Weekly news round-up
A nose-down plane landing, new legal developments in Deepwater Horizon disaster and a factory safety law passed in Bangladesh are among this week’s top EHS-related stories as featured on ISHN.com.
Halliburton admits to destroying evidence in Deepwater Horizon disaster
Company will pay a fine, serve probation
Halliburton Energy Services has agreed to plead guilty and pay the maximum fine for destroying evidence in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, U.S. Justice Department announced yesterday.
Lack of sleep a major cause of fatal NJ school bus-truck crash
Speeding, defective brakes also played a role
A school bus driver’s failure to observe a truck as it was approaching the intersection caused a 2012 collision in New Jersey that killed one student and injured fifteen more students and the driver, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
NY contractor exposes workers to asbestos
Hospital who hired company cited, too
OSHA has cited the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital and DGA Builders LLC, both of Rochester, for 14 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards, chiefly involving asbestos. The companies face a combined total of $53,200 in proposed fines, following an inspection.
EPA expands list of safer chemical ingredients
Fragrance-containing cleansers added for first time
The EPA has added more than 130 chemicals to its Safer Chemical Ingredients List including, for the first time, 119 chemicals that use fragrance for commercial and consumer cleaning products.
Oil rig continues to burn in Gulf
No workers injured in blaze
Firefighters continue to battle a burning oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico which broke out Monday night. News sources say the rig has partially collapsed because of a ruptured natural gas well. The 44 workers on the rig were evacuated into two lifeboats and no injuries have been reported.
Transocean ordered to turn over subpoenaed documents to CSB
Owner of Deepwater Horizon has resisted subpoenas for nearly 3 years
The United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans, Louisiana this week refused to grant Transocean Deepwater Drilling, Inc., owner of the Deepwater Horizon, a stay of a recent federal district court order that the company promptly turn over documents that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has subpoenaed from the company for its investigation into the April 2010 explosion at the Macondo drilling facility in the Gulf of Mexico.
Authorities aim for zero traffic fatalities along I-80 for rest of July
"More Cops, More Stops"
In an effort that stretches 2,900 miles across the continental U.S., law enforcement officers in 11 states are focused on preventing traffic deaths along I-80 throughout the remainder of July – typically one of the deadliest periods of the year on the busy route.
After hot work fatality, DuPont improves safety procedures
Changes recommended by CSB
DuPont has adopted a new global corporate standard and developed stronger work requirements for hot work activities such as welding, cutting and grinding following a fatal hot work accident at the company’s Yerkes chemical facility in Buffalo, New York in 2010.
NTSB looking into Monday’s nose-down landing at LaGuardia
Plane skidded 2,000+ feet
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating Monday’s nose-down landing of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
Skipping breakfast may increase coronary heart disease risk
Here’s more evidence why breakfast may be the most important meal of the day: Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease in a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Bangladesh passes new factory worker safety law
Does it go far enough?
In the face of international criticism over the dangerous conditions in its garment factories, Bangladeshi has passed a new law aimed at improving conditions – although the export-oriented factories which make up the bulk of Bangladesh’ garment industry are exempted from a major provision.
Where you live in U.S. affects how long you live
Healthy life expectancies at age 65 highest in Hawaii, lowest in Mississippi
Residents of the South regardless of race, and blacks throughout the United States, have lower healthy life expectancy at age 65, according to a report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Oil worker dies after being struck by pressure line while servicing well
Halliburton fined $14,000
Halliburton has been cited by OSHA for two serious safety violations after a worker was fatally injured Jan. 19 when struck by a high-pressure line while servicing a well on an oil rig in Watford City, North Dakota.
OSHA outreach campaign aimed at reducing MSDs among health care workers
40,000+ injuries per year
OSHA has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the hazards likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers responsible for patient care. These disorders include sprains, strains, soft tissue and back injuries.
Whistleblower to get his job back
Technician fired after reporting breaches of lead abatement protocol
Coit Services of Ohio has been ordered to pay $161,228 in back wages, compensatory damages and interest, plus attorney's fees, to a technician following an investigation by OSHA found that the Bedford Heights company violated the whistle-blower provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Government watchdog group frustrated with Obama’s weak regulatory agenda
Silica exposure rule could see movement, though
The 2013 spring agenda published by White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) earlier this month fails to show a strong commitment to advancing public health, safety or environmental protections, according to the Center for Effective Government, a D.C. watchdog group.
McCarthy, Perez confirmed as heads of EPA & Labor Dept.
After filibuster dispute is settled, Senate finally gets to work
A Congressional bottleneck that had been going on for years finally got some resolution last week when Senators voted to confirm Gina McCarthy as head of the EPA and Thomas Perez as secretary of Labor.
USF shows students promise of occupational safety & health fields
When most people hear the phrase "occupational health and safety," they probably think of OSHA, the federal government organization that regulates workplace health and safety. Others may just think of researchers in huge moon suits, breathing through respirators like Darth Vader while they investigate some on-the-job mishap.
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