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A Confined Space blog post

OSHA weakens workers’ protections against retaliation for reporting injuries

OPINION

October 16, 2018

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a memo Thursday weakening workers’ protection against employer retaliation for reporting injuries and illnesses. Section 1904.35(b)(1)(iv) of the Obama administrations 2016 “Electronic Recordkeeping Rule” told employers that “You must not discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness.”

Watch out for eye dangers on the job

October 16, 2018

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 20,000 workplace eye injuries happen each year. Injuries on the job often require one or more missed work days for recovery. OSHA reports that workplace eye injuries cost an estimated $300 million a year in lost productivity, medical treatment and worker compensation.

One worker electrocuted, two who try to help him injured

October 16, 2018

OSHA has cited a Pennsylvania contractor for health and safety violations following an electrical accident on April 12, 2018 that killed one worker and injured two others. News sources said a crew employed by Pipe Contracting LLC was repairing the sewer system when a machine the workers were using touched a 23,000-volt high-tension line.

Swedish study: Digital billboards cause distracted driving

October 15, 2018

A new study concludes that digital billboards attract and hold the gazes of drivers for far longer than a threshold that previous studies have shown to be dangerous. The study, conducted by researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute found that drivers looked at digital billboards significantly longer than they did at other signs on the same stretch of road

Worker gets the axe after reporting injuries

Fired whistleblower gets $100K in court settlement

October 15, 2018

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Wisconsin in Green Bay has awarded a machine operator $100,000 in back wages and compensatory damages after his employer Dura-Fibre LLC – based in Menasha, Wisconsin – terminated him for reporting injuries he and a co-worker sustained.

Health of young people at risk

Sales of JUUL e-cigarettes skyrocket

October 15, 2018

Sales of JUUL, an e-cigarette shaped like a USB flash drive, grew more than seven-fold from 2016 to 2017, and held the greatest share of the U.S. e-cigarette market by December 2017. The findings, from an analysis of retail sales data from 2013-2017, were released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in JAMA.

A FairWarning story

Safety agency nixes tracking deaths involving ROVs

"One of the deadliest products on the market"

Eli Wolfe

October 15, 2018

Despite mounting casualties from crashes of recreational off-highway vehicles, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has shot down a proposal to track injuries and deaths involving the popular trail machines.

How a hurricane can hurt your heart

October 12, 2018

With Hurricane Michael still raging along the East coast of the United States, the American Heart Association (AHA) is reminding people who may be affected by this and other severe storms that the stress and trauma that comes with extreme weather can intensify stress and an increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Back of hand protection market explodes

October 12, 2018

The bones and soft tissues in the back of your hand are all vulnerable to impact injuries. These injuries can range from a bump or bruise to a severe bone fracture. A new U.S. voluntary standard on the performance and classification for impact-resistant gloves is on the way – ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) Standard 138.

Hurricane Michael not finished wreaking havoc

October 12, 2018

Hurricane Michael – now a cyclone – has claimed 11 lives in four states so far, and officials are warning that the storm is again gaining strength and will continue to pose a danger. News reports say Virginia has been hit the hardest, with five people killed.