Legislation to reverse the opioid epidemic, a driverless schoolbus gets a company in trouble and highlights of the NSC Congress & Expo were among the stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

How British Columbia is tackling Process Safety Management in high hazard industries

October 26, 2018

A multi-disciplinary approach and a first year focused on inspections and engagement are two elements of a new Process Safety initiative launched this year by WorkSafeBC, a governmental agency that looks after the safety of workers in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Three tips for choosing the right hearing protector

Capt. David C. Byrne PhD, CCC Chucri Kardous MS, PE Capt. William Murphy PhD Christa L. Themann MA, CCC-A

October 25, 2018

We live in a noisy world. Some noises can damage our hearing, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and difficulty communicating especially in background noise. Permanent noise-induced hearing damage is incurable.

Fla. company in hot water for using driverless vehicle as a schoolbus

October 25, 2018

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Transdev North America to immediately stop transporting school children in the Babcock Ranch community in Southwest Florida on the EZ10 Generation II driverless shuttle. The NHTSA says Transdev’s use of the driverless shuttle to transport school children is unlawful and in violation of the company’s temporary importation authorization.

Following fatal burn injuries, company cited for lack of PPE

October 25, 2018

An OSHA investigation into a fatal incident at an Ohio company has resulted in citations and fines against the company, Globe Metallurgical Inc. OSHA inspectors determined that the employee suffered fatal burns after an explosion from a molten silicon spill.

AIHA calls it "a bold step"

Trump signs opioid management bill into law

October 25, 2018

President Trump this week signed into law comprehensive legislation aimed at slowing the nation’s opioid crisis. The 250-page bill called The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (H.R.6): authorizes $36 million for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to train and resources to first responders and other key community members on protection from occupational exposure to fentanyl and other opioids, and how to respond if an exposure occurs.

How a new anti-sitting app can help lower your blood pressure

Desk-bound workers get reminders to stand, move

October 25, 2018

A computer app that prompts desk workers to take breaks from sitting is showing real promise in helping reduce blood pressure in a significant and lasting way, reports a trial in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Health groups warn ACA changes will threaten pre-existing condition coverage

October 24, 2018

More than 25 patient and consumer groups are warning that Trump administration guidance about Affordable Care Act (ACA) the issued this week will decrease health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said the guidance will allow states to “move their insurance markets away from the one-size-fits-all rules and regulations imposed by the ACA and increase choice and competition within their insurance markets.”

CSB issues “Call to Action” on combustible dust hazards

October 24, 2018

Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, as part of its investigation into the May 2017 Didion Mill explosion, issued “Call to Action: Combustible Dust” to gather comments on the management and control of combustible dust from companies, regulators, inspectors, safety training providers, researchers, unions, and the workers affected by dust-related hazards.

Green building practices have an unhealthy side for construction workers

Spray form and protective clothing: What works

October 24, 2018

Green construction, or building energy-efficient and sustainable structures, is in high demand. The push for more green buildings has led to construction workers using energy-efficient materials, like spray polyurethane foam insulation (spray foam). This material forms a continuous barrier on walls and corners, preventing moisture from getting inside of structures through cracks and seams.

First responders, 9/11 terrorist attack survivors at risk

High rate of drug/alcohol-related deaths in WTC survivors

October 24, 2018

People who were exposed to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center (WTC) have elevated rates of alcohol- or drug-related death, reports a study in the October issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. "Following a major disaster, alcohol- and drug-related mortality may be increased," according to the new research by Jim Cone, MD, and colleagues of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

From the NSC show:

Worker fatalities at 8-year high

Benita Mehta

October 23, 2018

A new white paper from the Campbell Institute, presented by Joy Inouye, a researcher for the institute, for the media on Tuesday morning at the NSC Congress, details serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Over the past two decades, the U.S. has seen enormous gains in workplace safety, according to the report, titled Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention: Perspectives and Practices.

From the NSC show:

Statistics reveal workplaces still need safety improvements

Benita Mehta

October 23, 2018

The National Safety Council has been collecting and studying statistics for nearly 100 years, but the organization revealed a new section on Tuesday specifically for workplace statistics. The database, now completely online, details injury facts, worker details and timelines, which help to understand why these injuries and fatalities occur.

From the NSC show:

Three levels of safety

Benita Mehta

October 23, 2018

The future of safety will look beyond numbers, said SAFEmap International CEO Corrie Pitzer, who gave Tuesday’s keynote during the National Safety Council Congress & Expo in Houston. He spoke about three different levels of safety. He said Safety 1 is about seeking to eliminate human error, which is futile because, “in safety, we don’t know what we don’t know.”

From the NSC Congress & Expo:

Surprise this year on OHSA’s Top 10

Benita Mehta

October 23, 2018

Every year, one of the most-attended presentations on the expo floor at the NSC Congress & Expo is the announcement of the Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations. This year was no exception as Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the preliminary Top 10 for fiscal year 2018 to an overflowing room.

A Confined Space blog post

Fall 2018 regulatory agenda: No surprises

OPINION

Jordan Barab

October 23, 2018

Lots happening these days: the grizzly murder of a Saudi journalist, baseball championships (Go Dodgers!!), mid-term elections, Presidential temper tantrums about “Horseface” and “Pocahontas.” The usual. But by far the most important thing happening today is the Fall 2018 Regulatory Agenda. Release of the Regulatory Agenda is a much anticipated (for regulatory geeks) semi-annual event that gives the President the opportunity to boast about his efforts to allegedly “Cut Burdensome Red Tape and Unleash the American Economy.”

Warehouse safety checklist: 7 rules that will keep your workers safe

David Davies

October 23, 2018

Warehouses are a key and integral part of your business, but when run poorly, they can be very dangerous places for your workers to inhabit. It's important to regularly assess and appraise how you can improve your warehouse environment to keep your workers safe.

“Social Determinants” affect workers' health, the bottom line

October 23, 2018

Employers would do well to address social determinants of health (SDH) when deciding upon health insurance and wellness plans, according to a "fast-track" paper in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

From the NSC show:

Six safety professionals honored as NSC Congress begins

Benita Mehta

October 22, 2018

On Monday the National Safety Council honored six individuals with the Distinguished Service to Safety Award, the highest award given to safety professionals by the Council. Recipients were honored at the Opening Session of the NSC Congress & Expo in Houston. “Our DSSA winners bring several lifetimes of dedication and commitment to safety,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.

From the NSC show:

Opioid addiction increasing in U.S.

Benita Mehta

October 22, 2018

Opioids are “the worst drug crisis in U.S. history,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, on Monday. “Employers are on the front lines,” she said. “Today we face an everyday killer, one many employers never expected, and one that can no longer be ignored. More than 75 percent pf people who struggle with addiction are in the workforce.

From the NSC show:

Boeing Company joins elite group of award recipients

Benita Mehta

October 22, 2018

The National Safety Council presented the 2018 Robert W. Campbell Award to The Boeing Company at the NSC Congress & Expo. Campbell Award winners are an elite group of organizations that have successfully integrated environmental, health and safety (EHS) management with business operations as a cornerstone of corporate excellence.

From the NSC show:

Simple advice: “Don’t quit”

Benita Mehta

October 22, 2018

Retired Adm. William H. McRaven delivered a passionate Opening Session Monday morning at the 2018 National Safety Council Congress & Expo. He detailed his time as a Navy SEAL trainee with compelling stories and a slideshow.

No fall protection

Construction worker falls to his death in Florida

October 22, 2018

An employee of a Florida roofing company was not wearing fall protection when he plunged to his death at a Maitland worksite. That’s the determination of an OSHA investigation, which found multiple fall-protection violations being committed by the man’s employee, Kasper Roofing & Construction.

Hearing loss, hand vibration, silica dust

Reducing the hazards of concrete drilling

October 22, 2018

Drilling into concrete can be dusty, loud, and physically exhausting. It also can expose workers to silica dust from sand and rock, which can damage the lungs if inhaled. Drilling also exposes workers to hand vibration and noise at levels well above recommended limits. Now, two NIOSH-funded studies through CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training and the University of California at Berkeley have identified ways to reduce these hazards.

Questions linger about platforms suspended from cranes, derricks standard

October 22, 2018

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has two key questions since the publication of ANSI/ASSP A10.28-2018, Safety Requirements for Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes or Derricks, which applies to platforms that companies suspend from the load lines of cranes or derricks.

From the NSC show:

NSC Congress & Expo begins with more than 1,100 exhibitors

Benita Mehta

October 22, 2018

The National Safety Council is hosting its 2018 NSC Congress & Expo this week at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. This year’s conference features more than 1,100 exhibitors, more than 150 educational seminars and four keynote sessions.