Hazmat | ISHN

Three fires, eight citations

October 24, 2014

Reports of three separate fires at a Wisconsin coatings company led to an OSHA inspection – and the issuance of citations for eight safety violations. Many of the violations against Quest Specialty Coatings were cited under OSHA’s Process Safety Management Standards, which contain specific requirements for managing highly hazardous chemicals in work processes.

Michaels on PELs rule: “We have an opportunity”

October 14, 2014

In formally requesting input from stakeholders about its bid to update chemical permissible exposure limits, OSHA is “initiating a national dialogue” about ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances.

Hazmat train derailment in Canada forces evacuation

October 8, 2014

Dozens of residents in Saskatchewan, Canada were evacuated yesterday after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed, spilling petroleum distillate and bursting into flames. Petroleum distillates are used in diesel, kerosene, heating oil and jet fuel.

Healthcare workers aren’t always handling antineoplastic drugs safely

October 7, 2014

A new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study published online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH) found that recommended safe handling practices for workers who administer antineoplastic drugs in healthcare settings are not always followed.

NIOSH updates list of drugs that pose a risk to healthcare workers

September 8, 2014

Healthcare workers who prepare or give hazardous drugs to patients, such as those used for cancer therapy, as well as support staff may face individual health risks when exposed to these drugs.

Flammable chemical hazards found at Ohio fiberglass manufacturer

August 26, 2014

Perry Fiberglass Products Inc. has been cited for four repeat and nine serious safety and health violations after OSHA received a complaint alleging unsafe handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's Avon Lake facility.

Home Depot store cited for safety violations

Home Depot USA's Chicago store cited by OSHA for lack of training & other violations

US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $110,700 in penalties

August 6, 2014

Home Depot USA Inc. was recently cited for six, including two repeat, one willful and three serious safety violations, at its home improvement store on North Kimball Avenue in Chicago. The repeat and willful violations involved lack of training and maintenance for powered industrial vehicles. Proposed penalties total $110,700.

Emergency Laboratory Safety Shower Decontamination Booth

August 6, 2014

HEMCO Emergency Shower / Decontamination Booths are fully assembled and ready for installation to water supply and waste systems. The shower is molded in a one piece seamless chemical resistant fiberglass and is equipped with a pull rod activated shower and push handle eye/face wash for immediately drenching of personnel that have been exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Truck driver dies from exposure to ammonia vapor cloud

Lack of respiratory protection made tank rupture a fatal event

August 4, 2014

Following the death of a truck driver at Midwest Farmers Cooperative's grain handling facility in Tecumseh, OSHA has cited the company for 12 serious safety violations.

Out-of-service equipment poses invisible hazards if not handled properly

August 1, 2014

Retiring equipment in the chemical processing industry may pose more danger than meets the eye as residual hazardous chemicals, live electrical connections or connections to in-service process machinery complicates how to safely remove these items from a plant, according to the July issue of the American Society of Safety Engineer’s monthly journal, Professional Safety.