Respiratory


Flammable Vapors Lead to Fatality, $127K Fine

Cited violations against the company include failing to provide safe work practice procedures for hot work in a confined space, failing to prevent cutting operations in the presence of explosive atmospheres, and the lack of procedures for summoning resuce and emergency services.

The DC Circuit decision upholds per-instance OSHA citation of an employer in willful or egregious cases.

DC Circuit Upholds Per-Instance Penalties

Friday's decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit says the U.S. Labor secretary has the authority to penalize employers on a per-instance basis in willful or egregious cases.

Nationwide Food Distributor Fined for Process Safety Management Problems

An inspection conducted under OSHA's Chemical Industry National Emphasis Program resulted in $153,000 in proposed penalties.

MSHA Announces Final Rule on Coal Mine Dust Sampling Devices

"The final rule upgrades the approval requirements for the existing dust sampler that has been in use since passage of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.

FDA phasing out certain inhalers

Seven Inhalers That Use CFCs Being Phased Out

FDA originally proposed to phase-out the seven metered-dose products in 2007 and reached a final decision after reviewing more than 4,000 public comments and information submitted as part of a public meeting. The earliest deadline, affecting two of the inhalers, is June 14.

9/11 FDNY Rescuers Show Lasting Lung Damage

A study of nearly 13,000 rescue workers from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) shows that the significant proportion who suffered acute lung damage after exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust have not recovered normal lung function in the years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

ISEA Says NIOSH Respirator Testing Proposal Needs More Work

ISEA recommended “that NIOSH consider conducting additional tests of representative filtering facepiece and elastomeric respirators with multiple trials, donnings, and panels. Results would lead to a better understanding of between- and within-subject variability and may suggest methods for simulating and predicting fit performance for the population of respirator wearers.”

OSHA Advisory Group to Discuss Silica Inhalation, Nailgun Safety, More

The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) advises OSHA chief David Michaels, Ph.D., M.P.H., on worker safety and health in the construction industry.



NASEMSO Warns Responders About H2S Suicides

"While there is no cause for widespread panic, symptoms can mimic carbon monoxide poisoning and EMS responders are encouraged to approach any dosed, suspicious vehicle with extreme caution," the association warns.

New lead paint rule effective April 22

Reminder: New Lead-Based Paint Rule Takes Effect April 22

The requirements under the rule apply to maintenance, renovation, or repair activities where six square feet (about the size of a poster) or more of a painted surface is disturbed inside, or where 20 square feet or more of painted surface (about the size of a door) is disturbed on the exterior.

Phosphene-Related Death in W. Virginia Results in EPA's Censure of DuPont

The order results from an inspection of the facility following three releases of the gas in January, including the release that caused the death. EPA determined that the facility has not satisfied Clean Air Act requirements that are designed to help prevent accidental releases and minimize the consequences of releases that do occur.

Program Seeks to Compensate Victims of Radiation Exposure

Under RECA, people in the following claimant categories may receive payments: uranium miners, millers, and ore transporters; people who were present at nuclear weapons tests; and people who lived in certain areas "downwind" of the Nevada Nuclear Test Site.

Electronics Firm Fined $101,700 for Failure to Abate, Repeat, Serious Violations

According to investigators, the company has not maintained OSHA 300 logs for two years and has failed to develop and implement a hazcom program, train employees on hazardous chemicals, and develop and implement a respiratory protection program, among other problems.

Most of the U.S. workers who are exposed to hexavalent chromium compounds while on the job are welders, according to OSHA.

HexChrome Change: Employees to Learn All Exposure Results

An appeals court told OSHA to explain why it decided to require disclosure to workers only when the PEL for hexavalent chromium was exceeded, and now the safety agency has changed its mind. Most U.S. workers who are exposed to Cr(VI) compounds on the job are welders, according to OSHA.

Poultry Processing Plant Penalized for Plethora of Problems

The 45 serious violations of which the facility stands accused address hazards with industrial trucks, falls, PPE, machine guarding, electrical safety, process safety management, respirators, and emergency response.

Beware shockingly cold water

Coast Guard Issues Fair Weather Boating Warning

With coastal water temperatures just a few degrees above freezing and inland waters even colder, the lure of spring-like weather creates a deceptively dangerous combination, USCG notes.

Ten Thousand 9/11 Responders' Lawsuits Settled

Awaiting approval by a judge and the workers, the agreement by the WTC Captive Insurance Company will pay as much as $657.5 million to settle the lawsuits claiming dust created by the collapse of the World Trade Centers caused lung damage.

Bulkhead Maker to Pay for Unreported Use of Styrene

Exposure to the toxic chemical can affect the nervous system and can cause changes in color vision, fatigue, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, and balance problems.

EU's CDC Sees No New H1N1 Wave Coming

The most likely scenario for Europe throughout 2010 is continuing low-level transmission and small outbreaks of the pandemic 2009 A(H1N1) influenza, although larger outbreaks could occur, according to the March 9 forecast.

HSE Issues New Asbestos Removal Survey Guidelines

The new guidance does away with the old Survey Type 1, 2, and 3, replacing those with the more comprehensive Management Survey and Refurbishment and Demolition Survey.

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