"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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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 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.”
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.
The list is intended to help countries prevent, record, and, if applicable, compensate for diseases caused by work.
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.
As part of its new approach, the agency is revising the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer.
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.
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.
Previous meetings in this series addressing combustible dust hazards were held in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. OSHA will consider participants' comments in developing its proposed standard on the issue.
The "informal" public hearing will take place at the Marriott Pittsburgh City Center; OSHA decided to cancel a second hearing in Los Angeles.
Several agencies within the department, including OSHA, have their own presentations on the DOL page that explain how they support the draft plan. It will be posted for review and comment in July.
According to investigators, the company has not maintained OSHA 300 logs for two years and has failed to develop and implement a hazcom program, train employees on hazardous chemicals, and develop and implement a respiratory protection program, among other problems.
An appeals court told OSHA to explain why it decided to require disclosure to workers only when the PEL for hexavalent chromium was exceeded, and now the safety agency has changed its mind. Most U.S. workers who are exposed to Cr(VI) compounds on the job are welders, according to OSHA.
"Employers should not assume this [combustible dust] hazard is minor or non-existent. Addressing it requires ongoing attention and effort, but proper precautions can prevent or minimize the possibility of a devastating explosion or fire," said William Coffin, OSHA's area director for Maine.
Exposure to the toxic chemical can affect the nervous system and can cause changes in color vision, fatigue, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, and balance problems.