Weekly news round-up
A "muck" rescue, a near-fatal fall and a new soda wars battle cry
From a work-related amputation statistics to a fatigue standard for the oil and gas industry and a fracking “peace treaty,” here are the week’s top OEHS-related news stories as featured on ISHN.com:
Kentucky coal mine operator ordered to pay fines it owes for 1,244 violations
D & C Mining Corp. taken to court
A mining company fought the law and the law won recently, when the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky ordered the D & C Mining Corp. to pay the $1.67 million in safety fines it has so far failed to pay.
Fracking “peace treaty” appears shaky
Not everyone happy about tougher standards program
Mere days after an agreement that seemed to bring fracking forces and fracking foes together, some environmental groups are crying foul.
Your spring cleaning should include a home hazard check
Kitchen holds most dangers
Many people welcome warmer weather by thoroughly cleaning and organizing their homes. The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI) says that provides a handy opportunity for finding and fixing electrical hazards that could threaten the safety of your family.
Work-related amputations: Who’s counting?
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Knowing how many, who and where injuries or disease are occurring is a basic premise of preventing injuries and illnesses. If we don’t have accurate information on injury/illness occurrence, we don’t know how many resources to devote, what action(s) to take or whether the action we do take is effective.
Roofing worker breaks neck in fall
Conte Roofing Co. cited
A call from the Moonachie, NJ Police Department last October alerted OSHA to a serious accident at a worksite – caused by a hazard that the agency has focused considerable resources on reducing.
Would you pay your employees to lose weight?
Rising health care costs may lead to new approaches
The recent decision by pharmacy giant CVS Caremark to require employees who receive health insurance through the company to disclose their weight is raising red flags among patient privacy advocates, but it does reflect the need for companies to hold down health care costs.
Worker's roller coaster fall at Legoland leads to court
The operators of Legoland have been prosecuted for safety breaches after a worker fell from a walkway on a roller-coaster ride, breaking his shoulder and several ribs. Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, registered in Poole, Dorset,(UK) was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after it investigated the incident at Legoland in Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, on 1 June 2011.
Union teams up with OSHA to protect iron workers
Covers health, training, fall prevention awareness
The Steel Erectors Association of Metropolitan Philadelphia and Vicinity Inc. and the Iron Workers Local Union No. 401 have renewed an alliance with OSHA designed to to promote workplace safety and health, provide guidance and training resources, and enhance awareness of OSHA's national fall prevention campaign among steel erection workers in the greater Philadelphia area.
Coming in 2014: Training course in gloves
At the International Glove Association (IGA) annual meeting held this week in Palm Coast, FL, the group announced plans for a two-day educational course in all things industrial gloves, to be held in 2014, at a time and date to be determined.
New salvo fired in soda wars
Global health hazard? Or tasty beverage?
In a development that’s certain to generate controversy, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health say they’ve linked sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks to 180,000 deaths worldwide each year
NYC construction worker rescued from trench
Shivering but alive after four hours in “muck”
A New York City construction worker was rescued from an underground trench at subway construction projection early this morning, after being stuck in “muck” from the waist down for nearly four hours. The worker became trapped at 8:30 p.m. last night 75 feet below ground at the Second Avenue subway line site in Manhattan.
Secure pesticides and chemicals during Poison Prevention Week
Thousands of kids exposed to toxins each year
This is National Poison Prevention Week, and the EPA is using the occasion to remind parents to secure pesticides and other household chemicals in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.
Oil industry, union joins forces on fatigue standard
BP’s Texas City Refinery tragedy prompted standard effort
In an effort to improve safety in the oil and gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the United Steelworkers International Union (USW) are working together on a standard to prevent fatigue among oil workers -- and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) wants your comments on those efforts.
Seven Marines killed in training accident
Army depot also used for storing ammo
Seven U.S. Marines were killed and at least seven other people injured during a training exercise in western Nevada last night, Marine Corps officials announced today. The Marines, members of a ground combat unit based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., died in an explosion.
Woman awarded $60,000 after slipping on ice
A woman who suffered injuries in a slip and fall on ice accident was awarded $60,000 in a court settlement. The 50-year-old woman was bringing her garbage to the apartment complex’s dumpster when she slipped and fell on ice, sustaining an injury to her ankle.
It’s official: Obama nominates Perez for Secretary of Labor
Confirmation process promises to be rocky
President Obama yesterday announced the nomination of Thomas E. Perez to be the next secretary of labor. If confirmed, Perez, who currently heads up the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, would replace Hilda L. Solis, who stepped down in January.
Audits missed factory hazards; 400 workers died
Report prompts new calls for safety reform
Two clothing factories in Bangladesh and Pakistan were inspected for safety conditions by independent auditing firms prior to 2012 fires that killed hundreds of employees, according to a new report by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).
New slideshow promotes I2P2
OSHA has published a new slide presentation on the value of injury and illness prevention programs — a proactive process to help employers find and fix workplace hazards before workers are hurt.
Is that ergonomic chair really ergonomic?
Features you should look for
Sitting for long periods of time can cause back and neck pain, muscle cramps and even fatigue, yet many people have jobs that require them to spend a great deal of each workday sitting in front of a computer. If you have a sedentary job, using an ergonomic chair might help you ward off some aches and pains.
Distracted driving? There’s an app for that
U.S. drivers more distracted than Europeans
Every day in the U.S., 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 are injured in crashes that involve distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Using a cell phone, texting, and eating are all forms of distracted driving, but so are in-vehicle technologies such as navigation systems.
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