At FEMA’s request, OSHA personnel headed the Joint Field Office in Austin, Texas to develop an incident-specific health and safety plan to protect workers during the cleanup and recovery operations following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey.
At state and federal level, there’s considerable resistance to planning for the various impacts of extreme weather events linked to climate change.
To be sure, climate change is exacerbating the impacts of events like hurricanes. While the economic toll of this year’s storms is being calculated, the U.S. Department of Energy estimated in 2013 that weather-related power outages cost the economy between $18 billion and $33 billion each year.
What workers are at increased risk of injury during hurricanes or tornados?
While most workers can stay inside during such a storm, some workers may be required to go into the storm. This may include utility workers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, federal, state and local government personnel (such as sanitation and highway workers), and military personnel.
As tech companies and automakers, cheered on by the federal government, race to test and promote autonomous vehicles, several surveys show that most motorists don’t want to drive, ride in or be on the road anywhere near them.
New research shows maintaining a healthy weight throughout life – more so than four other health behaviors studied – is important to help keep blood pressure in check, according to research presented today at the American Heart Association (AHA) Council on Hypertension, AHA Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, American Society of Hypertension Joint Scientific Sessions 2017 in San Francisco.
Washington observers say the Trump administration is planning to replace the EPA’s rule to limit emissions from coal-fired power plants with one that’s more industry friendly.
With many people still without power in areas hit by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is providing the following safety tips for homeowners:
OSHA has engaged in a furious flurry of press activity over the past month.
Well, “furious” by Trump-OSHA standards. By anyone else’s standards, it’s still pathetic. OSHA has issued an astonishing total of six press releases since the beginning of August.
OSHA and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) have established a two-year alliance today to raise awareness of how workers are exposed to diisocyantes, and promote safe practices for their use in the polyurethane industry.
The EPA says it will exercise its “enforcement discretion” for Duke Energy Florida vehicles and equipment that are being used to respond to power outages in Florida as a result of Hurricane Irma.
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