A 15-month study produced this week's Institute of Medicine report that found medical residents' work schedules can hamper their performance and increase errors.
But 17 percent of workers in the first-ever National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance survey said their employers do nothing to shield them from loud noise on the job, and 22 percent said nothing is done to dampen vibration of equipment or vehicles to which they are exposed.
The association says that at other times when fuel costs have risen, it has seen a corresponding increase in heating-related fires, and with today's combination of much higher energy costs and much higher unemployment, "we fear that . . . more people who are unable to pay for heating oil or utilities [will] use more dangerous ways of heating their homes."
As part of the plea agreement, the company was ordered to pay a $350,000 fine and issue a public apology in an appropriate trade journal regarding the conviction.
Located in the Pocono Mountains, the facility performs metal fabrication for the military and has approximately 589 full-time employees.
ACCSH advises the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health on the formulation of standards affecting the construction industry and on policy matters arising in the administration of the safety and health provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and the OSH Act of 1970.
"Partial measures don't get the job done," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, N.Y. "Proper lockout/tagout training and procedures must be implemented and maintained completely, effectively, and continuously to safeguard employees against possible injuries."
At a recent press conference, National Transportation Safety Board members reviewed the past year's progress in getting states to enact safety legislation called for in its Most Wanted List of safety improvement. Although there were some modest gains in the past year, NTSB said much more needs to be accomplished before any of the items can be removed from the list.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with DuPont, of Wilmington, Del., has announced a voluntary recall of DuPont's Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner bottles. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
The trucking company was cited for failing to train the contract driver, who was permanently disabled by the July 31 crash, and for not equipping the truck with adequate brakes. The mine operator also was cited for an alleged training violation.
The commission describes the new POS as a modern-day cash register system similar to those found in major retail stores that provides for more secure transactions and improved financial monitoring capabilities.
Available to both graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in occupational SH&E or a closely related field, the $1,000 award will be part of the Foundation's 2009 scholarship package, and the first recipient will be announced on April 1, 2009.
Underwriters Laboratories, a leading product safety organization, is urging families to focus on safety when purchasing gifts this holiday season. Although families may spend less this year, consumers shouldn't skimp on safety.
Today carries more significance than Black Friday shopping, it is also is the first day to enjoy Thanksgiving Day leftovers. But first a word of caution. Whether you plan to enjoy a cold turkey sandwich or a slice of pumpkin pie be sure to take appropriate steps to keep foodborne bacteria at bay.
"OSHA relies on this committee to provide a real-world perspective to our work," said Thomas M. Stohler, acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
Sediment-laden storm water was repeatedly observed discharging from the construction site to nearby Chaffins Brook, which is ranked as a "Class A" waterway by Massachusetts.
"Because exposure to high levels of nitrates causes a wide range of illnesses and environmental damage, communities need to know when these chemicals have been released," said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems Division director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region.
In 2006, Thanksgiving Day topped the charts once again as the peak day for home cooking fires. According to National Fire Protection Association, there were 1,400 home structure fires involving cooking equipment that year, which is more than three times the daily average.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced the formation of a health and safety alliance with the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a membership association consisting of 30 companies operating 115 plants in 36 states.
Finalized after "worldwide" comments, the report on the collapse of the 47-story World Trade Center building 7 in Manhattan concludes fires on multiple floors "caused an extraordinary event. Heating of floor beams and girders caused a critical support column to fail, initiating a fire-induced progressive collapse that brought the building down."