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toxic exposures, OSHA permissible exposure limits

Exposure effects explained

New terms & calculations require worker retraining
Dan markiewicz
Dan Markiewicz MS, CIH, CSP, RMP
February 1, 2019

A basic understanding of the toxicological dose-response curve is a necessity for OHS pros. People fear most what they understand the least. New and vast toxicological information can trigger fear and irrational actions.


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house

“Bug bombs” pollute – but don’t kill cockroaches

January 31, 2019

“Bug bombs” worsen indoor air quality by releasing toxic chemicals in closed environments – but they’re not killing their intended targets. A new study from North Carolina State University found that total release foggers, commonly known as “bug bombs,” are ineffective at removing cockroaches. Bug-bomb chemicals fail to reach places where cockroaches congregate the most – on the underside of surfaces and inside cabinets, NC State researchers say.


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winter

Outdoor workers cope with frigid temperatures

January 31, 2019
While some companies and entities with outdoor workers are wisely suspending their outdoor operations during the deep freeze gripping part of the nation, others don’t have that option. Police officers and firefighters throughout the U.S. remain on the job, answering calls and patrolling as usual. Towing companies are especially busy, since the frigid temperatures are wreaking havoc on car engines and necessitating more jump-starts or tows.
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government rulemaking
A FairWarning Story

Labor Department waters down injury reporting rule targeted by business

Eli Wolfe
January 31, 2019
A requirement that employers disclose more information about worker injuries to safety officials and the public has been scaled back by the Trump administration. The Labor Department action, reflecting the administration’s broad push to ease regulations on business, weakens an Obama-era initiative to improve safety enforcement and crack down on underreporting of job injuries. The 2016 rule, which had been hailed by safety advocates, drew the ire of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.
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winter

Frigid temps cause fatalities, disrupt travel

January 30, 2019
When the United States Postal Service (USPS) cancels mail delivery, you know the weather is extreme. Large sections of the East and Midwest are shivering under bitterly cold temperatures that have affected mail delivery, caused the cancellation of nearly 1,000 flights at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and even halted Amtrak train service to and from Chicago.
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winter

Outdoor workers at heightened risk during bitter cold

January 30, 2019
With extreme cold spreading across a large section of the U.S., the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is reminding workers whose job requires them to work outdoors in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions to “be prepared and be aware” to prevent cold-related illnesses and injuries such as hypothermia and frostbite.
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J. J. Keller

Free J.J. Keller seminars make regulatory compliance easier

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. helps companies avoid regulatory risk at nationwide educational events
January 30, 2019
In its continued effort to help companies comply with government regulations, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. is hosting nearly 30 complimentary seminars in the first quarter of 2019 alone. “What’s great about these seminars is not only that our subject-matter experts provide attendees with in-person guidance to better understand and comply with complex regulatory requirements, but also that attendees get to hear about real life best practices from their peers,” said Tom Reader, senior director of marketing at J. J. Keller.
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NIOSH
A NIOSH Science Blog post

How NIOSH, partners are helping make OSH content accessible to all

John P. Sadowski Thais Morata PhD Diana Ceballos
January 28, 2019
Choosing the right final project for a graduate level course can be a daunting responsibility for any instructor. Harvard Research Scientist and Instructor Dr. Diana Ceballos heard NIOSH researcher Dr. Thais Morata share details at a NORA conference about NIOSH’s collaboration with academia and Wikipedia to teach students science translation and knew it was a perfect match.
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agriculture

Pesticide exposure among farmers linked to poor sense of smell later

January 25, 2019
A Michigan State University study is the first to show an association between unusually high pesticide exposure and poor sense of smell among aging farmers. The research examined more than 11,200 farmers over a 20-year period. At the start of the study, about 16 percent of participants reported having experienced a high pesticide exposure event, or HPEE, such as a large amount of pesticide spilling on their body.
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questions

New FAQs from OSHA on controlling silica in general industry

January 25, 2019
OSHA has posted new frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the agency's standard for respirable crystalline silica in general industry. The agency says it developed the FAQs in consultation with industry and union stakeholders to provide guidance to employers and employees on the standard's requirements, such as exposure assessments, regulated areas, methods of compliance, and communicating silica hazards to employees.
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