Environmental Health and Safety - Articles - Page 145

California issues emergency wildfire smoke exposure rule

July 22, 2019

California employers are going to have to move fast in order to comply with an emergency occupational safety regulation expected to go into effect in early August. The rule adopted last week by the state’s Department of Industrial Relations’ (DIR) Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is aimed at protecting workers from hazards associated with wildfire smoke.

Even astronauts in space should exercise regularly

July 22, 2019

A health problem that has plagued astronauts returning from space – and some earthbound people as well – is lessened by daily exercise, researchers have found. Orthostatic hypotension - a temporary drop in blood pressure occurring when a person stands up after sitting or lying down - has caused newly returned astronauts to faint or feel dizzy.

Use virtual reality with caution — it’s not child’s play

The best way to learn

Dan Markiewicz MS, CIH, CSP, RMP

July 22, 2019

Next to the real thing, virtual reality training is the best way to learn. VR training has been around for many years and in many forms, but generally was limited to people with deep pockets such as the military, NASA and the airline industry with use of flight simulators, for example.

Weekly news round-up

July 20, 2019

A young temp worker suffers a life-altering injury, outdoor workers at risk from venomous snakes and nurses suffer from sleep deprivation. These were among the occupational safety and health stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

Learning to SEE

July 19, 2019

The Center of Visual Expertise presents a one-hour free webinar on Wednesday July 24: “Learning to SEE: A New Perspective on Risk Utilizing Visual Literacy. In this webinar, COVE Chairman and Managing Director Doug Pontsler introduces concepts that help enable workers to process visual information more clearly.

Protecting workers at height from gravity’s pull is never-ending

Formal training is not enough

Pat Furr

July 18, 2019

Gravity doesn’t need to go to school. She is a master at pulling all objects toward the center of our blue planet and has been doing so since the dawn of time. So, yep, she is the grand master. Whereas we mere mortals are still learning how to counter her effects.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Venomous snakes: A neglected hazard for outdoor workers

Stephanie Pendergrass M.S.

July 17, 2019

Outdoor workers can experience a number of hazards. One often unexpected hazard is a venomous snakebite. Venomous snakes may be encountered in workplaces throughout the United States. The most likely geographic locations where outdoor workers would encounter venomous snakes is in the American South, Southwest, and West. From 2008-2015, the greatest number of deaths from venomous snakebites occurred in the southern and mid-western United States.

Online, mobile, micro-learning, podcasts and more

ISHN’s Guide to Breakthrough training resources

July 17, 2019

Training companies include cloud-based training, eLearning, streaming video, classroom lectures, blended learning, behavioral observation training, coaching, comprehensive training processes for teams and workforce materials.

AIHA offers info for safe cleanup after wildfires

July 16, 2019

The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has launched Think and Act Fire Smart, a one-stop information center for wildfire preparedness and recovery. The resource center aims to raise awareness about the hidden dangers in the cleanup process that follows a devastating wildfire, especially in urban areas.

EPA approves bee-killing pesticide

July 16, 2019

The EPA has approved the use of a powerful pesticide that the agency’s own research determined was lethal to honeybees. The agency’s approval of the insecticide sulfoxaflor, manufactured by DowDupont, comes just days after the USDA acknowledged that it has stopped tracking the honeybee population. The agency’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) collected statistics on the number of honey bee colonies and U.S. honey production for decades, to help track honey bee mortality. Lack of data going forward will make it difficult to gauge the effect of sulfoxaflor use on the been population.