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The OSHA “willful” mysteries
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The OSHA “willful” mysteries

Often there is no explanation for the charges
Edward Stern
March 2, 2020

Many of the OSHA cases that cite “willful” violations present mysteries. The mysteries are why the alleged violations were categorized as willful. These charges are not a mystery to OSHA, but they are mysteries to readers of citations. Since the penalty for a willful violation can be over $130,000, there should not be any mystery about such charges.


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hand injuries

Day raises awareness of repetitive strain injuries

February 28, 2020
Tomorrow, February 29, 2020, has been designated International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) reminds workers that repetitive strain injuries are serious workplace hazards and encourages them to take action to prevent these injuries.
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prescription drugs

NSC unveils comprehensive plan for presidential candidates to combat opioid misuse

NSC – along with more than 50 organizations – urges candidates to adopt the plan in full or use it to close gaps in existing strategies
February 28, 2020

The National Safety Council (NSC), in partnership with more than 50 organizations and companies nationwide, released a comprehensive, inclusive strategy to address opioid misuse that all presidential candidates – regardless of party – should either adopt in full or use to close gaps in existing plans and policies.


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walking

Slow, steady increase in exercise intensity is best for heart health

February 26, 2020
For most people, the benefits of aerobic exercise far outweigh the risks, however, extreme endurance exercise – such as participation in marathons and triathlons for people who aren’t accustomed to high-intensity exercise – can raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or heart attacks, according to a new Scientific Statement published in the Association’s premier journal Circulation.
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American Heart Association

CPR goes high-tech

February 25, 2020
A high-quality telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR) program can save more lives from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and strengthen the chain of survival, according to a new advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA) published in Circulation, a journal of the AHA, today. Each year in the United States, an estimated 350,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest in out-of-hospital environments. Sudden cardiac arrest is the unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness and commonly the result of an electric disturbance in the heart.
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global

Here’s the latest on the coronavirus outbreak

February 24, 2020
The respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China has now been detected in 32 locations internationally, including cases United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
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EPA

EPA takes a step in PFAS Action Plan

February 21, 2020
The EPA has proposed “regulatory determinations” for two chemicals whose presence in drinking water has raised alarm among the public and health experts. The agency is proposing to regulate two contaminants perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – but not six others: 1,1-dichloroethane, acetochlor, methyl bromide, metolachlor, nitrobenzene, and RDX.
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obesity

Excess costs for obese employees vary between industries

February 19, 2020
Although obese employees incur higher direct and indirect costs, the extent of obesity-related costs tends to be lower in some industrial sectors — including healthcare, reports a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Dominique Lejeune, MSc, of Groupe d'analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada, analyzed variations in the relationship between obesity and healthcare and other employee costs.
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