Today's Safety News

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The field of continuing education (CE) and lifelong learning is going through a major transition in response to the new economy and the demands and interests of learners in the new economy.  As with other businesses and industries, technology continues to be one of the big drivers of change in CE today.

OSHA rulemaking, temp workers around the world and the high fall fatality rate of communications tower workers were among the top EHS-related stories this week on ISHN.com.

This winter, with its extreme record-setting cold, above normal snowfall, ice storms, resulted in lots of frozen pipes. The International Code Council (ICC) has produced an article intended to offer a refresher on 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) requirements related to pipe freezing so steps can be taken to minimize the chances of cold weather taking its toll on pipes.
 

Job search got you down? Stuck in a dead-end position? Maybe it's time to learn something new. There is a skills gap in the marketplace. In a 2013 study, only 15% of hiring managers said nearly all or most job seekers had the skills and traits their companies look for. There's no better way to make yourself more attractive to a potential employer than to master something new.

Workers who perform tasks at elevation - such as structural metalworking, roof assembly and repair, tree trimming, and green energy construction - are at risk of falls from heights, with frequently serious or even fatal consequences.

California’s initiative to improve refinery safety is getting a big thumb’s up from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB). A report recently released by the California Interagency Working Group on Refinery Safety “is an important milestone for improving refinery safety across the State of California,” said CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso.

Scientific research from the 1990s now reveals that more than ever before, a challenged, stimulated brain may well be the key to a vibrant later life. As 78 million Baby Boomers prepare to redefine their own retirement, news that staying active and keeping their brains constantly engaged may help stave off mental and physical ailments and diseases has many asking how best to do so. The answer is simple: lifelong or later-life learning.

OSHA will be spending the rest of 2014 holding public hearings and reviewing the approximately 3,000 comments it has already received on its proposed crystalline silica rule. Although OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels has stated the the silica rule – which would reduce occupational exposure limits to the substance – is the agency’s top priority, the issue is “a long, long way from every being finalized,” according to Aaron K. Trippler of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is demanding access to the Tesoro refinery in Martinez, California, in order to investigate a Feb. 12 chemical spill that resulted in first- and second-degree burns to two workers.

For nearly six years, Limber Herrera has toiled as a temp worker doing the same work for the same company in Mira Loma, Calif. About 40 hours a week, he unloads shipping containers for NFI—one of the largest freight distribution firms in America—moving goods that will eventually stock the shelves of Walmart and Sam’s Club.