Depending on the industry, employees may be at risk from exposure to tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, allergens, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that build up indoors. Employees may also be exposed to airborne contaminants on the job such as dusts, welding fumes, gases, solvent vapors and mists.
On June 8 approximately 350 Hanford workers were ordered to “take cover” after alarms designed to detect elevated levels of airborne radioactive contamination went off, according to local press reports.
It was quickly determined that radioactive particles had been swept out of a containment zone at the plutonium finishing plant (PFP) demolition site.
New research has uncovered the bottom-line benefits of clean air in the workplace. Safety and health professionals, HR executives, and facility managers can now make the argument that the benefits of providing a healthy indoor environment far outweigh the incremental costs.
A proposed ASTM International standard will protect worker’s health by monitoring the levels of hydrogen sulfide gas in workplace air.
The proposed standard (WK59402, Test Methods for Measurement of Hydrogen Sulfide in Workplace Air by Direct-Reading Electrochemical Detectors) is being developed by the ASTM International committee on air quality (D22).
A Massachusetts behavioral health facility faces $207,690 in proposed penalties from OSHA for violations found while conducting a follow-up inspection.
On June 29, 2017, OSHA issued UHS of Westwood Pembroke, Inc. – doing business as Lowell Treatment Center – a notification for failure to abate violation involving workplace violence.
Aegion Coating Services LLC provides corrosion protection for structures and facilities around the world. The company’s Corrpro subsidiary has a heat management campaign that provides heat illness prevention training and weekly bulletins on heat management topics relevant to the company’s scope of work.
Casella debuts Airwave App for monitoring of dust and noise safety
August 14, 2017
Casella, the leading provider of noise, dust and vibration monitoring solutions, sets new industry standards with the Airwave App, the only tool of its kind in the world providing remote access of noise dosimeters and personal air sampling pumps.
A number of both indoor and outdoor worker populations may be particularly vulnerable to climate variations. Examples include: emergency responders, health care workers, fire fighters, utility workers, farmers, manufacturing workers and transportation workers.
A web-based survey conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that a perceived management commitment to safety was linked to a better use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls to reduce the likelihood of health care professionals experiencing spills, leaks or skin contact during the administration of liquid antineoplastic drugs (AD).
With today’s temperature expected to reach 108 in parts of California – and 100+ high temps predicted for many days during the next two weeks - Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to observe outdoor workers toiling in high heat for signs and symptoms of heat illness. It’s a warning that should be heeded by those in other parts of the country, as well.
