EPA said its Region 7 receives more accidental release reports for ammonia than for any other chemical. In addition to releases caused by transportation accidents, human error, and equipment failure, a number have been caused by anhydrous ammonia thefts.
In December 2007, EPA issued a rule requiring reductions in air toxic emissions from auto body shops that use spray application to paint cars or that use paint strippers containing a toxic substance called methylene chloride. Existing shops must comply with the rule by January 2011; new shops have to comply by 180 days after startup.
The reports include online graphs, trend information on enforcement and compliance in each state, and comparative reports. Data such as compliance monitoring activity, violations discovered, enforcement actions taken, and penalties assessed are available.
At a large trade show this week and in national radio advertisements, the British OSH agency is urging renovation contractors and workers to be aware of potential asbestos exposures and the possibility of contracting mesothelioma and other deadly illnesses.
The hottest PPE category this year, respiratory protection, can be challenging to navigate. NIOSH’s site has always been a good information source about these products, and the new Respirator Trusted-Source Information Page is even better.
"The new labels will carry more uniform and specific directions on restricting spray drift while giving pesticide applicators clear and workable instructions," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
First responders who were exposed to caustic dust and toxic pollutants following the 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks suffer from asthma at more than twice the rate of the general U.S. population, according to data presented by Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers at CHEST 2009.
If there are no contaminants at your worksite or the concentration levels are below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), you, as the employer or Respiratory Protection Program Administrator, may allow your employees to wear respirators for relief from nuisance dusts or other contaminants, including relief from nuisance odors. But before you give the go-ahead, you need to know what your responsibilities are and the options you have as the Employer/Program Administrator.
With the recent outbreak of H1N1 virus around the globe, there has been increased interest in using respirators to help protect people at work, at home, and while out in public. While most people have seen or used respirators, few people truly appreciate and understand how these apparently simple devices actually work and what is required to use them properly in order to receive the expected protection that they can offer.
"We are pleased that Catholic Healthcare West is joining with us to set the highest possible hospital safeguards for patients and nurses and creating an innovative model that every hospital in America should follow," said Rose Ann DeMoro, CNA/NNOC executive director.
CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden noted that the flu season lasts until May 2010 and already there have been more H1N1-related hospitalizations in the under-65 population than in most entire flu seasons.
Carbon nanotubes are being considered for use in everything from sports equipment to medical applications, but a great deal remains unknown about whether these materials cause respiratory or other health problems.
Sellick's maneuver is a simple technique that is widely used to prevent aspiration (inhaling) of the stomach contents in anesthetized patients. But does it work as advertised? That's the question asked by a study in the November issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
"Steel mills remain a dangerous place to work, and it is inexcusable to fail to correct serious dangers, particularly after they've already been identified by OSHA. . . . We expect better," said OSHA Area Director Jule Hovi in Toledo, Ohio.
The declaration clears hospitals to set up alternate sites to house sick patients. It does not speed up vaccine delivery to the states.
A judge had issued a temporary restraining order on Oct. 16 to halt enforcement of the New York State regulation, but the governor's office said the rule was suspended because of limited supply of vaccines.
The United States Fire Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have started a research study to examine the enhancement of thermal performance of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) face pieces to increase the protection of firefighters.
As many as 16,000 registered nurses are expected to walk out Oct. 30 at 39 facilities to protest how management has protected them against H1N1. But the backdrop is contract negotiations now in their seventh month.
In addition to being able to show that a good-faith effort was made to acquire respirators, an employer will need to implement a hierarchy of controls, said acting OSHA chief Jordan Barab.
Inspections conducted over the past several months by OSHA's area office in Andover, Mass., also identified various chemical, mechanical, and electrical hazards--41 violations in all, with proposed penalties totaling $138,000.