Environmental Health and Safety - Articles - Page 108

OSHA changes inspection system

October 9, 2019

OSHA has implemented an OSHA Weighting System (OWS) for inspections that it says will focus enforcement activities on “critical and strategic areas.” Under the current enforcement weighting system, OSHA weights certain inspections based on the time taken to complete the inspection or, in some cases, the impact of the inspection on workplace safety and health.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Nanotechnology research at NIOSH

Adrienne Eastlake MS, RS/REH John P. Sadowski

October 9, 2019

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are materials that are intentionally produced to have at least one primary dimension less than 100 nanometers. These materials have new or unique properties different from those of larger forms of the same material, making them desirable for specific product applications.

Honeywell smart hearing solution combines connected headsets with cloud software to protect workers from noise-related injuries

Visual dashboard of noise patterns and exposure levels helps reduce health risks and improve safety programs

October 9, 2019

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced a new smart hearing solution that combines cloud-based software and connected, protective headsets to monitor sound in real time and analyze patterns to help companies better protect workers from noise-induced hearing loss.

Natural gas from Kentucky pipeline rupture ignited, killing one

October 9, 2019

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released details about a deadly gas pipeline rupture that occurred in August in Lincoln County, Kentucky. The rupture in the 30-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline, which was owned and operated by Enbridge Inc., released about 66 million cubic feet of natural gas - which ignited.

NYC bus depot at center of asbestos dispute

October 8, 2019

A union representing Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) workers in New York is claiming that MTA employees are being endangered by asbestos discovered in a bus depot, while the MTA says tests failed to find the hazardous substance. The Transit Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 is reportedly demanding that employees who work in the Brooklyn building, which was built in 1858, be evaluated for asbestos exposure-related health problems.

National advisory committee on occupational safety and health gets new members

October 8, 2019

The U.S. Department of Labor has selected 12 members to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH). The members, four of whom were designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), represent occupational health, occupational safety, labor, management, and public interests.

ACGIH® announces 2020 election results

October 8, 2019

ACGIH® is pleased to announce new members for its 2020 Board of Directors and its 2020 Nominating Committee. ACGIH®’s membership elected three (3) members to serve as Directors on the Board of Directors.

ACGIH® presents fall webinars for the occupational safety and health professional

October 8, 2019

ACGIH® will present the Notations: How Are They Assigned and How Should They Be Used in Industrial Hygiene Practice? webinar on November 19, 2019. This webinar will focus on the Notations recommended by the Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances (TLV®-CS) Committee.

Amazon workers stage a(nother) walkout

October 7, 2019

Approximately 60 Amazon warehouse workers in Eagan, Minnesota walked out of their workplace last week mid-shift, to protest working conditions, pay and limits on total weekly hours that prevent them from receiving health care benefits. Among the workers’ demands: weight restrictions on the boxes they must lift, which currently can weigh up to 70 pounds.

Weekly news round-up

October 5, 2019

Unsafe shortcuts lead to worker deaths, how to liven up safety trainings and the feds limit opioid prescriptions for injured workers. These were among the top occupational safety and health stories featured on ISHN.com this week.