The coronavirus continues to claim victims; new incidents at Chevron’s Richmond, California refinery and OSHA launches a website to help it commemorate its 50th anniversary. These were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.
Nominations now open for PPSA’s prestigious annual safety awards
Deadline is April 1 – Awards presented at 77th Annual Conference, June 14-17
February 14, 2020
The Pulp & Paper Safety Association (PPSA) has announced that its annual Safety Performance Awards are now open for nominations. This year’s honors will be presented at PPSA’s 77th Annual Safety and Health Conference, June 14-17, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida.
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Drug overdose in the workplace and the role of opioids
Dawn Castillo Steve Wurzelbacher PhD Michael Fiore MS Emily Sparer-Fine ScD Hope Tiesman PhD
February 14, 2020
The drug overdose epidemic continues to afflict our country. Nationally, there were more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017 i involving opioids (such as fentanyl, heroin and hydrocodone), stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine), and alcohol.ii Nearly 70% of these deaths involved an opioid.ii
NTSB opens public docket for 2 Tesla crash investigations
February 13, 2020
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released new factual information via the public docket for two Tesla accident investigations – the March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla Model X in Mountain View, California, and the March 1, 2019, crash of a Tesla Model 3 in Delray Beach, Florida.
CDC confirms 14th case of 2019 novel coronavirus in U.S.
"There are likely to be additional cases in the coming days"
February 13, 2020
The CDC yesterday confirmed another infection with 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States in California. The patient is among a group of people under a federal quarantine order because of their recent return to the U.S. on a State Department-chartered flight that arrived on February 7, 2020. All people who have been in Hubei Province in the past 14 days are considered at high risk of having been exposed to COVID-19 and subject to a temporary 14-day quarantine.
Blood donations critical in fight against cancer
ACS: Nearly 1/4 of nation's blood supply is needed for cancer patients
February 13, 2020
The American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society have partnered to launch a Give Blood to Give Time campaign to raise awareness on how blood donations help patients fighting cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation, used to treat cancer, can damage the body's ability to generate healthy blood cells and cause potentially life-threatening conditions. Blood transfusions from generous donors help to provide patients with critical clotting factors, proteins and antibodies needed to help their bodies fight back.
Three main causes of arc flashes
February 13, 2020
Human error - unsafe work procedures, maintenance mistakes, and mishandling tools, wires, and metal covers; Negligent preventive maintenance - not checking for loose termination, allowing dust and debris build-up (critical in medium voltages and higher), and not testing stored energy (e.g., spring-operated bolted pressure switches); and
Why you need an incident energy/arc flash analysis
February 13, 2020
Demand for high-efficiency electrical equipment is steadily increasing. With more electrical equipment to maintain and operate, workers are exposed to numerous hazards every day. One of those hazards is arc flash, or an arc blast, which can have devastating consequences. If there is an incident, the emotional and financial effects can be devastating.
Employee suffers life-changing finger amputations
February 12, 2020
A worker was investigating a blockage of flour in a collection hopper when his foot slipped on the ladder he was standing on and, as he reached out to balance himself, his right hand came into contact with the rotating vanes of a rotary valve. He sustained partial amputations to all four fingers on his right hand.
Rodeos take a toll on hands & arms
February 12, 2020
In rodeo, it’s not really a matter of if you’ll get injured, but when and how badly. Last year, a major shoulder injury that tore six of the eight tendons in his riding arm took one rider out of competition for several months. Every rider who competes in professional rodeos carries a catalog of their injuries.
Toxins may have been released during incidents at Chevron Refinery
February 12, 2020
Flaring at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California this week caused employees to be evacuated and disruptions in operations, according to news sources. Flaring is a refinery safety mechanism that burns gases that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. No injuries were reported.
NTSB pieces together fatal multi-vehicle crash on Pa. turnpike
February 12, 2020
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the sequence of events involved in a spectacular multi-vehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last month – one that killed five people and injured dozens more. The deadly chain reaction occurred on Jan. 5 in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, amid light snow (the roadway had been treated).
FMCSA extends compliance date for entry-level driver training
February 12, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is amending its December 8, 2016, final rule, "Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators" (ELDT final rule), by extending the compliance date for the rule from February 7, 2020, to February 7, 2022. The agency says it needs additional time to complete development of the Training Provider Registry (TPR).
A NIOSH Science Blog post
The burden of work-related asthma
February 11, 2020
Over 300 workplace substances have been identified to cause new-onset asthma and the list continues to grow 1, 2. Other substances can aggravate pre-existing asthma, causing increased illness and medication requirements. Work-related asthma (WRA) comprises both new-onset and work-aggravated asthma3. An estimated 15-55% of all adult asthma is related to work4-7.
OSHA cites Georgia farm following fatality
February 11, 2020
OSHA has cited Pearson Farms LLC for safety violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries at the farm's post-harvest operations facility in Fort Valley, Georgia. The farm is facing $128,004 in penalties. OSHA cited the employer for exposing employees to struck-by hazards after investigators determined that the employee, who was performing maintenance on a conveyor system, was caught between the load on a forklift and a metal railing.
Responding to the 2019 novel coronavirus: Guidance for U.S. employers
February 11, 2020
The outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has created a number of questions and compliance challenges for employers in the United States as well as across the globe. This is a fluid and rapidly changing situation. Employers must carefully balance concerns related to employee and public safety with protecting employees from unnecessary medical inquiries, harassment, and discrimination – all while complying with immigration, leave, and medical privacy laws.
AHA: President’s proposal to eliminate FDA tobacco oversight risks public health
Proposed budget cuts are "irresponsible"
February 11, 2020
“We strongly oppose the administration’s proposal to create a separate government agency to oversee tobacco products. This unfortunately comes from an administration that has repeatedly placed the needs of the tobacco industry on equal footing with public health.
New website helps OSHA celebrate 50th anniversary of OSH Act
February 10, 2020
OSHA has launched a new webpage marking the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the landmark worker safety and health law that led to the creation of OSHA. The webpage highlights transformative workplace improvements over the past half century, from OSHA’s first standards and whistleblower protections, to assistance programs for small businesses, and the creation of training centers and education grants to help everyone understand and comply with the law.
Mesothelioma linked to asbestos in talcum powder
February 10, 2020
Thirty-three cases of the asbestos-related lung cancer mesothelioma draw attention to talcum powder as a non-occupational source of exposure to asbestos, according to a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. "Our findings strongly suggest that asbestos exposure through asbestos-contaminated cosmetic talc explains cases once deemed idiopathic or 'spontaneous,'" according to the report.
Young people are being overlooked in opioid misuse prevention programs
February 10, 2020
Researchers at the National Safety Council and the University of Michigan found that about one in 20 adolescents ages 10 to 17 and one in 10 young adults ages 18 to 25 report prescription opioid misuse, based on a new review published in Preventive Medicine. However, effective intervention programs are not in place to address prescription opioid misuse among young people, and NSC and University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center researchers are urgently calling for evidence-based prevention programs to be developed and tested.
A safety success story
Ark. wood manufacturer changes safety culture, lowers comp costs
February 10, 2020
The cutting, shaping, drilling, milling, and grinding operations that take place in the wood manufacturing and processing industries make it an inherently high hazard industry, with employees potentially exposed to injuries caused by equipment and illnesses from inhaling wood dust and particles.
