News - Articles - Page 181

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.

Report: Feds failing to control tobacco use

FDA gets an "F"

January 30, 2019

According to the American Lung Association’s (ALA) 2019 "State of Tobacco Control" report released today, states and the federal government have failed to take meaningful action in putting in place policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, the nation's leading cause of preventable death and disease. In addition, youth use of e-cigarettes has reached epidemic levels — rising 78 percent from 2017 to 2018 — setting the stage for another generation of Americans addicted to tobacco products and ultimately more tobacco-caused death and disease.

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.

Hand protection market growing fast

January 30, 2019

The industrial safety gloves market is estimated to surpass 9 billion dollars by 2024, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Rising awareness about workers’ wellbeing and the increasing number of occupational fatalities in the manufacturing sector will help drive the industrial safety gloves market penetration. So will standards set by OSHA, ANSI and the European Union (EU).

Atlanta is a "No Drone Zone" during Super Bowl LIII

January 29, 2019

Want an aerial view of the Super Bowl action going on in Mercedes-Benz Stadium Feb. 3? Thinking of sending your drone up into the skies over the stadium that day, so you’ll be able to see the game in a way you can’t see it on your TV screen? Fogeddabout it. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared the airspace around Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is a “No Drone Zone” for Super Bowl LIII, on Feb. 3, 2019 - and during the three days leading up to the event. Defying that rule could get you a $20,000 fine.

Former employers ordered to pay $160K in whistleblower case

January 29, 2019

The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has ordered Eastern Awning Systems Inc. – a manufacturer of retractable fabric patio awnings based in Watertown, Connecticut – and its owner Stephen P. Lukos to pay a total of $160,000 to two discharged employees who filed safety and health complaints with OSHA.

Advocacy groups file lawsuit against OSHA’s electronic reporting rule

January 29, 2019

A coalition of advocacy groups have filed a complaint (PDF) with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over OSHA’s rollback of a provision in its final electronic injury and illness reporting rule, which was issued during the partial government shutdown. Public Citizen, along with the American Public Health Association and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists said in the suit that OSHA “failed to provide a reasoned explanation” for its decision to reverse a requirement that certain businesses electronically submit workplace injury and illness records to OSHA.

Agency reveals effects of shutdown

NTSB gets back to work – but crash evidence has been lost

January 29, 2019

We may never know what caused the 22 highway, aviation, marine and railway accidents that occurred during the partial government shutdown and were not investigated, because furloughed National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators did not physically visit the accidents sites. That, says the NTSB, means “that perishable evidence may have been lost."

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.

Is label literacy a key to healthier food choices?

Survey shows links between package information and healthy purchases

January 28, 2019

Health-related factors have a significant impact on the foods people buy. With the seemingly overwhelming number of products on shelves, a new survey offers insights into which information on food labels is most influential — and on how additional information might lead to healthier dietary choices.