Environmental Health and Safety

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Ozone is a gas that you cannot see or smell. Ozone occurs naturally in the sky about 10 to 30 miles above the earth's surface. Sometimes, this ozone is called "good ozone" because it forms a layer that protects life on earth from the sun's harmful rays. Ground-level ozone, on the other hand, can be bad for your health and the environment.

Tests done this morning at a West Virginia water treatment facility show some improvement in water quality – a sign that area residents may soon be able to drink water from their own taps.

Want to learn more about OSHA’s proposed rule on occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica? The agency will host a live web chat tomorrow from 1 – 1:30 p.m. EST to discuss it.

Older firefighters who are chronically exposed to heat stress on the job may be more heat resilient over time. A recent study published in the December issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH) found that older firefighters may be able to tolerate more challenging or arduous work environments before they feel affected by the heat, compared to non-heat-exposed workers who would need to stop work prematurely. 

State and federal authorities continue to descend on Charleston, West Virginia in the wake of a devastating chemical spill Thursday that has left 300,000 residents of nine counties unable to drink tap water and has forced the closure of schools and businesses.

OSHA personnel who followed up on a complaint and inspected a Georgia elementary school that was being demolished found that Thompson Building Wrecking Co., Inc. was knowingly exposing workers to asbestos-containing debris being moved by a skid steer loader with a grapple attachment. The debris had been allowed to accumulate on the ground.

Resolution #1: Less Focus On Preaching More On Teaching. Awareness campaigns are important for the unaware. But most workers who ultimately get hurt do so knowing something they know is dangerous, or at very least that they suspected COULD be dangerous. 

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and Cintas Corporation are seeking nominations for the inaugural Innovation Award in Occupational Safety Management. The award will recognize individuals who have addressed workplace safety challenges in innovative ways.

Across the globe, countless safety managers have dedicated their careers to keeping workers and communities safe. For many of these professionals, getting certified in the safety management field can lead to new employment opportunities, career advancement, peer recognition and a long list of other benefits.