Industrial Hygiene


ILO estimates some 6,300 people die from work-related injuries and illnesses daily and 337 million lost-time workplace accidents occur annually.

Workers Honored, Mourned

Today is a day to grieve for workers who have died on the job and to focus on improving conditions for workers around the world, the ILO's director-general, Juan Somavia, said.

OSHA gave an October 2010 date to complete analyzing comments submitted in 2008 about a proposed confined spaces rule for the construction industry.

Construction Confined Spaces Rule Still in Proposed Stage

The latest semiannual regulatory agenda does not advance the rulemaking except to give an October 2010 date to complete analyzing comments submitted in 2008. EPA's agenda says NPRMs will be issued in July 2011 to enhance pesticide protection for applicators and agricultural workers.

Firefighters' Cancers Studied by NIOSH, USFA

Whether cancer risk rises becasuse of their exposures to smoke, soot, and other contaminants in the line of duty is the point of the study.

Woodworker's Partial Hand Amputation Opens Door to 26 Citations

"Our inspection found that the blades on this and other saws lacked the guarding designed to prevent just this type of accident," said Diana Cortez, OSHA's area director in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Flammable Vapors Lead to Fatality, $127K Fine

Cited violations against the company include failing to provide safe work practice procedures for hot work in a confined space, failing to prevent cutting operations in the presence of explosive atmospheres, and the lack of procedures for summoning resuce and emergency services.

OSHA is rolling out a Severe Violator Enforcement Program and raising its penalties, if only slightly.

OSHA Announces Severe Violator Enforcement Program

Are we seeing the new face of OSHA? David Michaels said the agency is doing what it can to administratively raise the dollar amounts of its penalties and adopting a new structure for penalty reductions based on the company's employee count.

April 22 Deadline Looms for Contractors to Become Lead-Safe Certified

To date, EPA has certified 184 training providers who have conducted more than 4,900 courses. Based on current estimates, the agency expects more than 125,000 contractors to be certified by the deadline, with many more seeking and obtaining the training afterward.

MSHA Announces Final Rule on Coal Mine Dust Sampling Devices

"The final rule upgrades the approval requirements for the existing dust sampler that has been in use since passage of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.



EPA Proposes Adding 16 Chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory List

Each of the chemicals is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," the agency said, noting the additions would be the first program chemical expansion in more than a decade.

FDA Provides Information to Consumers About Triclosan

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently updated its Web site with information about triclosan, a common ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It may be found in antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpastes, and some cosmetics--products regulated by the FDA.

29 Confirmed Dead in Mine Blast; Officials Respond

"The investigation team will work tirelessly to evaluate all aspects of this accident to identify the cause of the disaster," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA.

Northeastern to Host Global Regulation of Nanotechnologies Conference

Leading international experts on the global regulation of nanotechnologies, including scientists, lawyers, ethicists, government officials, industry stakeholders, and nongovernment officials will join in a two-day conference May 7-8, 2010, at Northeastern University's School of Law in Boston.

Teen Epidemiologists Descend on D.C. to Compete, Solve Public Health Issues

"These students' outstanding work demonstrates that the future of epidemiology holds great promise," said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

ISEA Says NIOSH Respirator Testing Proposal Needs More Work

ISEA recommended “that NIOSH consider conducting additional tests of representative filtering facepiece and elastomeric respirators with multiple trials, donnings, and panels. Results would lead to a better understanding of between- and within-subject variability and may suggest methods for simulating and predicting fit performance for the population of respirator wearers.”

Plastics Plant Penalized for Polyvinyl Particles, Improper Procedures

In addition to the combustible dust violations, an inspection found that the Delaware company failed to provide fire retardant clothing for employees and require them to wear adequate eye protection with side shields, among other hazards.

This photograph shows International Labour Organization Director-General Juan Somavia, left, at the March 25 signing of the list.

ILO Adopts New List of Occupational Diseases

The list is intended to help countries prevent, record, and, if applicable, compensate for diseases caused by work.

Wisconsin PDC to Address Lead-Safe Renovation Rule

The deadline for lead-safe renovator certification and company certification is April 22. The March 31 conference by AIHA's Wisconsin Section will discuss the rule, which the state Department of Health Services has explainedd to contractors and others through a series of meetings.

EPA has a new drinking water strategy

EPA Outlines New Strategy for Safer Drinking Water

As part of its new approach, the agency is revising the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer.

New lead paint rule effective April 22

Reminder: New Lead-Based Paint Rule Takes Effect April 22

The requirements under the rule apply to maintenance, renovation, or repair activities where six square feet (about the size of a poster) or more of a painted surface is disturbed inside, or where 20 square feet or more of painted surface (about the size of a door) is disturbed on the exterior.

Phosphene-Related Death in W. Virginia Results in EPA's Censure of DuPont

The order results from an inspection of the facility following three releases of the gas in January, including the release that caused the death. EPA determined that the facility has not satisfied Clean Air Act requirements that are designed to help prevent accidental releases and minimize the consequences of releases that do occur.

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