Occupational Safety
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U.S. Steel Corp.'s safety shortcuts lead to fatal explosion

Time and cost concerns blamed in 2 worker deaths and serious burns to another

October 1, 2019

Like most of us, Leo Bridges and Edward Bryant left for work one day in September 2014, probably thinking about some rest and relaxation when the shift ended. Like many, they figured their managers and employer would ensure they were safe at work. Bridges and Bryant were wrong; they were caught in a fiery explosion in the Flux Building, which OSHA inspectors said occurred because U.S. Steel Corp. put workers at risk, so as not to slow production at its Fairfield facility.

OSHA backs away from beryllium rule rollback

September 30, 2019

Contrary to previously announced plans, OSHA will not revoke all of the ancillary provisions in its Beryllium Standards for Construction and Shipyards. Beryllium is a strong, lightweight metal used in the aerospace, telecommunications, information technology, defense, medical, and nuclear industries. Workers who are exposed to beryllium – by inhaling or contacting it in the air or on surfaces - are at risk for developing beryllium disease and lung cancer.

DPA Buying Group adds new safety distributors

September 30, 2019

In the last several months the DPA Buying Group is pleased to welcome nineteen new distributor members to its safety products division: Carolina Strategic Supply, LLC dba Resource Safety (Columbia, SC); Certified Slings, Inc. (Casselberry, FL); Colorado Safety Supply Co. (Aurora, CO); Essential Safety Supply dba Safetymart (Charlotte, NC); Express Safety, Inc. (Salinas, CA); Extreme Safety, Inc. (Carson, CA); G & G Safety Supply (Toledo, OH); Hard Hat Gear (Ozark, MO); Ladd Safety (Memphis, TN); Moose’s Enterprises (Troy, PA); NWFF Environmental (Philomath, OR headquarters); Olson Enterprises, Inc. dba F.I.R.S.T. (Helena, MT); Patriot First Aid & Safety (Miami Beach, FL); Safety Industrial Solutions, LLC (Beaumont, TX); Safety Smart Gear (Charlton, MA); Sawyer Safety Supply (Jacksonville, FL); Star Safety Supply (Rome, GA); Summit Safety Solutions (Denver, CO); Think Safety Always (Coral Gables, FL).

DPA adds new industrial & contractor supply distributors

September 30, 2019

Since start of 2019, the DPA Buying Group is pleased to welcome thirteen new distributor members to its industrial & contractor supply division: AFC Industries dba Victory Bolt and Specialty (Indian Trail, NC); All Join Company, Inc. dba Hydro Bolt Corp. (Bohemia, NY); Candor Industrial Supply, Inc. (Ontario, CA); Central Indiana Rubber, Inc. (Crawfordsville, IN); CK Fasteners, LLC (Connersville, IN); Derco Supply (Yuba City, CA); Eastern Site Supply, LLC (Woburn, MA); Langford Tool & Drill (Minneapolis, MN); Lessin Supply Co. (Charles City, IA); Port Hueneme Marine Supply Co. (Oxnard, CA); Prime Industrial Fasteners (Miami, FL); River City Bolt & Screw, Inc. (San Antonio, TX); SouthCo Supply (Gainesville, GA).

Globe and Mail highlights Blackline Safety’s G7 wearable as a winning product, propelling Canada’s top growing companies

Blackline Safety places No. 231 on the Globe and Mail’s brand-new Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies

September 30, 2019

The G7 connected wearable from Blackline Safety (TSX.V: BLN) was one of five products highlighted by the Globe and Mail in their new Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing companies. Having earned position No. 231 on the ranking, Blackline achieved a three-year revenue growth of 145%.

Top products of the week

September 29, 2019

A heavy-duty tool backpack, a methane detection system and wet scrubbers to prevent combustible dust explosions were the top products featured on ISHN.com this week.

Weekly news round-up

September 28, 2019

New York moves to revoke contractors’ licenses after worker fatalities; more OSHA violations for Dollar Tree stores and a runaway train raises concerns about air brakes. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Older wholesale and retail workers in nonstandard work arrangements

Adrienne Eastlake MS, RS/REH Donna Pfirman Jeanette Novakovich PhD Juliann Scholl PhD Bermang Ortiz BA Deborah Hornback MS Harpriya Kaur PhD, MPH

September 27, 2019

National Employ Older Workers Week takes place the final week in September and recognizes the vital role of older workers [U.S. DOL 2019]. By 2020, workers aged 55 and over will likely make up about 25 percent of the U.S. workforce [BLS 2018]. Within the Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) Sector alone, in 2017 almost 4.5 million workers (more than 22 percent) are over age 55, up from 3.8 million workers in 2011 [BLS 2018].

Oregon company improves safety with machine guarding, LOTO, repetitive stress changes

September 27, 2019

For Kevin Emerick, workplace safety is no mere box to be checked on a To-Do List. It is about people. It is about family. It is about sending members of your work family home safe after each and every workday. “With the median tenure at our company at almost 25 years, we are family, and the last thing you want to see is someone in your family get hurt or worse,” said Emerick (shown above), risk manager for Woodfold Mfg., Inc., a Forest Grove, Oregon-based company that makes custom-crafted accordion doors, roll-up doors, and hardwood shutters.

FAA pledges transparency in Boeing 737 Max actions

September 27, 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is promising to share information about its efforts to ensure that proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX meet certification standards. The aircraft was taken out of service since the March 13, the second of two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.