Facility Safety


Combustible Dust Dangers: Too Dangerous for a 'Wait and See' Approach

Training is critical, including a relevant, compelling message that explains the reasons for precautions as much as the precautions themselves.

Personalize Hearing Conservation for Hearing-Impaired Workers

Workers often don't file for hearing loss compensation until they retire. But with workers staying in the workforce longer, will the compensation bill eventually be larger? There are ways to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), even for those workers who may already have some level of hearing impairment.

Lightning Safety Week is June 21-27

June is National Safety & Home Safety Month

Also, because summer is the peak season for one of the nation's deadliest weather phenomena--lightning--NOAA is calling attention to Lightning Safety Week, June 21-27, by offering a number of new, free resources to increase safety awareness.

Delaware's Governor Thanks Responders to Refinery Fire

Gov. Jack Markell toured Sunoco's Marcus Hook refinery on May 28 and stressed the importance of keeping the plant shut down until the cause of the May 17 explosion and fire is known.

St. Louis Property Lessor to Pay Civil Penalty for Lead-Based Hazards

The intent of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act and its accompanying regulations is to help prevent exposure to lead-based paint by requiring disclosure and notification of actual and potential hazards when selling or leasing housing.

Revised Shipyard Guidance Document Addresses PPE Payment, CrVI Levels

In addition, the standard's Fire Protection in Shipyard Employment subpart includes sections on implementing a fire safety plan, fire watches, and fire response. Hexavalent chromium has been added to the list of air contaminants whose concentrations should not exceed stated exposure levels.

CSB Issues Final Report on Allied Terminals Fertilizer Tank Collapse

In a final report issued on May 27 into the November 2008 fertilizer tank collapse at Allied Terminals in Chesapeake, Va., the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recommended that the Commonwealth of Virginia regulate or authorize local jurisdictions to regulate the design, construction, maintenance, and inspection of large fertilizer storage tanks located on the Elizabeth River.



Employers Stepping Up Efforts to Prevent Unions

Employer tactics against workers' efforts to form unions have increased and are more punitive than in the past, according to a new four-year study by Kate Bronfenbrenner, senior lecturer in the ILR School and director of Labor Education Research.

Workplace Injuries Rise Following Daylight Savings Change

Using U.S. Department of Labor and Mine Safety and Health Administration data, Christopher Barnes and David Wagner, both doctoral candidates studying industrial and organizational psychology at Michigan State University, found that the number of workplace accidents spikes after Daylight Savings Time changes every March.

Firm Charged with Chemical Inventory Reporting Violations Pays $93,392

The facility failed to report many hazardous chemicals stored at the site including sulfuric acid, lead, zinc, and hydrochloric acid, EPA said.

NJ Oil Refinery Fined $141,500, Mainly for PSM Failures

"OSHA's process safety management regulations are designed to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards associated with the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals," said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's area office in Avenel, N.J., which conducted the investigation.

ASSE Revises SH&E Training Practices Standard

The standard, Z490.1-2009, covers all areas of training, including training development, delivery, evaluation, and management of training and training programs, ASSE says.

Veterinarians at High Risk for Animal Viral Infections

The recent H1N1 influenza epidemic has raised many questions about how animal viruses move to human populations. One potential route is through veterinarians, who, according to a new report by University of Iowa College of Public Health researchers, are at markedly increased risk of infection with zoonotic pathogens--the viruses and bacteria that can infect both animals and humans.

IT Director Commits Crime of Password, Hacks Former Employer's Network

According to the Department of Justice, the company suffered damage and losses in excess of $94,200 as a result of the former employee's computer intrusion and intentional, unauthorized deletion of programs and files.

CPSC Announces New Testing, Evaluation Facility

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Nancy Nord recently announced that a lease has been signed to expand and modernize the agency's testing facilities. The new facility, located off the "I-270 Technology Corridor" in Rockville, Md., will enhance CPSC's efforts to protect the public from dangerous consumer products and brings scientists and engineers together in one testing facility.

Hospital Accused of Firing Employee with Cancer Will Pay $100,000

"It is particularly disturbing and sadly ironic when a health care facility, of all places, refuses to reasonably accommodate an employee's disability," said EEOC Acting Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence.

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