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House Democrats Introduce H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:49:00 EST

On Nov. 3, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey D-Calif., chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation that will guarantee 5 paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

ASSE Announces Revised Workplace Fall Protection Standard

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:38:00 EST

In an effort to provide the most current information on slip, trip and fall prevention, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of a newly revised American National Standards Institute (ANSI) /ASSE Z359.0-2009 “Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest” voluntary consensus standard.

Workplace Gossip: A Weapon or a Gift?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Gossip in the workplace can offer clues to power and influence not found on a company’s organizational charts, according to new research from Indiana University.

Contractor Pleads Guilty to Workers’ Comp Fraud, Other Charges

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:39:00 EST

The owner of Master’s Touch Drywall pled guilty to felony theft of sales tax and workers’ compensation fraud, and agreed to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution to the state of Washington.

AIHA Comments on Hearing Protector Labeling

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:35:00 EST

The American Industrial Hygiene Association has released the comments it made to EPA about 40CFR211 Subpart B, Hearing Protector Labeling, a proposed rule published in the Aug. 5 Federal Register that would de-emphasize the single number rating given to hearing protection devices.

9/11 Responders Twice as Likely to Have Asthma

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:17:00 EST

First responders who were exposed to caustic dust and toxic pollutants following the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks suffer from asthma at more than twice the rate of the general U.S. population, according to Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers.

Study: Cultural Beliefs About Pesticides Put Mexican Farm Workers At Risk

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:07:00 EST

Mexican immigrant farm laborers may face an increased risk of exposure to harmful pesticides due to their cultural perceptions, suggests a study appearing in a supplemental issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

OSHA’s Barab Testifies about State-Plan States Before Congress

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:35:00 EST

Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary for OSHA, told a Congressional committee that the serious shortcomings discovered during his agency's evaluation of the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration's safety program raised concerns about federal OSHA's monitoring of all state plan states.

National Hearing Conservation Association Petitions OSHA to Lower Permissible Exposure Limits for Noise

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST

Citing the fact that nearly 22 million American workers are exposed to hazardous noise on a daily basis and that occupational hearing loss continues to plague industry, the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) has made a request to OSHA to reduce the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise exposures.

BP Texas City Refinery Contests OSHA Citations

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:43:00 EST

BP Products North America Inc. is contesting all citations proposed by OSHA on Oct. 30, including alleged violations and proposed penalties, abatement actions and abatement dates, and stressed that the company has taken significant steps to improve process safety performance.

House Hearing: State Plans Need Greater Oversight

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:37:00 EST

At an Oct. 29 U.S. House Education and Labor Committee hearing, witnesses stressed that stronger federal oversight is needed for state-run health and safety programs to ensure that states provide workers with basic on-the-job protections.

OSHA Proposes Record $87 Million in Fines Against BP

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:03:00 EST

More than 4 years after the deadly BP Texas City refinery blast killed 15 workers and injured more than 170, OSHA has proposed a record-breaking $87,430,000 in fines against BP Products North America Inc. for the failure to correct potential hazards faced by employees. This is the largest fine proposed in OSHA’s history.

NSC: Selling Safety in Tough Times

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:08:00 EST

Phil La Duke, director of performance improvement at O/E Learning, explained how EHS professionals can sell safety to company leadership – even in challenging economic times.

NSC: OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Violations

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

The top 10 most cited OSHA violations were unveiled Oct. 27 at 97th annual National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo in Orlando, Fla., with scaffolding and fall protection violations once again topping the list.

NSC: Occupational Safety and Health Under the Obama Administration

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:13:00 EST

In a panel discussion at the National Safety Council (NSC) 2009 Congress and Expo in Orlando, Fla., Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, former OSHA Administrator John Henshaw, MPH, CIH, and NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., JD, MPH, came together to discuss what the agency has accomplished so far and what critical areas it must focus on under the Obama administration.