Environmental Health and Safety

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A pilot project by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) intended to gather information on chemical substances “of very high concern” found in consumer articles has yielded some alarming results, according to the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). The inspectorates of 15 EU Member States checked 682 articles supplied by 405 companies.

Workplace accidents are, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence. An employee is hurt on the job every seven seconds, according to one study, around 4.6 million people each year. Some common injuries include soreness, sprains and lacerations, mainly due to overexertion, slips, falls and trips. Nevertheless, reducing injuries and fatalities is a priority for many industries.

Although sales of artificial trees have risen from 11.9 million in 2012 to 23.6 in 2018, sales of real trees have remained stable. Approximately 32.8 million real trees were sold in the U.S. last year. Lovers of real Christmas trees appreciate their scent and authenticity. However, without a simple maintenance measure, a real Christmas tree can pose a significant fire danger in a home.

Inadequate planning and communication were what led to the 2016 gas pipeline explosion and fire in Alabama that killed two workers and injured four others, according to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The October 31 blast near Helena occurred when a contractor who was excavating damaged the Colonial Pipeline Company’s (Colonial) 36-inch diameter refined liquid petroleum transmission pipeline