The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is continuing to add the latest Ebola health information documents to the Disaster Literature Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. New resources are now available on training and other material in the areas of diagnosis, quarantine/isolation, personal protective equipment, screening, and hospital preparedness.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with state and local public health departments, is taking steps to help keep the risk of Ebola transmission low for everyone.
Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Listed as Carcinogen
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) intends to list mitoxantrone hydrochloride as known to the State to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 19861. This action is being proposed under the “Formally Required to Be Labeled or Identified” listing mechanism.
This chemical has been listed under Proposition 65 as causing reproductive toxicity (developmental endpoint) since July 1, 1990.
A chemical must be listed under Proposition 653 and its implementing regulations (Section 259024) when a state or federal agency has formally required it to be labeled or identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. OEHHA is the lead agency for Proposition 65 implementation, and evaluates whether listing under Proposition 65 is required pursuant to the definitions set out in Section 25902.
Mitoxantrone hydrochloride has been identified and labeled to communicate a risk of cancer (FDA, 2012) in accordance with formal requirements by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA-approved label indicates that mitoxantrone hydrochloride therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis and in patients with cancer increases the risk of developing secondary acute myeloid leukemia (a type of cancer of the lymphohematopoietic system).
Masonry Contractor Fined $100,560 for Exposing Workers to 30 Foot Falls
Bricklayers were exposed to fall hazards as high as 30 feet above the ground while creating the exterior finish of new single-family dwellings at two work sites in Philadelphia, according to workplace safety and health citations issued against Vyacheslav Leshko, doing business as T and S Masonry, LLC. OSHA officials conducted the inspections after inspectors from the Philadelphia Department of License and Inspections made referrals to the department.
Employees of the Huntington Valley masonry contractor worked on scaffolding at elevations greater than 20 feet without the use of fall protection. The two imminent danger inspections were conducted only weeks apart in May 2014, and resulted in a proposed combined penalty totaling $100,560.
"T and S Masonry is taking unnecessary chances with worker safety by not providing fall protection for bricklayers working at heights ranging from 25 to 30 feet," said Nicholas DeJesse, director of OSHA's Philadelphia Area Office. "A fall at these heights would result in permanent disability or death."
Workers also were exposed to other scaffolding safety hazards and were not trained properly. Consequently, T and S Masonry faces $83,160 in penalties for eight alleged repeat violations, which include fall hazards related to scaffolding use. The company was previously cited for this in 2012 and 2014. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule, or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Inspectors also cited the company for five serious violations, with $17,400 in penalties, for lack of a safety and health program and hazards, including the use of corrosive cement without providing proper personal protective equipment. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
The page offers fact sheets, posters, and videos that vividly illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures.
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard (GHS)
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, safety data sheet (formerly called “material safety data sheet” or MSDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on safety data sheets.
Orlando RCRA and DOT Training
Charlotte RCRA and DOT Training
Wilmington RCRA and DOT Training
Bremer Manufacturing Co. Fined $81,900 for Death of Worker at Aluminum Foundry
A 55-year-old worker was found unresponsive in a restroom at Bremer Manufacturing Co., Inc., on May 6, 2014, and later died. The man, who had been employed at the Elkhart Lake foundry for the past 38 years, worked with resin-containing isocyanates on the sand molding line. Following an inspection OSHA found that the company failed to train workers on the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the workplace. OSHA has cited the company for one willful, one repeat, and one serious health violation.
"This inspection focused on employees who work with hazardous chemicals including a resin-containing isocyanates, which can cause employee sensitization. Even when exposure limits are below permissible levels, workers can experience health consequences, especially if they have other health risks and are exposed to chemicals on a routine basis," said Robert Bonack, OSHA's area director in Appleton. "Employers have a responsibility to train workers on the physical and health hazards of working with chemicals."
Isocyanates are the raw materials that make up all polyurethane products. Jobs that may involve exposure to isocyanates include painting, foam-blowing, and the manufacture of many polyurethane products, such as chemicals, insulation materials, surface coatings, and adhesives. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
A repeat violation was cited for failure to train employees, who were assigned to work with formaldehyde, on the chemical's physical and health hazards. The company was previously cited for this violation in 2010 at the same facility.
The company also failed to establish a written respiratory protection program, which is a serious violation of OSHA standards.
OSHA has proposed fines of $81,900.
Southern Wood Works Fined $71,069 for Exposing Workers to Safety Hazards
Southern Wood Works, LLC, was cited by OSHA for five safety violations following an August 2014 inspection at a Compass Point Way residence in Watersound, Florida. Citations were issued for failure to provide employees with fall protection equipment and exposure to falls from heights of up to 17 feet.
Since 2009, Southern Wood Works has been inspected by OSHA five times and has received six citations for safety violations.
"This employer has a history of violating OSHA standards and has shown little regard for the safety of its employees. We are still finding safety hazards identified during prior inspections and easily identifiable safety hazards, such as lack of fall protection and personal protective equipment," said Brian Sturtecky, director of OSHA's Jacksonville Office. "Turning a blind eye to unsafe acts or hazards in the workplace can lead to serious injury or death. Employers have an obligation under the law to provide a safe and healthful workplace free from known hazards."
A willful citation was issued for allowing employees to work from ladder jack scaffolds without fall protection equipment.
A repeat citation was issued for the employer's failure to ensure workers using a pneumatic nail gun wore safety glasses to protect them from flying debris or nails. Southern Wood was previously cited for this violation in 2013 at a job site in Santa Rosa Beach.
Two serious citations were issued for allowing employees to work on and under scaffolds without wearing hard hats, which exposed them to falling debris. The employer exposed workers to shock and burn hazards from dry, rotted wiring with broken insulation and failed to ensure a first aid kit was available at the work site.
AGE Industries Ltd. Exposes Workers to Struck-by, Amputation, and Electric Shock Hazards
Initiated as part of the agency's program to inspect industries with high injury and illness rates, OSHA's September inspection of the Conway facility uncovered one repeat, seven serious, and six other safety violations.
"The package manufacturing industry is already known to subject employees to high risk levels," said Carlos Reynolds, OSHA's area director in Little Rock. "By refusing to install the required equipment and make simple fixes, AGE Industries exposed its workers to unnecessary amputation and electrical hazards, which is unacceptable."
Similar violations were cited in December 2011.
Seven serious violations, with a $38,900 penalty, were cited for failure to provide correct machine guards for tube saws and glue machines and to contain live electrical wiring on an automatic pallet-wrapping machine. Six other violations, with a penalty of $1,100, were cited for improper record keeping, housekeeping, and additional electrical violations.
Good Old Days Foods Inc. Exposed Workers to Amputation, Electric Shock Hazards
These violations, 14 in total, are being cited by OSHA, along with a $47,600 penalty.
Two repeat violations, with a penalty of $14,000, were cited for worker exposure to housekeeping hazards, including ice accumulation on a freezer ceiling and floor holes on an expanded metal platform. Similar violations were cited in January 2012 at the same facility.
The company also exposed workers to electric shock hazards as they worked on machines with exposed wiring. Three other violations, with no penalty, were cited for obstructed exit routes, improper housekeeping, and using extension cords where permanent wiring was required.
"Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as amputations, burns, and crushing. Any machine part, function or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded to protect workers," said Carlos Reynolds, OSHA's area director in Little Rock. "Unguarded machines have the potential to seriously injure or kill a worker."
Septimus Inc. Fined $46,400 for Exposing Workers to Combustible Dust
OSHA has cited the company for 21 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $46,400. A complaint prompted the inspection at the facility, which processes cornstarch for use in laundry detergent and other products.
"Combustible dust can burn rapidly and explode with little warning, putting workers at risk for severe injury and death," said Thomas Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "OSHA's inspection found that Septimus used potential ignition sources, like forklifts and electrical equipment, in areas where combustible dust was present."
OSHA's April 30, 2014, inspection found workers were exposed because processing and dust collection equipment lacked protective covers. If this dust is suspended in the air in the right concentration, under certain conditions, it can become explosive. The force from such an explosion can cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of buildings. The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that led to the deaths of 119 workers, 718 injuries, and numerous extensively damaged industrial facilities.
Workers were also exposed to airborne concentrations of dust in excess of the permissible exposure limit, which can cause respiratory illness and lung disease. The company failed to implement administrative and engineering controls to reduce exposure limits.
Septimus has a contract with Tate & Lyle to extrude, dry blend, and package cornstarch. The company is owned by The Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Co. of Kansas City, Missouri.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Cited for Serious Safety Violation
A "Hair Hang Act" performance during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show on May 4 in Providence took a disastrous turn when the apparatus the performers were hanging from suddenly fell to the ground. An investigation by OSHA has determined this incident occurred because the carabiner used to support the performers failed from being improperly loaded. The failure resulted in the eight employees performing the act falling more than 15 feet to the ground and sustaining serious injuries. A ninth employee, working on the ground, was struck by falling employees.
In violation of industry practice and the carabiner manufacturer's instructions, the company improperly loaded the carabiner by attaching two pear-shaped steel rings to the bottom of the carabiner, with each steel ring having three wire cables running from it to the corners of the rigging apparatus. This created a tri-axial loading situation as opposed to the proper loading situation where the carabiner is loaded only at two points along its major axis. This improper manner of loading resulted in the carabiner being overloaded, causing the carabiner to fail and having all eight employees attached to the rigging fall to the ground.
"This catastrophic failure by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clearly demonstrates that the circus industry needs a systematic design approach for the structures used in performances—approaches that are developed, evaluated, and inspected by professional engineers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "While the $7,000 penalty is the maximum allowable by law, we can never put a price on the impact this event had on these workers and their families. Employers must take steps to ensure this does not happen again."
Jeffrey Erskine, acting deputy regional administrator in OSHA's New England regional office, said, "Equipment failures can lead to tragic results. To prevent these types of incidents, employers need to not only ensure that the right equipment is being used, but also that it is being used properly. The safety and well-being of employees depend on it."
Holder Construction Co. and OSHA Partner to Protect Workers on DuPont CH2 Data Center Project
The Illinois Department of Labor and several local unions are part of the agreement.
These hazards are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.
"Our focus is to forge a working relationship that will prevent serious workplace construction hazards and establish a foundation for the development of an effective safety and health program at the site," said Angie Loftus, OSHA's area director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines.
The partnership aims to meet these goals through increased training, implementation of best work practices, creation of site-specific written safety and health programs and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations.
The DuPont CH2 project consists of a 334,000-square-foot data center. The project is expected to reach completion in late 2015, and may employ up to 12 subcontractors with 400 tradesmen on-site during construction.
The OSHA partnership has been developed jointly with the general contractor Holder Construction Co.; OSHA; the Illinois Department of Labor's Illinois On-site Safety and Health Consultation; Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134; United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners Local 839; Laborers International Union of North America Local 118; Pipefitters Local Union 597; International Association of Iron Workers Local 1; International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150; and International Association of Sheet Metal Workers Local 73.
As part of the agreement, all contractors and subcontractors on the project will be required to have specific written safety and health programs in place and each employee must attend a job site safety orientation before working on the site.
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