecticut's fire code by special interests
"They continue to put their bottom line ahead of saving lives”
August 21, 2018
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is condemning the formal approval of new building safety codes in Connecticut, alleging that changes made to the previous codes will increase the state’s residents’ vulnerability to fire.
Settlement with giant oil processor to help prevent, prepare for accidental spills
August 21, 2018
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 have entered into a consent decree with Ag Processing, Inc. (AGP) to ensure compliance with oil pollution prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA). As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to implement specific preventative measures to ensure future compliance and improve accidental spill response.
EPA releases replacement for Clean Power Plan
August 21, 2018
In a move that quickly generated controversy, the EPA yesterday unveiled a replacement for the Clean Power Plan that it proposed repealing in October 2017 because it “exceeded EPA’s authority.”
NTSB gets a new member
August 21, 2018
Jennifer Homendy was sworn in Monday as a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during a brief ceremony at NTSB headquarters. The addition of Homendy means the agency now has all five board member positions filled.
A FairWarning story
Feds extract penalties in crashes that killed five migrant farm workers
Eli Wolfe
August 20, 2018
For the second time in recent months, the U.S. Department of Labor has extracted penalties from a California farm business blamed for the deadly crash of a vehicle transporting migrant field workers to their jobs.
Drugged driving complicates anti-impaired driving message
August 20, 2018
The emerging trend of drug-impaired driving will be paired with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) usual effort to combat drunk driving in a new series of public service announcements that will run through one of the deadliest times on U.S. roads - the Labor Day holiday weekend (Aug. 15-Sept. 3).
Health group: Vaccines have helped reduce rate of death and disease in the U.S.
August 20, 2018
Although an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 adults in the U.S. die from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases or their complications each year, the American Lung Association (ALA) says vaccines have helped reduce the rate of death and disease in the United States.
A Confined Space blog post
Court orders EPA to implement chemical plant safety rule
August 20, 2018
In a stinging rebuke to the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal court has called EPA’s delay in implementing the Obama administration’s chemical disaster rule “arbitrary and capricious” and told the agency to implement the rule.
