Human Resources


DOL Orders Printing Firm to Reinstate Whistleblower, Pay $83,000

An investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program found reasonable cause to believe that the employee's termination violated the whistleblower provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act.

Three Groups Release Statement on Fire Service Suicides

The International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation urge firefighters and their loved ones to familiarize themselves with tools and resources that can help.

Oral Fluids Coming to Mandatory Guidelines

DATIA has posted the memo approved on Jan. 26, 2012, by Pamela S. Hyde, SAMHSA’s administrator.

New ASSE Podcasts Highlight Variety of Workplace Safety Topics

The free podcasts on a variety of occupational safety, health, and environmental topics are available at ASSE’s virtual classroom.

HFES Offers Tips on Improving Website Password Practices

Users may receive multiple error messages if their chosen passwords do not line up with system requirements, which can lead to confusion and frustration for the user and increased operating expenses for system administrators.

NYC's Mayor Proposes Pension Reform

Saying city-funded pension costs have risen from $1.3 billion in FY2002 to $8.0 billion in FY2013, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for action to address "a ticking time bomb in rising pension costs."

OSHA Releases New Videos on Proper Use of Respirators

Topics include OSHA's Respiratory Standard, respirator use, training, fit-testing, and detecting counterfeit respirators.

American Airlines' Pension Battle Begins

The head of the PBGC, John Gotbaum, said the airline must show that terminating its pension plans is the only way it can reorganize.



A New Challenge for Drug-Free Workplace Programs

Current drug testing programs, following the lead of federal programs, do not identify most nonmedical prescription and synthetic drug use.

More Major Depression, Substance Use Among Deployed Personnel

Authors of a study published in a March supplement to the American Journal of Public Health confirmed both diagnoses are more likely for those deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Working Long Hours Doubles Depression Risk, Study Says

Researchers at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and at University College in London followed 2,123 middle-aged government workers in Britain for six years and found a link between working overtime and major depressive episodes.

MSHA Orders Wyoming Mine to Pay $40,000, Reinstate Employee

An employee claimed that the management's lack of concern over safety complaints raised by mine workers and her unlawful discharge had a chilling effect on the willingness of other miners to raise safety issues at the mine.

U.S. Work-Related Injuries, Illnesses Cost $250 Billion Annually: Study

The study suggests that the U.S. should place greater emphasis on reducing work-related injury and illnesses, especially since the costs have risen by more than $33 billion (inflation adjusted) since a 1992 analysis, the author said.

Coast Guard Weighing Drug/Alcohol Testing Changes

It seeks comments by March 20 on possibly requiring crewmembers who are selected for testing to report immediately to the testing site upon being notified and also requiring marine employers to report failed drug tests by non-credentialed mariners.

Cal/OSHA Issues $256,445 in Citations to Warehouse Operators

The violations include lack of fall protection for high-rise pickers, unstable storage stacking, and unguarded machinery.

OSHA Orders AirTran to Rehire Whistleblower, Pay $1 Million

"Retaliating against a pilot for reporting mechanical malfunctions is not consistent with a company that values the safety of its workers and customers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.

Washington Department of Labor Adopts Hazardous Drugs Rule

The rule provides minimum requirements for developing a hazardous drugs control program. Employers, using a hazard assessment, will put programs in place to minimize or eliminate the hazardous exposures to their employees.

PBGC Chief Urges American Airlines to Maintain Pensions

Delta, Northwest, and Continental kept their pension plans going after their bankruptcies, and so should American Airlines, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Director Josh Gotbaum said in a Jan. 12 statement.

Familial Factors Don't Affect Disability Risk: ACOEM

The new study suggests that genetic and other familial factors play little if any role in long-term disability risk.

Indiana Working Group Meets on Convenience Store Safety

The Labor commissioner, IOSHA deputy commissioner, and INSafe director are members of the panel working to "facilitate the adoption and use of industry best practices" for preventing violence inside 24-hour convenience stores.

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Spotlight

For February, OH&S puts the spotlight on:

Poll

OSHA Region 6 Administrator John Hermanson says the agency assessed the maximum statutory fines, a total of $21,500 for four alleged serious violations, against a small Oklahoma grain company in connection with amputation injuries suffered by two teenage workers. Does this case demonstrate the need to increase the amounts OSHA can issue in penalties?