Environmental Health and Safety

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A recent study claims that more than eight in 10 New Yorkers are exposed to enough noise to damage their hearing. Richard Neitzel, Ph.D., an environmental health sciences researcher at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues say that city dwellers may be particularly at risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) because they are exposed to high levels of noise throughout the day.

Noise emitted by the new Gainesville, Florida  Renewable Energy Center-run biomass plant, which some have compared to the sound of screaming jet engines, moved about 10 Turkey Creek subdivision residents to voice their concerns at a recent Gainesville City Commission meeting, reports the Florida Alligator news.

The EPA has released a draft report on alternatives to a flame retardant chemical, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), which has persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic characteristics.

Seattle Seahawks football fans went bonkers during the team’s NFL Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers and set a new Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium in sports history.

A recent internet discussion group focused on the job market in 2013 for environmental health and safety pros. The discussion was kicked off by this question:

OSHA’s stand down program is coming to the oil and gas industry. During national stand downs, participants are asked to suspend work for at least one hour in order to allow employees to attend meetings and learn safety and health information specific to their industry.

A coalition of construction industry trade associations is concerned that OSHA’s proposed reduction in silica exposure levels may cost construction firms a lot of money.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has ruled that employers must pay minimum wage and overtime to home care workers who provide critical care to older adults and people with disabilities.

Companies that build a culture of health by focusing on the well-being and safety of their workforce may yield greater value for their investors, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

OSHA’s notice of proposed rulemaking for respirable silica has officially been published in the Federal Register, which ushers in the next phase of the process: public input. The public is strongly encouraged to participate in the process of developing a final rule.