"The Institute of Medicine placed fragrance in the same category as secondhand smoke in triggering asthma in adults and school age children," said Evie Bain, RN, COHN-S, FAAOHN, a presenter for an upcoming webcast addressing fragrance-free work environments.
Over the past 10 years, the company, which operates 1,632 sites across the nation with approximately 11,900 employees, has been inspected 37 times by OSHA and cited for similar violations.
In the show, the former NIOSH director and other government representatives discuss issues relating to the health and safety implications of nanotechnology.
Only a handful have shown up on www.regulations.gov, but those agree the rule from Secretary Elaine Chao's office should not go forward, and they ask for a public hearing.
Construction and renovation projects in office settings can adversely affect building occupants by the release of airborne particulates, biological contaminants, and gases. Careful planning for IEQ and the prevention of exposure during these activities is essential.
The November issue of JOEH, published by AIHA and ACGIH, includes a study by Colorado researchers and two NIOSH papers.
"Consistent maintenance ensures that energy efficiency remains at design levels," said Robert Baker, chair of the committee that wrote the standard.
This policy is based on extensive scientific data, summarized in the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke."
One piece of legislation signed last week requires site safety managers to include in their plans a statement that workers have successfully completed a 10-hour OSHA course on construction safety and health within five years of working on the site.
With the Sept. 11 effective date of Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act fast approaching, the Department of Health is reminding businesses about online resources to help them comply with the law that will ban smoking in most public places, including restaurants, workplaces and a portion of casino floors.
The agency is asking lead-detection kit merchants to apply to have their test kits reviewed, and plans to recognize the accurate kits.
In addition to the enforcement activities, Cal/OSHA has conducted more then 649 heat illness seminars, onsite consultations, and outreach events throughout the state this year.
"We can't take chances with public health," said EPA's Mike Bussell. "Preventing a release of something as potentially dangerous as anhydrous ammonia protects the lives of workers, responders, and nearby residents."
The inspections were conducted to assess compliance with the EPA's nationwide storm water Construction General Permit, which requires operators of construction sites to plan for and implement storm water controls and to protect surface waters from common construction pollutants.
In response to requests from groups representing manufacturers and users of the pesticides, the agency is extending the public comment period by an additional 45 days, closing on Oct. 30.
Although it has not committed to having a reporting regulation, CSB has said it will publish a Request for Information concerning adoption of such a regulation, presenting various options for rulemaking and seeking the views and opinions of stakeholders regarding the best path forward.
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) will present the Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology, Nov. 3-6, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
In his epic work "The Waste Land" (1922), T.S. Eliot wrote convincingly that “April is the cruellest month,” but a case can be made for September. Throughout American history, all varieties of disasters have transpired in this ninth month of the year—from shipwrecks to plane crashes to terrorist attacks—the aftermath of which have changed the way we live, work, and simply function as a society. Some of these changes have been subtle, others, such as the events of 9/11 seven years ago, drastic.
On Sept. 24, 2007, OSHA issued a Safety and Health Information Bulletin, Respiratory Disease Among Employees in Microwave Popcorn Processing Plants. The purpose was to inform employees and employers about the potential hazards of food flavorings containing diacetyl, recommend exposure controls to reduce exposures to food flavorings containing diacetyl, and inform employers of applicable mandatory OSHA standards.
All working Australians should concentrate on and be involved in safety at their workplaces Oct. 19-25, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council says.