Environmental Health and Safety - Articles - Page 172

Safety technology engages workers

Smart PPE puts your people in proactive positions; enabling real-time reporting & alerts

March 25, 2019

Ponder this: our human reality now involves a Bluetooth toaster. For $100, you too can receive push notifications when your slice of bread reaches the desired level of toasted-ness. Yes, this is almost certainly the future Steve Jobs envisioned when introducing the iPhone as a “revolutionary and magical product”.

Weekly news round-up

March 23, 2019

The opioid epidemic’s toll on the U.S. workforce, retaliation against an undocumented worker leads to his arrest and federal worker safety agencies get a look at what could be their budgets next year. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

Cintas becomes first company with 100 VPP star certified locations

March 22, 2019

Cintas Corporation has become the first company to reach 100 sites with Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification from OSHA. The company’s Dayton, Ohio location became its 100th VPP location in early 2019. “Safety is woven into the DNA of Cintas’ culture, and we are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Scott Farmer, Chairman and CEO, Cintas. “Nearly 45,000 Cintas employee-partners across the country go to work every day, and it is our mission to make sure everyone goes home safe.”

Fighting chemical fire sends PFAS into Houston area waterways

March 22, 2019

Environmental groups are raising alarm about the consequences of using foam retardant to quell the enormous fire that raged for days at the International Terminals Co. (ITC) in Texas. Storage tanks that were ablaze at the chemical facility near the Deer Park facility contained gasoline blends, base oils, xylene, pyrolysis gasoline and naptha. ITC fire crews only managed to gain traction on the third day.

AIHA announces 2019 named awards

March 21, 2019

The American Industrial Hygiene Association announced the recipients of the 2019 AIHA Named Awards, which honor individuals who provide significant contributions to the industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professions. The award recipients will be recognized Wednesday, May 22, during the Mark of Excellence Awards Breakfast at the 2019 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Inside NIOSH:

Safety data sheets omit some chemicals in flavorings

Companies cite "trade secrets"

March 21, 2019

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigations have shown that sufficient levels of work-related exposure to certain chemical vapors in flavorings can cause severe, irreversible lung disease. These chemicals, diacetyl and its closely related substitute 2,3-pentanedione, can be added to flavorings like the butter in microwave popcorn.

AIHA announces AIHce EXP 2019 sponsors

March 21, 2019

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is pleased to announce the companies supporting the 80th American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo, taking place May 20-22, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year's sponsors represent a wide array of industries and will have the unique opportunity to reach professionals from every sector of industrial hygiene and occupational environmental and health safety.

The cost of careless gas detection

We’re talking about fines, neglected equipment, no maintenance & possible loss of life

Kyle Krueger

March 21, 2019

Debt is a general concept that we all seem to understand from a financial perspective. Likely most have incurred or are currently incurring some form of financial debt -- for example, a car payment, mortgage, or a student loan.

Complying with the EPA’s Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Final Rule

Generators must indicate the hazards of hazardous contents, but have flexibility in doing so

Colwin Chan

March 19, 2019

To enhance safety and environmental protection, the EPA’s Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Final Rule, which became effective federally last year, requires identification including the words “Hazardous Waste,” a description of the container’s hazards, and the date the accumulation started on each container.

75 percent of workplaces in NSC poll affected by opioid usage

Only 17% of employers polled are well prepared to deal with the issue

March 18, 2019

Seventy-five percent of U.S. employers have been directly affected by opioids but – startlingly ¬– only 17 percent feel extremely well prepared to deal with the issue, according to a survey released today by the National Safety Council in recognition of Poison Prevention Week. Thirty-eight percent have experienced absenteeism or impaired worker performance, and 31 percent have had an overdose, arrest, a near-miss or an injury because of employee opioid use.