Home » Topics » Today's Safety News

Today's Safety News
RSS

Searchers try to rescue young people from abandoned WV mine

December 12, 2018

An urgent search and rescue operation going on in an underground West Virginia mine right now is atypical: the Rock House Powellton mine is inactive and the missing people are not mine employees. A West Virginia mine rescue team is attempting to find and rescue three young people who reportedly entered the sealed mine illegally, leaving an all-terrain vehicle near its entrance.

Tesla denies accusations of hiding injuries

In industry, the motivations are many to under-report

Dave Johnson

December 12, 2018

One month after ISHN published its October issue cover story on Tesla’s quest to have the safest factory in the world, Tesla’s safety and health practices were again in the news. On November 5, 2018, the Center for Investigative Reporting published an article, “Inside Tesla’s factory, a medical clinic designed to ignore injured workers.”

New online training helps protect hazardous waste site workers, meet OSHA requirements

J.J. Keller releases HAZWOPER 40-hour initial Training: General waste site workers

December 11, 2018

Hazardous substance releases can cause a wide range of immediate and chronic health effects, as well as lead to fires, explosions and toxic atmospheres. To help protect hazardous waste site workers from these dangers, J.J. Keller has developed its HAZWOPER 40-Hour Initial Training: General Waste Site Workers.

22-year-old Google employee dies at work

December 10, 2018

A young Google software engineer died at his desk Friday night in the company’s New York headquarters. News sources say 22-year-old Scott Krulcik was found unconscious at his work terminal at approximately 9 p.m. by a janitor. Emergency responders performed CPR but were unable to revive Krulcik. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Confined Space blog post

Job postings

December 10, 2018

Worksafe in Oakland, California has an opening for an Occupational & Environmental Health Specialist who will contribute scientific and technical expertise to Worksafe’s policy advocacy and trainings, and spearhead their efforts to protect workers from chemical hazards and toxic substances. The deadline for priority consideration is 12/12.

EPA proposes reducing coal-fired plant emission limits

December 7, 2018

The EPA’s proposed rollback of Obama-era limits on greenhouse gases emitted by coal-fired plants is drawing opposition from health and environmental groups. At issue: Carbon Pollution Standards for New, Modified and Reconstructed Power Plants, enacted in 2015, which were intended to slow climate change and reduce its effects.

NFPA launches new standard for drone public safety operations

December 7, 2018

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its first unmanned robotics guidance for first responders and others. NFPA 2400®, Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations was developed by representatives from public safety departments with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.

One company, two worksites, same fall protection violations

December 7, 2018

OSHA has cited Derek Williams – operating as Elo Restoration Inc. – for exposing employees to fall hazards at two separate worksites in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Florida. The roofing contractor faces $116,551 in penalties. OSHA initiated an inspection as part of the Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

American Heart Association to U.S. schools: Ignore USDA’s rollback of nutrition rules

December 7, 2018

The American Heart Association issued the following statement in response to the final rule on school nutrition standards issued yesterday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The rule eliminates the final sodium target, decreases the amount of whole grains, and allows 1 percent flavored milk in school meals.

“Burnout” training helps doctors deal with emotions

December 5, 2018

A new form of training is aimed at countering physician burnout – a mental health issue which has emerged as a significant problem in the U.S. for both the medical professionals who suffer from it and the patients whose care may be affected by it. Physician burnout may lead to errors in care that can raise the cost of both health care – potentially putting it beyond some patients’ means – and malpractice insurance.