Workers killed in separate facility incidents hours apart in Neb. and Oklahoma, Qs and As about OSHA’s proposed silica rule and and an airline flight mistake that could have been much worse were among this week’s top EHS-related stories as featured on ISHN.com.
New smartphone app encourages physical activity among youth
The American Heart Association and NFL partner on project
The American Heart Association and the NFL have launched the NFL PLAY 60 app, which encourages kids to get active and healthy through an endless runner game. Funded by a grant from the NFL Foundation, the app encourages players to get their 60 minutes of daily recommended physical activity through an interactive running experience.
Highlights of OSHA’s web chat on its proposed silica rule, Part 3
"What impact will this rule have on small businesses?"
OSHA held a web chat last week on its proposed rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica that gave small businesses and other stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions about a proposal that OSHA predicts will prevent thousands of deaths from silicosis, lung cancer, and other diseases among the American workforce. Following are some of the exchanges that took place during the web chat:
Best-selling authors will headline Safety 2014 speaker list
Two prominent authors are scheduled to speak at Safety 2014, coming up June 8-11 in Orlando, Florida. Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer prize winning business reporter at The New York Times (business section), will speak at the Opening General Session on Monday, June 9. Duhigg is the author of "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business," about the science of habit formation among individuals, companies & societies.
Worker killed in 40’ fall at Missouri feed company
A “terrible” tragedy
MFA Inc. has been cited for 13 serious safety violations by OSHA after a worker was fatally injured on Aug. 26 at the Aurora-based milling plant. The worker landed on a first floor concrete area after falling about 40 feet from a man lift used to transport materials in the facility.
UMWA applauds W. Va. mine safety board for action on proximity devices
Proposal would make technology use mandatory
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is cheering a proposed rule by the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety that would mandate the installation of proximity devices on mining equipment throughout the state.
Using workers’ compensation records for safety and health research
A NIOSH Science Blog post
Workers’ compensation insurance has been established in all states to provide income protection, medical treatment, and rehabilitation for employees who are injured or become ill as a result of work. Workers’ compensation claims and medical treatment records along with other information resources have been used to conduct occupational safety and health research and surveillance and to identify intervention needs.
"Highlights of OSHA’s web chat on its proposed silica rule, Part 2
"What assistance is OSHA going to give to small employers?'
OSHA held a web chat last week on its proposed rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica that gave small businesses and other stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions about a proposal that OSHA predicts will prevent thousands of deaths from silicosis, lung cancer, and other diseases among the American workforce.
VA hospital workers exposed to infectious diseases
-But OSHA can't issue fines to a government agency
Workers at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Oregon were potentially exposed to infectious diseases and sharps injuries, according to OSHA inspections conducted at the facility in April as part of a Local Emphasis Program. The agency has issued a notice of unsafe and unhealthful working conditions for 17 violations found at the VA's White City Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics facility.
Explosions in Neb., Okla. leave four workers dead, 11 injured
Causes unknown
In a scene eerily reminiscent of last year’s garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, the second and third floors of a Nebraska animal feed processing plant collapsed onto the first Monday, killing two workers and seriously injuring ten more.
Missed OSHA’s Jan.14 web chat on its proposed silica rule?
We’ve got the highlights for you
OSHA fielded some tough questions last week during its web chat on its proposed rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica. Cost concerns popped up frequently during the interactive session, which was intended to provide small businesses and other stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions about a proposal that OSHA predicts will prevent thousands of deaths from silicosis, lung cancer, and other diseases among the American workforce.
Worker killed in Texas trench collapse
Company cited by OSHA
One worker was killed and another injured when a 10’ unprotected trench collapsed December 5 less than ten minutes after the two entered it. Municipal District Services LLC, based in Cypress, Texas, was summoned to the scene to repair a water main that was accidentally damaged by a gas line technician.
Ruling in fatal Sago Mine explosion overturned
Company waited 1 1/2 hours to contact mine rescue team leader
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has overturned a decision by an administrative law judge involving Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in Upshur County, W.Va., where 12 miners died in a massive explosion on Jan. 2, 2006.
What you should know about lung disease in fire fighters
The normal human pulmonary system is made up of a number of components which work together to provide oxygen to the blood stream which is delivered to vital organs and remove waste products including CO2. The system includes the diaphragm, a muscle which through it's downward movement increases the size of the pleural (lung) space, allowing inhalation.
OSHA takes construction fall prevention campaign to billboards
Plan. Provide. Train.
Phoenix area residents are getting an eyeful of OSHA’s campaign to reduce construction industry falls in the form of billboards bearing stark personal messages, along with a reminder of the agency’s anti-fall motto: Plan. Provide. Train.
MSHA implements Upper Big Branch corrective actions on schedule
Changes sprang from internal review
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that it met the deadline for making changes recommended after the deadly April 2010 Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine tragedy.
Wrong way Corrigans tell NTSB they saw bright lights, landed at wrong airport
Shorter runway forced them to hit the brakes hard
The two Southwest Airlines pilots who landed a Boeing jet at the wrong Missouri airport last week told National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators that they misidentified airport beacon lights when they landed a Boeing 737-700 at the wrong Missouri airport January 13.
Department of public works employee and a volunteer firefighter die in sewer manhole
In September 2010, a 48 year-old male worker (Victim I) employed by a village Department of Public Works (DPW) and a 51 year-old male volunteer firefighter (Victim II) of the village Fire Department (FD) died after entering a sewer manhole.
