Articles


Time's Running Out to Submit AIHce 2017 PDC Proposals

The deadline to submit a proposal to present at the June 4-7 conference in Seattle is Sept. 14, so get moving if you're interested.

The Evolution of Flame-Resistant Clothing

Flame-resistant (FR) clothing has come a long way from its origins in the lab of French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, who first discovered that ammonium phosphates and borax were capable of making textiles relatively flame retardant in 1821.

$121K in Fines Proposed for Exposing Workers to Trench Cave-In at Austin Project

The construction companies received one willful and four serious violations in total.

Workwear For Women

In the 1970s, only 38 percent of women were in the workforce, according to the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Today, the DOL reports that 57 percent of women participate in the labor force — occupying a range of positions in an incredibly wide variety of industries.

Machine Guards Were Bypassed in Fatal Lathe Operator Injury

The company responsible, Carlson Tool & Manufacturing Corp., has been cited for one willful and one serious violation.

Electronic Health Records Devouring Physicians' Time, Study Finds

The authors evaluated the time they spent on four activities (direct clinical face time, EHR and desk work, administrative tasks, and other tasks) and self-reported after-hours work. They concluded that the doctors spent 27.0 percent of their total time on direct clinical face time with patients and 49.2 percent of their time on EHR and desk work.

New Orleans Flood Insurance Workshop Set for Sept. 15

New flood insurance maps will become effective Sept. 30 in the city. "FEMA's new flood maps for New Orleans will make a huge difference for our residents, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars on flood insurance," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. "But recent flooding in Louisiana should be a reminder to everyone that weather events can strike anyone, even those who have never flooded before."

REACH Having the Desired Effect

The REACH regime used in the European Union is creating a strong push for end users to substitute less-hazardous chemicals, according to a study conducted by Joel Tickner and Molly Jacobs from the University of Massachusetts Lowell Centre for Sustainable Production.



UN Meeting Under Way on Setting Date for Cluster Bomb Ban

The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits all use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of these devices, and took effect Aug. 1, 2010. To date, 119 states have joined the Convention. The Sept. 5-7 meeting aims to set a target date to achieve that.

Noise Safety Challenge Now Under Way

Hearing damage is pervasive, both from occupational exposures and from recreational exposures. According to NIOSH, U.S. business paid more than $1.5 million in penalties last year for not protecting workers from noise and an estimated $242 million is spent annually on workers' compensation for hearing loss disability.

CDC Scientist Wins Highway Safety Award

David A. Sleet, Ph.D., associate director for Science with the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at CDC, who has done important research that helped bring about stronger child passenger safety laws, adoption of the national 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration standard nationwide, and safer airbag designs, according to GHSA.

NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments

Of the 96 highest-performing reactors, 87 fully met all of the safety and security performance objectives and were inspected by NRC using the normal "baseline" inspection program. Nine reactors needed to resolve one or two items of low safety significance.

Seattle Contractor Fined in Fatal Trench Collapse

Harold Felton was killed last January when the dirt walls of the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him, and rescuers were unable to dig him out in time.

DARPA Hails Smartphone-Sized Radiation Detectors

The networked devices were developed as part of the SIGMA program, which began in 2014 with the goal of creating a cost-effective, continuous radiation-monitoring network that can cover a large city or region.

2017 VPPPA Regional Conferences Kick Off in April

VPPPA's regional conference calendar is packed in late spring and summer next year, starting with the Region IX conference in early April.

Celebrating Labor Day 2016

"The best way we, in the occupational safety and health community, can honor workers today and throughout the year, is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for every man and woman—young and old alike," NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard wrote in his Labor Day 2016 message.

#VPPPA33 Set for the Big Easy

New Orleans is a very popular destination and Louisiana is in VPPPA's Region VI, the biggest region, which encompasses Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

NHTSA Chief Sends Safe Driving Message for Labor Day Weekend

NHTSA has reported that there were 35,092 people killed in U.S. traffic crashes during 2015, which ended a five-decade trend of declining fatalities with a 7.2 percent increase in deaths from 2014, and its data showed a 3.2 percent increase in drunk driving fatalities -- with 10,265 such deaths in 2015, compared to 9,943 in 2014.

OSHA, Health Canada Develop Joint Workplace Chemicals Work Plan

The updated plan will align labeling and classification for the hazards of workplace chemicals.

Preparedness Month Begins with Floridians on Alert

"Disasters don't always occur when we are together with our family and friends, and so it is important to take a few minutes now to plan what you will do in the event you are separated," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said.

Product Showcase

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • NoiseCHEK Personal Noise Dosimeter

    SKC NoiseCHEK is the easiest-to-use dosimeter available! Designed specifically for OEHS professionals, SKC NoiseCHEK offers the easiest operation and accurate noise measurements. Everything you need is right in your palm. Pair Bluetooth models to your mobile devices and monitor workers remotely with the SmartWave dB app without interrupting workflow. Careful design features like a locking windscreen, sturdy clip, large front-lit display, bright status LEDs, and more make NoiseCHEK the top choice in noise dosimeters. Demo NoiseCHEK at AIHA Connect Booth 1003. Read More

  • Safety Shower Test Cart

    The Safety Shower Test Cart speeds up and simplifies emergency shower tests, ensures you stay in compliance with OSHA regulations, and significantly reduces testing costs. With 7 unique features, the cart makes testing easy, effective, and efficient. You can test water clarity, flow, temperature, and spread—all at the same time! Most safety shower testing kits create a mess, take too much time to use, and don't fully help you stay in compliance with OSHA & ANSI standards. Transform the way you test emergency showers with Green Gobbler Safety. Read More

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