Worker protection and educational support in Latin America, including workshops and meetings, have recently been provided by NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) to the Institute of Public Health (ISP) from Chile. The main focus during these international arrangements has been on respirator protection and other occupational PPE to protect workers from the dangers of exposure to industrial chemical dusts, chemicals, and more.

Maryann D’Alessandro, Ph.D., director of the NIOSH Pittsburg-based laboratory explains, “these partnerships help promote international stability for U.S. business, continue the tradition of U.S. technological leadership globally and provide information that we can sue in turn to further worker health and safety in the U.S.”

Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health and Labor, the International Labor Organization, multinational manufacturers of PPE, various academic bodies and industrial sectors such as construction and mining. Audits were also performed on respirator manufacturers in Colombia, Chile, and Brazil for maintenance of their NIOSH respirator certification status.

To view the original article from EHS Today, visit HERE.

To inquire about respirator training or fit testing, visit us at https://safetylinks.net/index.php/respirators or call us at 407-863-8165.

Continue Reading

Due to the number of whistleblower complaints in the railroad industry with a high percentage of retaliation allegations, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and OSHA have signed a memorandum agreement that will facilitate the coordination and cooperation of workers’ whistleblower rights.

From 2007 to 2012, more than 900 whistleblower complaints were reported by OSHA and almost 63 percent involved some sort of allegation of retaliation. Although the FRA has a broad authority over rail safety, it does not have direct authority to address whistleblower incidents. It is the Federal Railroad Safety Act’s (FRSA) whistleblower provision act that protects railroad employees from retaliation when they report safety violations, or work-related personal injuries or illness.

The memorandum established procedures to follow complaints any allegations. The FRA will refer railroad employees who complain of retaliation to OSHA. OSHA will then provide the FRA with the copies it receives under the FRSA’s whistleblower provision. In turn, both agencies will work together to assist FRA enforcement staff in recognizing complaints and assist OSHA enforcement staff in recognizing potential violations of railroad safety regulations found in investigations.

“This memorandum is a watershed moment for both railroads and labor alike,” said FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo. He continued, “Securing a process that protects employees who report safety violations is critical to maintaining safety standards in the workplace.”

For more information on FRSA and other industry whistleblower cases, visit http://www.whistleblowers.gov/wb_news_room.html.

Continue Reading

Updates straight from the BCSP newsletter...

The Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer (CET) & Certified Instructional Technologist (CIT) certifications are swiftly becoming part of the BCSP family of certifications.CET/CIT Integrated into BCSP Family of Certifications Now Recognizable as BCSP Certifications

The training certifications' new logo is increasingly featured on BCSP materials, and the new CET/CIT process and applications, results of months of diligent preparation, can be found on BCSP's CET/CIT webpage.

The process of fully integrating the CET/CIT is well underway. By the end of 2012, the certifications' will be wholly operated by BCSP.

Inquiries related to the certification may be made through the CET/CIT Inquiry form.

Technologist Certifications Improved. CLCS Folded into Updated OHST

The Occupational Health and Safety Technologist® (OHST®) exam began following the most recent set of knowledge required of SH&E technologists this July 2, 2012.

The update, as announced last year, is the result of a validation study to determine the task, knowledge, and skills associated with the OHST practice.The OHST's latest blueprint and reference materials are available on the OHST webpage.

As part of the OHST update, the Certified Loss Control Specialist® (CLCS®) certification is discontinued. CLCS certificants, and those in process of achieving CLCS certification, can contact Barbara Patterson, BCSP Manager of Customer Service, with questions.

Don't forget to view our OHST Prep Course page for more information on our upcoming course that will be held on November 6-8. You can also sign up by calling us at 407-505-2803 or email at info@transportins.net.

Continue Reading

Do you ever wonder how big of an impact OSHA inspections actually have on worker productivity loss or company profit? According to recent studies done in California, inspections can actually save a substantial amount of money to companies and organizations. More than many might believe.

The study, done by Michael Toffel, professor at Harvard Business School and David Levine, professor at Hass School of Business, and Matthew Johnson, doctoral student at Boston University, analyzed inspections conducted in highly hazardous industries in California and found that once done, they reduced injury claims by up to 9.2 percent. They also concluded it saved 26 percent on workers’ compensation costs in the four following years after the inspections were done. An estimated $355,000 was saved in injury claims and compensation for paid lost work.

Overall, there was no evidence showing these inspections led to a drop in sales or profit. These findings make a great example of how important implementing safety procedures, plans and culture in an organization can be highly beneficial in many aspects.

"The OSHA inspection itself affords employers an opportunity to recognize where their safety policies and programs aren't fully effective and, in turn, encourages them to take action, whether that means dealing with a specific hazard noted in the workplace and eliminating or lowering it or changing the way you communicate and train employees," Johnson says. "There are many ways employers can identify and understand the areas where they can improve safety, and OSHA is one of them."

To read the original article, visit http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=533348983.

Continue Reading

According to a research done by the University of Michigan School of Nursing, 42% of factory workers exposed to noise have hearing loss. The worst part, however, is that about 75% of them claimed having good hearing when asked. The study was done on 2,691 workers from the Midwest automobile factory.

In turn, what researchers concluded from this study is that “a need for development of reliable and valid self-report measures of hearing loss” was the key to better self-reporting hearing ability from workers.

Because specific sources of their hearing loss were not exactly determined—whether it was work-related, environmental, biological, etc.—they did mention a need for surveillance methods, safety policies, and programs to help evaluate the effectiveness of hearing conservation programs, identify health concerns, and prevent occupational hearing loss.

To view the original article, visit http://ehstoday.com/health/news/workers-fail-self-report-hearing-0702/.

For questions regarding occupational noise testing and safety implementation, call us at 407-505-2803 or visit https://safetylinks.net/index.php/industrial-hygiene/noise for more information.

Continue Reading

After a study by NIOSH and oil and gas industry partners found silica a health hazard to workers during hydraulic fracturing operations, they –along with OSHA—took the appropriate steps to ensure their safety and brought it to focus with a hazard alert.

Following consultations with stakeholders and industry, the alert announced now meets the Obama administration’s focus on the importance of this specific issue.

Examples of exposure include transporting, moving, and refilling silica sand into and through sand movers, and along transfer belts and into blender hoppers, which counts for up to 99 percent of the silica in the air that workers breathe. The alert explains how a combination of engineering control, work practices, protective equipment, product substitution, and proper worker safety training can reduce health hazard exposure. Common health illnesses caused from silica exposure are silicosis and sometimes even lung cancer. Other linked diseases found are tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney and autoimmune disease.

"Hazardous exposures to silica can and must be prevented. It is important for employers and workers to understand the hazards associated with silica exposure in hydraulic fracturing operations and how to protect workers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "OSHA and NIOSH are committed to continuing to work with the industry and workers to find effective solutions to address these hazards."

To learn more on this hazard alert, visit http://www.osha.gov/dts/hazardalerts/hydraulic_frac_hazard_alert.html.

Continue Reading

While previously classified as a "probable" carcinogen, the World Health Organization’s (W.H.O.) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has finally confirmed that diesel exhaust is a carcinogen and that it is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer.

Considering that the last time diesel was put into discussion, in 1989 and now finally classified as a carcinogen, it’s a big deal for everyone who is in anyway exposed to it or anyone who's workplace forces them to be in a environment wiith high diesel exhaust fumes.

A study done by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France analyzed 12,300 miners for several decades starting in 1947. Discoveries concluded miners heavily exposed to diesel exhaust had a higher risk of dying from lung cancer. The U.S. however, still does not fully recognize it as a carcinogen, claiming that new engines are far less dangerous with exposure of fewer fumes.

"It's on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking," said Kurt Straif, director of the IARC department that evaluates cancer risks. "This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines."

The mission of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control.

Continue Reading