It’s probably no surprise that Hawaii, with its year-round, paradise-like weather, ranks as the happiest state in America, in a Gallup 2018 well-being poll. However, based on the states ranked #2, #3 and #4, weather clearly is not the deciding factor in happiness. Hawaii’s position in the top spot was its seventh such ranking since Gallup began tracking the nation’s wellbeing back in 2008.

OSHA inspected the company in December 2018 after an employee was electrocuted while using a damaged portable lamp when cleaning the inside of a metal tank. A second employee suffered electrical shock injuries in an attempt to assist the injured co-worker. Inspectors determined that the lamp's cord had exposed bare conductors, and the lamp was unsuitable for use in wet locations. They also found a damaged extension cord used to connect the lamp to power.

After evaluating the risk from electric power generation, transmission and distribution facilities, the EPA says no additional federal requirements are needed to cover the costs of possible hazardous substance releases. Using the authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 108(b), EPA analyzed the need for financial responsibility requirements for the electric power industry.

Charah® Solutions, Inc. is doing something right when it comes to safety. The Louisville, Kentucky company which provides environmental and maintenance services to the power generation industry just found out that it’s on the receiving end of a total of seven prestigious safety awards from the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) for an outstanding record of employee safety in 2018.

Although some outdoor workers are required to perform their labors during certain hours, if you’re off duty, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises you to avoid being out of doors in the early afternoon (from noon to 3 p.m.) because that’s when the sun is usually at its strongest, putting you at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.

The staff of Industrial Safety & Hygiene News wishes you a happy 4th of July. Although many people will get today off work others – especially public service personnel who perform vital services – will be on the job. Whatever your work status, we hope you get a chance to enjoy the festivities and fireworks, grilling and sunshine, friends and family. There’s still plenty of summer left, so we thought we’d provide you with some reminders about how to enjoy the season safely.

Cincinnati Metro, a service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, had a stellar safety year in 2018. While providing about 14 million rides throughout the Greater Cincinnati area, Cincinnati Metro: reduced overall preventable accidents by 20%; reduced collisions by 80%; had zero lost-time injuries in maintenance,

An alarming increase in the incidence of the black lung disease among the nation’s coal miners has led to a call by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the United Steelworkers International Union (USW) for a new standard to protect miners from the silica dust that causes the disease. In a letter to David Zatezalo, the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), UMWA President Cecil Roberts and USW President Leo W. Gerard noted that changes in mining practices have led to increased exposure to silica for miners.

Parents who view off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as suitable for drivers too young to have drivers’ licenses should take note: they can be just as dangerous as street-legal vehicles. OHVs include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), and utility task vehicles (UTVs). The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is alerting parents and all off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders to not allow their children to drive adult-size OHVs and to use caution when allowing them to ride OHVs.

An Arizona Public Service (APS) employee was killed this week in a fire following an explosion in an underground electrical vault in downtown Phoenix. News sources say 41-year-old Ricardo Castillo died in the incident, which happened at approximately 10:30 p.m. on June 30. Another APS employee was able to escape the fire but suffered burn injuries to his hands and face.