Respiratory


Nonprofits Receive $620,000 in MIOSHA Grants

The MIOSHA CET Grant Program funds additional options for health and safety education and training for employers and employees, focusing particularly on hazard recognition and prevention for high hazard industries.

NIOSH Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Awards Winners Announced

"It's clear that companies are taking the initiative to address the health and safety challenges in each sector," said NIOSH Mining's Dr. Jessica Kogel. "It's heartening to see the industry develop its own meaningful solutions."

UN Prioritizes Tuberculosis Prevention for High-Risk Occupations

"The UN General Assembly is taking an important step in highlighting the need for governments and global health funders to invest in primary prevention to reduce silica dust hazards in high-risk workplaces. This UN action recognizes that we can take action to prevent TB, and not just treat it," said Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of OK International.

If you work in an industry where silica dust is present, it

Three Dangerous Misconceptions Surrounding OSHA's Silica Dust Standard for General Industry

On June 23, most provisions of OSHA's silica standard for general industry became enforceable. Many employers still have a long way to go to achieve full compliance.

OSHA Offers New Resources on Respirable Silica Standard

The FAQs were developed by OSHA, along with industry and labor organizations. They provide guidance on the crystalline silica standard requirements for employers and workers in construction.

OSHA in Milwaukee Construction Project Partnership

The partners will develop safety and health training programs and procedures; identify and address common construction hazards, such as falls, electrical, silica, noise, and carbon monoxide exposure; and encourage workers to participate in employers' safety and health programs.

OSHA Cites Oregon Shipbuilder

OSHA has issued $370,358 in proposed penalties to Vigor Marine Inc. and cited the company for 16 willful and serious violations following an inspection at the shipbuilder's Portland, Ore., facility.

NIOSH Seeks Comments on Updated NORA for Oil & Gas Extraction

One objective listed in it concerns motor vehicle crashes, which accounted for 44 percent of all fatal injuries in the industry during 2016, according to BLS. Actions under this objective include identifying and promoting strategies to increase seat belt use, strategies to improve driver performance, and strategies to reduce driver fatigue and driver distraction.



Scientists Analyzing Smoke of Western Wildfires

The project brings together scientists from five universities and the NSF-funded National Center for Atmospheric Research. "This is a challenging field campaign," said atmospheric scientist Emily Fischer of Colorado State University. "It's not like measuring the plume from, say, a power plant."

Asbestos Contractor Cited, Fined in Washington State

In two recent site inspections, the workers did not use proper safety equipment, required air sampling was not performed, and asbestos-containing material was left exposed to the public and was improperly taken through public areas.

MSHA Seeks Input on Retrospective Study of Respirable Coal Mine Dust Rule

MSHA aims to solicit comments, data, and information from stakeholders to assist in developing the framework for a study to assess the dust rule’s health effects.

Cal/OSHA Issues Worker Safety Advisory for Wildfire Regions

Wildfire smoke contains chemicals, gases, and fine particles that can be harmful to health.

Report Finds More Protections Needed to Address Black Lung

Report Finds More Protections Needed to Address Black Lung

The Coal Mining industry needs go to beyond current regulations in order to combat the increase in cases of black lung disease, according to a new report released Thursday by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The proposed PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an eight-hour time weighted average is half of the current PEL for quartz, the most common form of crystalline silica, in general industry and far below the now-obsolete PELs for crystalline silica applied to construction and shipyards.

Respirable Crystalline Silica: Regulations and Considerations

OSHA requires that engineering controls be used to achieve necessary exposure reductions unless infeasible; organizations may not simply issue respirators and "be done with" their attempts to lower exposures.

Managing an OSHA-compliant respiratory program today means understanding the risk of toxic substances and environments that are not only more prevalent for many workers, but very dangerous should they not be adequately protected. (Grainger photo)

Seven Respiratory Hazards Every Safety Manager Should Understand

Different equipment protects against different risks. Ensure your equipment matches the risk.

NIOSH Publishes Final Research Agenda for Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

The agenda document says during 2011-14, seafood processing workers experienced the highest injury/illness rate among all maritime workers: 6,286 injuries and illnesses per 100,000 workers, according to 2016 BLS data.

Silica Standard Enforcement Begins with Compliance Assistance

Most provisions of the standard become enforceable on June 23. OSHA announced it intends to issue interim enforcement guidance until a compliance directive on the new standard is finalized.

EPA Publishes TSCA Formulation Documents, Asbestos Rule

"These actions provide the American people with transparency and an opportunity to comment on how EPA plans to evaluate the ten chemicals undergoing risk evaluation, select studies, and use the best available science to ensure chemicals in the marketplace are safe," EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said. "At the same time, we are moving forward to take important, unprecedented action on asbestos."

NIOSH Studying Condition of Stockpiled Respirators, Surgical Gowns

Federal, state, city, and medical partners of NIOSH are awaiting its findings about the stockpiled PPE. Researchers are in the second year of a three-year project.

NIOSH and FDA Collaborate to Streamline Regulatory Oversight for N95 Respirators

NIOSH and FDA Collaborate to Streamline Regulatory Oversight for N95 Respirators

Subject to conditions and limitations, some N95s will be exempt from FDA premarket notification requirements, meaning that N95 manufacturers will be able to submit a single application to NIOSH rather than submitting paperwork for clearance and approval from both agencies.

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