President Trump choses a former coal company executive to head up the MSHA, Hurricane Harvey poses health and safety hazards for recovery workers in Texas and Louisiana and a new worldwide agreement defines skills and qualifications for safety professionals. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
First responders sue chem company over Harvey injuries
A group of first responders in Texas has filed a million dollar lawsuit against a chemical company, alleging that that they were injured by dangerous chemicals because the company failed to adequately prepare for Hurricane Harvey.
How to reduce the risk of dementia
A healthy lifestyle benefits your brain as much as the rest of your body -- and may lessen the risk of cognitive decline (a loss of the ability to think well) as you age, according to a new advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association.
Arkansas to hold Amputation Prevention Stand-Down
For the third consecutive year, Arkansas will be focusing on a very specific aspect of worker safety by conducting an Amputation Prevention Stand-Down, September 14-29.
ACOEM Urges OSHA not to revoke ancillary provisions of beryllium rule
Group says revoking provisions for construction and shipyard sectors puts workers at risk for beryllium disease
In response to a call for comments, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) is strongly urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to retain those portions of the proposed rule on occupational exposure to beryllium that deal with medical surveillance, medical removal, and other ancillary standards for both construction and shipyard workers.
About walking those 10,000 steps a day…
How many steps people should be getting a day? “10,000, of course. Everyone knows that." But what does taking 10,000 steps do for your body? To be sure, in general walking more has positive health benefits.
From the NIOSH Director’s Desk
A Look at the NIOSH Emergency Preparedness and Response Office for National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and the current response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Harvey remind us of the importance of being ready for emergencies and disasters. This unprecedented event will demand a long term commitment to the recovery of the affected areas in Texas and Louisiana.
CSB: Practice safety in school science labs
Now that kids are back in school, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is reminding teachers, staff, and school administrators about the hazards of using flammable materials, such as methanol, during classroom science demonstrations.
A Confined Space blog post
Trump names coal executive to head MSHA
As deaths in coal mines rise, President Trump last Friday nominated retired coal mining executive David Zatezalo to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Trump picks coal company CEO as mine safety chief
President Trump says he will nominate the former CEO of a coal company with a history of safety violations to head up the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
New global accord defines role, skills of OSH professionals
A new global agreement signed by more than 40 organizations from around the world is expected to elevate the role of occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals in every industry and advance the cause of workplace health and safety.
Va. State Police chopper turned right, descended rapidly before crash
The cause of the fatal Virginia State Patrol helicopter crash in Charlottesville, Virginia has not yet been determined, although investigators have been able to rule out a few possibilities as they examine the wreckage.
From NIOSH
N95 Day 2017: When to think beyond the N95 FFR
Buckle your seat belts! Put on your high-speed safety gear! We’re about to blast off on a journey to explore the N95 respirator … and beyond. It’s N95 Day, and that means we are focusing on respiratory protection, and invite you to do the same.
OSHA urges safety for Harvey recovery workers
The storm is over, the flood waters are receding and the difficult task of recovery is getting underway in Texas and Louisiana – activities which will bring a new set of hazards to the people who are trying to pick up the pieces and go on.
OSHA suspending enforcement in Harvey-hit areas
Other federal agencies take action, send personnel
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is issuing grants, OSHA is suspending enforcement activity and federal contractor requirements are being waived, all in an effort to assist with and expedite post-Harvey recovery efforts.
AHA: Policy makers must do more in fight against obesity
Although a recent report shows that adult obesity rates in the U.S. have remained steady in recent years – rather than continuing the upward trend seen for decades – rates are still too high, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) – and elected officials should take action on the issue.
NTSB urges transit industry to put cameras on trains
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued two safety recommendations calling upon industry to install crash-resistant inward- and outward-facing cameras in all rail transit vehicles, saying the cameras would greatly aid in crash investigations.
