Citing comments in opposition from worker advocacy organizations, labor unions, and risk assessment experts, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has withdrawn a controversial risk assessment rule that critics charged would have unnecessarily delayed rulemaking to protect workers from toxic substances, according to a press statement from the American Industrial Hygiene Association®. AIHA opposed both the substance of the rule and the DOL’s determination to proceed without allowing additional public comment.
OSHA’s Site-Specific targeting 2009 program will focus enforcement efforts on nearly 4,000 high-hazard worksites on the agency’s list for comprehensive safety inspections. The program helps OSHA direct enforcement resources to workplaces such as manufacturing and nursing homes where the highest rate of injuries and illnesses occur.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the selection of John Howard, M.D., as the new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), effective immediately. Dr. Howard will assume a dual role. In addition to being the director of NIOSH, he will also serve as the World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS.
Citing comments in opposition from worker advocacy organizations, labor unions, and risk assessment experts, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has withdrawn a controversial risk assessment rule that critics charged would have unnecessarily delayed rulemaking to protect workers from toxic substances. The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) opposed both the substance of the rule and the DOL’s determination to proceed without allowing additional public comment, according to an AIHA press release.
With the growing season in full swing and the recent release of fatal work injury statistics showing an upward spiral in the farming industry, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) encourages safety, health and environmental professionals to become active in assisting agricultural producers and businesses in their area to take steps to prevent deadly agricultural injuries and illnesses. To assist in this effort, ASSE is providing work safety tips to help prevent the growing number of tragic agricultural industry worker injuries and illnesses, according to an organization press release. ASSE also suggests safety tips aimed at protecting young farmers, who face a greater risk of being injured.
Whether you get it from the sun or from artificial sources such as sun lamps and tanning beds, ultraviolet radiation is linked to skin cancers and to other sorts of skin damage, particularly premature skin aging, reports the September 2009 issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch, according to a recent press release.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued 19
recommendations regarding Helicopter Emergency Medical
Services (HEMS), according to an NTSB press release. These recommendations address various
safety issues including pilot training; safety management
systems to minimize risk; collection and analysis of flight,
weather, and safety data; flight data monitoring;
development of a low altitude airspace infrastructure; and
the use of dual pilots, autopilots, and night vision imaging
systems (NVIS).
America’s houses of worship can now earn the Energy Star label, joining the nation’s schools, hospitals, hotels, and other facilities in their efforts to fight climate change, save energy and reduce their carbon footprint, according to an EPA press release. Use of Portfolio Manager allows facilities to track energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, set targets for investment priorities and verify efficiency improvements. Now the estimated 370,000 houses of worship across the United States can use Portfolio Manager to receive an energy performance rating, and the most energy efficient among them can earn the Energy Star label.
Heberle Disposal Service Inc., a Rochester, N.Y., solid waste collection company, faces an additional $304,200 in fines from OSHA for failing to correct hazards cited during a 2008 inspection and for new and recurring safety hazards at its Alvanar Road worksite.
OSHA has cited Stavis Seafoods Inc. for 15 alleged serious violations of safety and health standards at its Channel Street distribution and processing facility in Boston. The seafood company faces a total of $47,250 in proposed fines, chiefly for deficiencies in its process safety management (PSM) program.