OSHA Citing More Organizations for Egregious Violations
The hard-hitting side of OSHA is showing strongly these days. In particular, the agency seems to be going after companies where there is strong evidence of failure to train and to provide PPE. In the last two months, OSHA has addressed more egregious cases and issued higher fines than in the previous fiscal year. Fines have totaled $89 million dollars (including the huge one for BP). To see detailed press releases on the fines, click here. |
 Michaels Approved by Senate to head OSHA
On Dec. 3, the U.S. Senate officially confirmed David Michaels, Ph.D, MPH, as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. It's taken nearly a year to put the Obama leadership team in place at OSHA, but the actors have not been resting. Look for Michaels to jump right in to a change process that has already seen many initiatives. |
EPA Finds Reduction in 2008 Toxic Chemical Releases
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), according to an alert from ISHN magazine. The TRI database contains information on chemical releases into the air, land and water, as well as waste management and pollution prevention activities. The analysis of the 2008 data, the most recent data set available, shows that 3.86 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment, a six percent decrease from 2007. To see the full TRI report, click here. |
OSHA to Accept GHS Labels
Labels prepared under the European Union's regulation for classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures (EC/1272/2008), which adopted criteria based on the UN's Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), are considered to comply with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requirements if the EU GHS labels comply with all of the provisions of the HCS, according to an OSHA letter of interpretation posted on the agency's Web site Nov. 2. To read the full interpretation letter, click here. |
OSHA Publishes Employer-Specific Occupational Fatalities on Web Site
In support of the Obama Administration's Open Government Directive launched Dec. 9, OSHA is systematically publishing employer-specific information about occupational fatalities on its web site. Employers and workers can use this information to help assure worker safety and health in their own workplaces by taking steps to identify dangerous conditions and prevent future accidents. The reports are sorted by OSHA region and show clearly the frequency and variety of workplace deaths. To see the weekly reports, click here. |
 Hazardous Materials Guidance for EMS Responders
OSHA has issued a guidance document, Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substances, that addresses adequate training and personal protective equipment for emergency medical services responders who assist victims of hazardous substance release incidents. This document, a companion to OSHA's Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers, advises that employers provide, at a minimum, awareness level training to EMS responders. Workers receiving awareness-level training are not permitted to rescue or treat contaminated patients, but are responsible for notifying authorities if they suspect hazardous substances at a scene. Operations-level training teaches EMS responders skills for entering hazardous areas and caring for contaminated individuals. To access a copy of the full document, click here. |
Voluntary AED "Field Correction" Issued
Cardiac Science Corporation is initiating a voluntary field correction after it was determined certain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may experience a rare product issue in which the AED may not be able to deliver therapy during a resuscitation attempt. Customers should check the status indicator on the front of the AED and follow the procedures documented in the instructions. If the AED is not rescue ready, the status indicator will be red. If this is the case, customers should contact Cardiac Science immediately at 425-402-2000. For additional information on the voluntary device correction and the models included, click here. |
| OSHA Regulatory Agenda Issued
On Monday, Dec. 7, the Department of Labor issued the semi-annual regulatory agenda for all agencies, including OSHA. OSHA items include:
- Prerule Stage
- Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica
- Occupational Exposure to Beryllium
- Methylene Chloride
- Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl
- Bloodborne Pathogens
Proposed Rule Stage
-
Final Rule Stage
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This health, safety and environment electronic update comes from Chip Dawson and the