A regulatory shake-up draws strong reactions, a Texas-sized campaign to train people on CPR and pilot fatigue management in a challenging place. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
How to avoid the most common finger-loss accidents
About 30,000 people, both kids and adults, are rushed to U.S. emergency rooms each year because they've amputated a finger. The two most common causes are from things many of us come into contact with every day: doors and power tools.
Ketchup or PFAS with those fries?
Researchers raise concerns about chemicals in fast-food packaging
As if cheeseburgers, fries and microwave popcorn weren’t enough of a dietary worry, now comes word that fast-food packaging is also a cause for concern. In a paper published today, federal government and university researchers report finding chemicals from a suspect family of compounds in the wrappers and containers of one out of every three sandwiches, burgers, desserts and bread tested from many leading fast-food chains.
WHO: Tobacco control can save millions of lives
Policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work, according to a new landmark global report from WHO and the National Cancer Institute of the United States of America. Such measures can also greatly reduce tobacco use and protect people’s health from the world’s leading killers, such as cancers and heart disease.
Study: Children with asthma more likely to become obese
New USC research finds that children with asthma are 51 percent more likely to become obese over the next decade compared to kids who did not have respiratory condition. The study, published on Jan. 20 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, also indicated that children who used asthma inhalers when they had an attack were 43 percent less likely to become obese.
New exhibit addresses risk of oil spills from ships
In 1967, the grounding of the Torrey Canyon focused the world's attention on the risks and environmental impact of major marine oil spills. According to IPIECA -- the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues -- the incident became a catalyst for positive change throughout the industry, ushering in new regulations, safer shipping practices, improved preparedness and response and adequate compensation.
ISHN survey: Most OSH pros don't approve of regulatory freeze
The majority of occupational safety and health professionals who responded to a survey in last week’s enewsletter about President Trump’s regulatory freeze were in favor of having the newly-issued beryllium standard in effect. Opinions differed on other regulatory issues. When asked what occupational safety and health hazards, if any, should be covered by new regulations, PEL updates were mentioned most.
Trump’s Executive Order on reducing regulations
Source: Office of the Press Secretary By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as amended (31 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Public health experts, Chamber differ on "one-in-two-out" executive order
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is voicing strong opposition to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that directs federal agencies to eliminate two public protections for every new rule put in place.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
New NIOSH training offers fatigue management for pilots in the land of the midnight sun
For a pilot working in Western Alaska, the amount of daylight during their work day can vary as much as 14 hours between the summer and winter solstice (or more the farther north you go). These aviators often fly multiple legs each day, serving as a transportation link to over 250 villages across the state.
AIHA programs win gold, platinum awards
The American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) IH Professional Pathway™ program has scored two AVA Digital Awards from by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP): a Gold in the animation category and Platinum in the category for digital marketing campaigns.
How to drive safely in the winter
Although employers cannot control roadway conditions, they can promote safe driving behavior by ensuring workers: recognize the hazards of winter weather driving, for example, driving on snow/ice covered roads; are properly trained for driving in winter weather conditions; and are licensed (as applicable) for the vehicles they operate. For information about driving safely during the winter, visit OSHA's Safe Winter Driving page.
Roofers 23’ up without fall protection
All OSHA officers had to do to see the safety violations at one Winnetka, Illinois worksite was to look up. There, they saw employees who were roofing a home working at heights up to 23 feet without adequate fall protection.
NIOSH launches hearing loss prevention app
The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has unveiled a new mobile application (app) for iOS devices that will measure sound levels in the workplace to help workers learn about their noise exposure and reduce the chances of hearing loss. NIOSH estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels every year.
Trump takes aim at federal regulations
OSHA and the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will be among the agencies affected by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump yesterday that requires federal agencies that want to enact a new regulation to eliminate two existing regulations. The “one in, two out” plan is intended to reduce regulatory burdens on U.S. companies, especially small businesses.
Heart failure on the rise in U.S.
Cardiovascular disease remains leading killer
The number of adults living with heart failure increased from about 5.7 million (2009-2012) to about 6.5 million (2011-2014), according to the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2017 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. Based on the latest statistics, the number of people diagnosed with heart failure, which means the heart is too weak to pump blood throughout the body, is projected to rise by 46 percent by 2030, resulting in more than 8 million people adults with heart failure.
Amtrak ordered to reinstate fired safety whistleblower
A supervisor who was fired by Amtrak after raising concerns about safety and fraud was the victim of retaliation, according to OSHA, which ordered the company to reinstate the employee and pay him nearly $900,000 in back wages and damages.
New video shows fatal fire, explosion at Williams Olefins Plant
CSB effort includes 3D animation of the blast
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a safety video of its investigation of the June 13, 2013 explosion and fire at the Williams Olefins Plant in Geismar, Louisiana, which killed two workers and injured an additional 167. The deadly explosion and fire occurred when a heat exchanger containing flammable liquid propane violently ruptured.
“Texas Two Step” aims to train thousands in CPR
For the second year in a row, a coalition of medical students, emergency physicians and health groups in Texas is hosting the “Texas Two Step: Save a Life Campaign” event at 45 sites in 12 cities across Texas. The goal is to train participants how to act quickly to save the life of someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
