No one disputes that smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the difficulty breathing that strikes so many Americans in their twilight years. A new study by Duke University and CPWR researchers, however, reminds us that smoking is far from the only cause, and we still have a lot of work to do if we are going to protect construction workers.
MSHA’s Main says industry compliance is at 99 percent
August 19, 2015
One year ago this month, the landmark respirable dust rule went into effect, adding a number of increased protections for coal miners and closing several loopholes that masked their exposure to unhealthy coal mine dust.
Total fatalities likely to reach 4,500 this year; 50,000 additional deaths from occupational exposure
August 19, 2015
The U.S. Worker Fatality Database, an open access volunteer research effort, yesterday released new data about deaths on the job during the first seven months of 2015.
OSHA has issued an updated National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Amputations. The NEP has been in existence since 2006 and is targeted to industries with high numbers and rates of amputations.
On August 12, 2015, in the Chinese port city of Tianjin, a warehouse owned by a logistics company suffered massive explosions and fires that killed at least one hundred people, injured hundreds more, and released toxic fumes into the air.
Opening Session: Building Safer Workplaces with Deborah A. P. Hersman, President and CEO, National Safety Council and Former Chair, National Transportation Safety Board; Michael Abrashoff, Former Navy Commander and Author.
The Chinese government yesterday has ordered a nationwide review of workplace safety, after last week’s warehouse explosion that killed at least 114 people and destroyed dozens of buildings in the port city of Tianjin.
The summer of 2015 has scorched the western U.S. with thousands of wildfires. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), exposure to excessive wildfire smoke even at a distance can harm eyes, lungs and heart. The CDC advises that to avoid illness caused by wildfire smoke exposure, seven steps should be taken:
The Department of Homeland Security can’t verify threat level reports from thousands of chemical plants across the country, reducing Homeland’s ability to respond to a chemical attack or emergency, according to a new government report.
Authorities investigating "sick building syndrome"
August 17, 2015
A county employee who works at the Lucas County (Ohio) Job and Family Services building has been hospitalized for nearly two weeks with pneumonia while some 19 others have called in sick with upper respiratory problems over the past six weeks, county officials told the Toledo Blade.