Respiratory


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.

White House Review Touches Cranes, Diacetyl, Confined Space Rules

Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s memo told agency heads that regulations not yet published should be held for review and to consider a 60-day extension of the effective date for published regulations not yet in effect. This covers at least three OSHA regulations.

the scales of justice

OSHA Letter May Be Big Help to Respirator Manufacturers

Acting OSHA chief Thomas Stohler is the signer of the Jan. 9 letter, which ISEA requested on May 19, 2008. The letter's impact in courts isn't certain, but there are hundreds of thousands of pending claims, according to ISEA.

EPA Proposes Lowering 'Code Orange' Particle Pollution Level

The proposal also would set a “significant harm” level, which states use in developing emergency episode plans

Training Guide Posted for Coal Mines' Atmospheric Testers

The Dec. 31 belt air final rule requires this training and says the air monitoring must be the sole priority during an emergency incident.

Tyson Foods Inc. logo

Tyson to Pay $500,000 Fine in Hydrogen Sulfide Fatality

The Springdale, Ark.-based poultry and meat producer pleaded guilty today and agreed to pay the maximum criminal fine in the October 2003 death of maintenance employee Jason Kelley, according to the Justice Department.

Controlling Forklifts' Exhaust Emissions

Forklift engine tune-ups using carbon monoxide measurements reduce emissions and worker exposure.

Case Study: Risk Management in Health Care Construction Projects

Planners need to address the impact of these projects, which can expose workers and patients to airborne dust, bacteria, and mold spores.

Respiratory Sessions at AIHce 2009

AIHce 2009, taking place May 30-June 4 in Toronto, Canada, includes sessions and exhibitors across the IH spectrum. At least 11 sessions concern respiratory protection.

Is Anything New in Respiratory Protection?

So what’s new with respirators? It’s true that most respirator designs do not change much from year to year. And when they do, the changes are very likely within the expected evolutionary range.Components are enhanced by technology to provide more safety for users. Cartridge designs are a little sleeker. The air for air-supplied respirators is bottled in a smaller or larger cylinder that may be made from a new material or improved by a new manufacturing process.

Respirator Exterior Markings

A Sept. 3, 2008, letter to respirator manufacturers from Jonathan V. Szalajda chief of the NPPTL Policy and Standards Development Branch, clarifies labeling requirements for their filtering facepiece respirators and illustrates the exterior marking required.

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