Hazmat


CDC Releases Infection Prevention Guide to Promote Safe Outpatient Care

The guide states that all outpatient practices should ensure that at least one individual with specific training in infection control is on staff or regularly available. This individual should be involved in developing a written infection control policy and have regular communication with health care providers to address specific issues or concerns.

NIOSH Describes Worker Protections After Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Recommendations for the future include increasing the use of personal protective gear, steps to manage heat stress management, approaches to beach cleaning, and reporting of injuries and potential hazards.

The hose that failed, shown at the top in this CSB photo, had been in service for seven months and was susceptible to corrosion from phosgene, according to the agency.

CSB Seeks Comments on DuPont Belle Draft Report

The agency investigated three releases at the West Virginia plant within a 48-hour period in January 2010, including a phosgene gas release that killed a worker who was near the location where phosgene cylinders were stored.

Study: Laundered Shop Towels May Be Contaminating Workers

“Without knowing it, manufacturing workers may be ingesting certain heavy metals at elevated levels from this unexpected source," said Barbara Beck, Ph.D., DABT, principal at Gradient, the firm that conducted the research. "For some of these metals, the amounts ingested may be greater than allowed in drinking water on a daily basis."

An awareness campaign is planned to ensure the 2013 registration deadline is met.

First ECHA Report Says REACH Succeeding

Fears that REACH was too complex and set overly demanding deadlines for industry and regulators were overblown, says the first required report on how the REACH and CLP regulations are working.

Texas Bakery Fined $199,600 for Hazardous Chemicals Violations

OSHA cited the same company in 2006 for similar violations at Plant 2 of the China Grove facility with proposed penalties of $78,300. The company also was cited in April 2011 with proposed penalties of $229,400 following an amputation incident and multiple inspections at the two facilities.

Process Safety Management Violations Add Up to $62,100 in Fines for N.J. Firm

An inspection was initiated on Jan. 7 in response to a referral from the New Jersey State Police alleging that a hazardous chemical solvent was released during a cleaning process.

Two Rules at Final Stage in OSHA's Latest Agenda

The two are confined spaces in construction -- to be issued in November 2011 -- and protective equipment for electrical power generating, distribution and transmission workers -- coming in September.



NIOSH Fact Sheet Highlights Safety, Health Concerns Among Hotel Cleaners

Nearly 1.8 million people worked in the traveler/accommodations industry in 2008, including more than 400,000 hotel room cleaners.

The tasks an OSHA standard would address might or might not be direct patient care, and examples include conducting autopsies and medical waste disposal.

Two OSHA Meetings to Discuss Infectious Agents Standard

The July 29 meetings in Washington, D.C., will give a small number of stakeholders the opportunity to discuss what should be included in a standard controlling workers' exposures during tasks such as housekeeping, medical waste disposal, repairing medical equipment, and conducting autopsies.

Pet Food Research Firm Fined $167,000 for Failing to Provide Respirators to Workers

Four willful violations, with proposed fines of $161,700, were cited for two instances of allegedly failing to provide a respirator to protect workers exposed to total dust in the production facility.

Waterborne diseases kill more than 2 million people annually worldwide, according to WHO.

WHO Calls for Better Drinking Water Standards

The organization wants governments to address chemical contaminants and water safety to prevent waterborne diseases.

9/11 Health, Compensation Act Goes Into Effect

People that have been identified and diagnosed with a health condition specified in the James Zadroga Act will receive health monitoring and treatment services, at no cost to them.

MSHA Announces Results of May Impact Inspections

Coal mines were issued 339 citations, 12 orders, and two safeguards, while metal/nonmetal operations were issued 62 citations and 13 orders in May.

Brooklyn Medical Center Cited for Asbestos Hazards

OSHA's inspection found that the hospital failed to provide adequate asbestos training for environmental staff and employees in the engineering department who perform demolition and renovation.

DOT Offering Training Seminars for Hazmat Workers

The free training seminars provide an opportunity to educate hazmat employers and employees on DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations.

What Is Hazardous?

A material of relatively low hazard can present substantial risk, while a material with a high hazard might present no measurable risk in certain circumstances.

Implementing HES&S Training in the Oil & Gas Industry: A Brief Overview

In general, most companies use a combination of classroom and e-learning delivery methods.

Shell UK Limited Fined for Wastewater Plant Explosion

The fine is equivalent to $1.6 million in U.S. dollars. The 2008 explosion caused no injuries.

New MSHA Training Tools Address Miners' Rights, Responsibilities

The Web-based tools include the full text of “A Guide to Miners' Rights and Responsibilities,” links to additional information on miners' rights, an electronic form for filing an anonymous hazard complaint, a discrimination complaint packet, and black lung benefits and resources.

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