Respiratory


OSHA Fines St. Louis Chemical Company $1.2 Million

Eight of its workers were treated for exposure to the organic chemical para-nitroaniline (PNA) in powder form. The penalty is based on 21 alleged willful citations, 20 of them cited on a per-employee basis.

NY Facility Fined $56,000 Following Confined Space Fatality

The company was issued one willful citation, with a proposed penalty of $35,000 alone, for not providing employees with confined space rescue training at least every 12 months.

OSHA's Hex Chrome PEL Upheld

A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Monday rejected all but one claim against the 5 micrograms per cubic meter PEL set in the February 2006 final rule. The judges told OSHA to state its reasons for requiring employees to be notified when monitored exposures exceed the PEL, rather than being notified of all monitoring results as the agency originally proposed.

Workshop to Explore Nano EHS Research, Needs

The two-day workshop begins tomorrow in Bethesda, Md. Researchers will discuss current science on Human and Environmental Exposure Assessment, which is one of the five EHS categories identified in the Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research.

Traffic Air Pollution Linked to Repeated Hospital Encounters for Asthma

Air pollution caused by traffic near the home affects asthma severity in children, resulting in repeated hospital encounters, according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

MSHA Refuge Alternatives Meetings Start Today

Meanwhile, the agency has promised to adjust its mine rescue teams final rule as directed in a Feb. 10 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Online Guide Explains Safe Uses of Beryllium

Brush Wellman Inc., the world's largest producer of beryllium and materials that contain it, posted the guide last week.

AIHA Hosts Mold TeleWeb

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) will host "Mold: Exploring Sampling, Analysis, and Data Interpretation," an intermediate to advanced TeleWeb Virtual Seminar on Feb. 19, 2009, from 2-4:30 p.m. ET.



MSHA and Coal Watchdog's New Blog Hailed

Ken Ward Jr.'s coverage of the industry and mining safety is now available in a blog on his newspaper's Web site.

Manufacturer Fined $102,000 for Lead Exposure, Defective Machinery, More

The total penalty amount is the result of citations for seven repeat violations, 19 serious violations, and 10 other-than-serious violations found during an inspection initiated by a complaint.

a cars exhaust, which contributes to urban air pollutants

Ozone Wheezing's Cause, New Treatments Found

Researchers from NIEHS and Duke University said they identified several proteins that can limit the lung irritation and wheezing caused by exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant.

Lindsay E. Booher, CIH, CSP, AIHA president

AIHA Seeks GAO Study of NIOSH's Rightful Place

Should NIOSH remain within CDC? Should it be part of the Department of Labor? AIHA President Lindsay E. Booher, shown here, asked Sen. Ted Kennedy, the HELP Committee chair, to support a GAO study of the issue.

MSHA Files Lawsuit against Kentucky Darby LLC

After failing to pay a $342,000 penalty by the Oct. 19, 2008 deadline, MSHA now seeks to collect $505,012--which includes unpaid civil penalties, additional penalties, interest, and administrative fees.

Health hazard evaluation report: Republic Conduit

Health hazard evaluation report HETA-2006-0332-3058, issued in April 2008, evaluates Republic Conduit workers' exposures to noise, metalworking fluids, welding fumes, and acids during metal conduit manufacturing. NIOSH investigators who visited the site in November 2006 and March 2007 concluded most workers were overexposed to noise, but the 168 workers weren't overexposed to acid mists, elements, or hexavalent chromium. The confined space and respiratory programs were incomplete, they found.

OSHA, ADSC Sign Pact to Protect Foundation Drillers

Part of the aim of the partnership is to develop educational training programs relating to fall protection, silica, and equipment operation hazards.

3M Safety Sales Shine

Yesterday's full-year results for the company as a whole were welcome good news: Total sales were a record $25.3 billion, up 3.3 percent. The Safety, Security and Protection Services unit's 2008 sales actually rose 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter and totaled $3.6 billion for the year, up from $3.1 billion in 2007.

2009 Oregon GOSH Conference Headed to Portland

Registration is now open for the 2009 Oregon Governor's Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference, to be held March 9-12 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The largest conference of its kind in the Northwest will feature more than 30 full-day workshops and 115 single-topic classes. It is designed to educate managers and workers about safety and health issues.

Tax Credit Proposed for Installing New Mine Safety Equipment

Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., introduced the bill with colleagues from West Virginia and Texas. NMA says it would accelerate development of training and rescue capabilities.

Study Finds Cleaning Activities May Be Harmful to Women with Asthma

Cleaning activities may be associated with increased lower respiratory tract symptoms in women with asthma according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

OSHA Moves to Revise Fit Test Procedures, Seeks Comments

The proposed revisions would allow certain machine-based fit tests to be conducted more quickly and increase the required score for passing them.

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