Weekly news round-up
A change in the beryllium standard, future occupational safety and health goals and a “green” implication for heart disease risk were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
Report: Employers are vital to promoting mental health
December 14, 2018
Training managers to empower their teams to take care of their mental health, while recognizing the signs of mental health disorders, is critically important to workplace well-being, according to a new report, titled Mental Health: A Workforce Crisis. To help employers support their employees, this new report summarizes the evidence on workplace mental health intervention effectiveness and provides insights from a national survey of employee perceptions on how mental health is supported in the workplace.
Excess body weight responsible for nearly 4% of cancers worldwide
Prevalence has increased rapidly in most countries across all population groups
December 14, 2018
Policies, economic systems, and marketing practices that promote the consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor food, changing behavioral patterns that couple high total energy intake with insufficient physical activity, and human-built environments that amplify these factors are driving a worldwide rise in excess body weight, according to a new report.
Worker in 17’ deep trench dies in collapse
December 13, 2018
Cal/OSHA has cited a Riverside, California construction company $66,000 for serious workplace safety violations that resulted in the death of a worker when a 17-foot-deep trench he was in collapsed. Cal/OSHA determined that Empire Equipment Services, Inc. did not properly classify the soil and failed to correctly slope the excavation.
Pipeline workers injured in Pa. accident
December 13, 2018
Two workers were injured Sunday in Pennsylvania when they were struck by equipment they were using to clean the interior of a 20” underground pipeline. One worker was treated at a local hospital and released. The other was hospitalized with a broken arm.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Health for the holidays: Risks and recommendations for the retail industry
Vern Putz Anderson PhD, CPE Donna Pfirman Jessica M. K. Streit PhD, MS Seleen Collins
December 13, 2018
It’s finally here—the most wonderful time of the year… for shopping. People will visit retail stores to buy a variety of goods: the cleaning supplies they will use to prepare for holiday celebrations, the food and beverages they will serve at holiday gatherings, the holiday gifts they will give loved ones, and much more.
3 trapped in West Virginia mine are found alive
December 13, 2018
After being trapped inside an abandoned mine in West Virginia for days, three people were found alive and in good condition yesterday. News sources say Kayla Williams, 25, Erica Treadway, 31, and Cody Beverly, 21 – who had entered the Elk Run Coal’s Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek illegally – were located on day four of a search coordinated by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training.
Fire, electric shock, struck-by hazards found at one Ga. workplace
December 13, 2018
OSHA has cited Parts Authority LLC - a wholesale auto and truck parts distributor based in Norcross, Georgia - for exposing employees to fire, electrical shock, and struck-by hazards. The company faces $133,406 in penalties.
A FairWarning Story
Federal vaccine court quietly pays out billions
December 12, 2018
A chickenpox outbreak at a private school in North Carolina drew extensive national news coverage in November. The thrust of most stories was the public health threat of unvaccinated children and superstitious beliefs about vaccine risks.
A Confined Space blog post
Weekly Toll: Human statistics who won’t be coming home
December 12, 2018
The Norman County Sheriff’s Office has released more details of a farm accident last month that fatally injured a 28-year-old mother. Katherine Brommenschenkel Vilmo, of Ada, was feeding cattle Friday, Nov. 16, on her family’s farm in Hendrum along Minnesota Highway 200. It was about 9 a.m. when a large hay bale pinned Vilmo against a cattle feeder, according to a sheriff’s office report.
NIOSH wants to hear from you about future OSH goals
December 12, 2018
The comment period is now open for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed objectives for Healthy People (HP) 2030. This includes proposed core objectives for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
Poor maintenance led to passenger vessel fire
“Safety isn’t something you have, it’s something you do"
December 11, 2018
The National Transportation Safety Board (the NTSB) has determined that an insufficient preventative maintenance program and lack of guidance for responding to engine high-temperature conditions, led to a fire earlier this year that resulted in the death of a passenger.
How to keep truckers safe on the road
December 11, 2018
Driving large trucks for a living can be a daunting and dangerous task, particularly on the highway. Not only do semi-trucks weigh tons, but their drivers also have to be completely cognizant of smaller vehicles on the road. It can be difficult to remain alert and fully aware of your surroundings while driving long distances through the night.
DOL proposes revisions to beryllium standard for general industry
December 11, 2018
OSHA yesterday issued a proposed rule to revise the beryllium standard for general industry. The proposed changes are designed to clarify the standard, and to simplify or improve compliance with the standard.
Go hug a tree
Neighborhoods with more green space may mean less heart disease
December 11, 2018
People who live in leafy, green neighborhoods may have a lower risk of developing heart disease and strokes, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association.
Space station study may increase understanding of aging process
December 10, 2018
When traveling in space, astronauts experience physiological changes normally associated with aging, such as bone loss, muscle deterioration and altered immune systems. When the astronauts return to Earth, the changes often reverse.
22-year-old Google employee dies at work
December 10, 2018
A young Google software engineer died at his desk Friday night in the company’s New York headquarters. News sources say 22-year-old Scott Krulcik was found unconscious at his work terminal at approximately 9 p.m. by a janitor. Emergency responders performed CPR but were unable to revive Krulcik. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Confined Space blog post
Job postings
December 10, 2018
Worksafe in Oakland, California has an opening for an Occupational & Environmental Health Specialist who will contribute scientific and technical expertise to Worksafe’s policy advocacy and trainings, and spearhead their efforts to protect workers from chemical hazards and toxic substances. The deadline for priority consideration is 12/12.
Study finds surprising differences in CPR willingness
December 10, 2018
Only 46 percent of the women queried in a recent study said they’d be likely to give Hands-Only CPR in an emergency, compared to 54 percent of men who would. The American Heart Association (AHA) Hands-Only CPR Research Tracking Study found that gender difference becomes even more pronounced among younger people; 49 percent of women age 18 to 34 would be likely to give Hands-Only CPR in an emergency while 63 percent of men age 18 to 34 report the same.
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