Archive for News
Three workers injured as explosion rocks Mazda’s Hiroshima factory
The Japan Times Online — A blast early Saturday morning rocked Mazda Motor Corp.'s factory in the city of Hiroshima, injuring three workers, the city's fire department reported.To the rescue: Fire trucks converge at Mazda Motor Corp.'s plant in the city of Hiroshima after an explosion injured three workers at the facility in the early hours of Saturday morning. KYODOThe fire department said it was alerted by a phone call around 1:55 a.m., informing it that three people had sustained injuries Read more [...]
Mystery Game App Has Hidden Safety Message
U.K. gas distributor, Northern Gas Networks, has
developed a free game app that challenges players to solve a mystery to learn
how a student met his demise. But the game has a hidden safety message.
The player of iCOP
takes the role of crime solver tasked with cracking the case. Exploring the
student’s apartment, players will search for clues, but taking too long may
result in lightheadedness.
Make Safety Your Sweetheart with the ASSE Foundation
Last year, the ASSE Foundation gave nearly
$180,000 in scholarships and grants. The awards program has grown every year
since 1990. This year on Sweetest Day, Oct. 20, we want you to make safety your
sweetheart. There are many ways to partner with the ASSE Foundation:
The Safety Matters Fund is
our big-picture fund, aimed at building a culture of safety upheld
around the globe by a
Winter Workers: Enter the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest
Cintas Corp. is relaunching its Cold Crew Contest to recognize workers in the U.S. and Canada who withstand tough winter working conditions. Contestants should submit their story and tell how their Carhartt workwear plays an essential part in their jobs. Entries will be accepted until Feb. 28, 2013, and winners will receive free merchandise and a grand-prize trip for two to the 2013 CMA Music
Best Practices for Miners
Six coal miners and five metal/nonmetal miners died in
work-related accidents from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2012, according to MSHA.
Although mining deaths and injuries have reached historic lows, more has to be
done to prevent fatalities, says MSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor Joseph
Main. “Workplace examinations for hazards, pre-shift and on-shift, can identify
and eliminate hazards that kill
Japanese first responders to wear robotic exoskeletons
Since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011, the Japanese government has been testing robotics technologies to help deal with future accidents. The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exoskeleton, developed by the University of Tsukuba spin-off Cyberdyne, is being considered for first responders... Continue Reading Japanese first responders to wear robotic exoskeletons Read more [...]
Six Tips to Reduce Pain When Using an iPad
Spending hours using an iPad or other tablet can cause neck
and shoulder problems, according to experts at the Harvard School of Public
Health. A simple shift in viewing angle can change everything, according to a
recent report
from Harvard Health Letter, which offers tips for preventing pain when
using a tablet or computer.
Holding a tablet computer too low, say on the lap, forces
the neck to
Report Shows Top Cause of Home Fires Is Cooking Equipment
A report conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Fire Administration shows that from 2008 to 2010, an estimated 40% of residential fires were caused by cooking equipment. In addition, home heating and cooling equipment was a leading cause of fire fatalities in the home. CPSC urges all consumers to install smoke alarms on every level of their homes, and to create and
Portland firefighters train for confined space rescues – safety response team to meeting an OSHA requirement.
Portland firefighters concluded four days of confined space training on Monday, studying techniques for safely removing victims from inside tanks, manholes and other hard-to-reach spaces. The training allows businesses in Portland to list the city's fire department as a trained safety response team, something the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires of businesses that have people working in and around confined spaces.Please read on at: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Portland-firefighters-train-for-confined-space-rescues.html Read more [...]
New MSHA Resource Provides Compliance Assistance for Machine Guarding
To help address the commonly cited violation of improper machine guarding, MSHA has created the "Guarding Machinery at Metal and Nonmetal Mines" compliance assistance resource. The new resources is a sequel to a compliance guide for guarding conveyor belts, MSHA says.
MSHA Administrator Joseph Main says that the new guide will help in three ways, "to improve the mining industry’s understanding
Government Fellowships for Graduates
Attention recent graduates
with advanced degrees: The Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) Program, a
federal government leadership development program, is seeking recently
graduated advanced degree candidates for employment with the government. PMF’s 2013 application
period will be open from Nov. 5-19, 2012. The entire application process,
including submission of all necessary documents, must be
ASSE Foundation Fellowship Program
The ASSE Foundation is pleased to announce the 2013 Liberty
Mutual Fellowship Program available to individuals with a doctoral degree, or
those working towards a master’s or doctorate. The goal of the program is:
To encourage research activity in the field of safety;
to familiarize graduate students, faculty members and other
researchers with current research projects and up-to-date
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) annual kids’ Safety on the Job poster contest is open for entries through Feb. 14, 2013.
EHS Today Now in its eleventh year, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) annual kids’ Safety on the Job poster contest is open for entries through Feb. 14, 2013. The contest, which accepts entries from kids ranging in age from 5 to14, aims to impart to children the importance of workplace safety. Last year, a record 2,300, entries were received from the United States and 11 other countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Columbia, Greece, Japan, Kuwait, Read more [...]
Chevron Refinery Fire: Corrosion Linked To 2011 Incident
SAN FRANCISCO — Corrosion that went unchecked – the suspected cause of a fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery in August – has been linked to a fire at the plant in October 2011, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday ().http://bit.ly/OzFQcuAccording to state inspection documents obtained by The Chronicle, a state Division of Occupational Safety and Health inspector who investigated the smaller 2011 fire documented allegations from two workers of corrosion at the refinery.The 2011 Read more [...]
Greenwood: EPA leaves Superfund site 27 years after fatal disaster
Twenty-seven years after an explosion and fire killed more than half the workers at a chemical plant near the village center, there's finally some good news out of Greenwood. The federal government has handed control over the Superfund site to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Please continue reading at: http://www.readthehook.com/107511/27-years-later-greenwood-superfund-site-moves Read more [...]
EPA Worried Dilbit Still a Threat to Kalamazoo River, More Than 2 Years After Spill
The hidden, long-term effects of the 2010 pipeline accident that spilled more than a million gallons of heavy Canadian crude oil into Michigan's Kalamazoo River became public last week when the EPA revealed that large amounts of oil are still accumulating in three areas of the river. Please continue reading at: http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20121011/epa-dilbit-enbridge-6b-pipeline-ka... Read more [...]
TEPCO Admits It Could Have Prevented Fukushima Disaster by implementing certain safety procedures
TEPCO, the Japanese utility in charge of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that melted down last year, admitted on Friday that the disaster could have been averted. So why did it fail to act accordingly? Fear...The utility said it could have done more to prevent the earthquake and tsunami-triggered disaster that became the world’s most severe nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown. TEPCO said it knew that it had to improve safety procedures at Fukushima before the 9.0-magnitude earthquake Read more [...]
NIOSH and OSHA Publish Nail Gun Safety in Spanish
NIOSH
and OSHA have issued “Seguridad con las
pistolas de clavos: Guía para los contratistas del sector de la construcción,” a
publication on workplace safety for nail gun users. In addition to practical advice for
contractors, stories on actual nail gun incidents are also included in the
guide. It is available through both NIOSH and OSHA.
BLS Reports Fewer Fatalities in 2011
The BLS recorded a preliminary total of 4,609 U.S. fatal work injuries in 2011, down from the 4,690 work fatalities recorded in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2011 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, as compared to a final rate of 3.6 per 100,000 for 2010. Other key
Korea: Chemicals under closer watch after chemical disaster Gumi,
nexreg - This article is brought to you by the Korea Times regarding the transportation of hazardous chemicals over 1 ton. Manufacturers and importers of more than 1 ton of chemicals deemed to pose risks to people and the environment will be obliged to report them to the government every two years, the Ministry of Environment said Tuesday. In addition, those involved in the production, sale and circulation of unregistered chemicals will face a jail term of up to five years and a fine of Read more [...]
Cleanup of hazardous chemicals in Slinger completed
Slinger - Federal emergency response contractors removed the last of several thousand gallons of hazardous chemicals Tuesday from an abandoned metal plating factory in the village, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official said...."After today, all of the hazardous chemical liquids will be gone from the building," said Verneta Simon, an on-scene coordinator with the EPA's Superfund program in Chicago.An estimated 3,400 gallons of metal plating waste and other liquids were pumped into a Read more [...]
Working Group to Begin Latest Revisions to ICAO Technical Instructions
This week sees the start of the new ICAO TI revision biennium! The 2013 regulations haven’t hit our collective desks yet and the ICAO experts are sitting down to talk about the next set of changes coming in 2015. Don’t … Continue reading → Read more [...]
S. Korea labels chemical leak area ‘disaster’ zone
The South Korean government on Monday designated an area hit by a toxic chemical leak as a “special disaster” zone, after more than 3,000 people were treated for ailments ranging from nausea to chest pain.
Please continue reading at:
PHMSA Publishes Editorial Corrections and Clarifications Rule
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule today that incorporates a host of minor amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The “RRR” designation in the final rule description indicates that the rule was developed … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Legionnaires’ Disease and Risk Management
With
two fatal outbreaks in major cities over the last 6 months (Quebec and Chicago),
legionnaires’ disease is not to be taken lightly. In fact, the CDC estimates
that each year between 8,000-18,000 people are hospitalized with legionnaires’
disease in the U.S.; however, this number may be significantly higher since
up to 75% of infections are not diagnosed or reported. Legionella are a
common
Can Your Business Answer "Yes" to These Fire Safety Questions?
In honor of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13), Cintas Corp. is providing safety and facility managers with a list of questions their businesses should ask–and be able to answer "yes" to–to ensure they are prepared for a fire.
1) Is there a written program regarding fire safety?
A written program provides an organized plan for safe procedures, customized to a facility. This should include
What’s New in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has released an overview of changes included in the newest edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), Amendment 36-12. The document, produced by Exis Technologies, details changes to: Stowage and Segregation Sources … Continue reading → Read more [...]
CBO – S. 847, Safe Chemicals Act – chemical manufacturers to prove substances are safe before they enter the marketplace.
S. 847 would modify the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the law that regulates the manufacture, importation, and processing of chemicals, with the aim of shifting the burden from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to chemical manufacturers to prove that substances are safe before they enter the marketplace. This new responsibility for chemical manufacturers would be accomplished primarily by increasing the amount of information about chemical toxicity and usage that they would be required Read more [...]
Fraudulent OSHA credentials used in hazardous waste safety training in Gulf Cleanup. Defrauded more than 1,000 individuals throughout the Eastern District of Louisiana.
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, many fisheries were closed, causing many fishermen in the Gulf region to seek other sources of employment, including as oil spill clean-up personnel. All clean-up personnel were required to receive hazardous waste safety training before working in contaminated areas due to dangers from the oil itself and clean-up materials. Today, a 22-count federal indictment was unsealed in federal court in New Orleans charging Connie M. Knight, 46, with impersonating Read more [...]
OSHA Finalizes Major Changes to Hazard Communication Standard to GHS (But help is here :)
OSHA has finalized a rule revising its hazard communication standard to align it with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The change will affect more than five million US businesses. This standard was developed more than 30 years ago. OSHA’s final rule makes three significant changes to the current standard. The first two affect chemical manufacturers directly. The third, impacts any employer in the country using hazardous chemicals Read more [...]
NFPA Offering Free Combustible Dust Webinar Oct. 11 — via @OccHealthSafety
The National Fire Protection Association is now registering attendees for a free webinar about 2013 NFPA 654 and combustible dust hazard assessment that will be presented from 12:30 to 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 11 by a well-known expert on the topic: Guy Colonna, division manager for the Industrial & Chemical Engineering -- Hazardous Chemical & Materials Department at NFPA.He'll be discussing the 2013 edition of NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Read more [...]
Transferring Flammable/Combustible Materials Safely
Newson Gale has published a white paper that provides detailed,practical guidelines to ensure safe transfer of flammable or combustible products to or from tanker trucks or similar mobile equipment. Titled “Achieving Safe Tanker Truck Loading / Unloading,” this free paper informs readers on how high-voltage electric charges can be generated when some liquids or powders come into contact with...Please read full and follow at:http://americansocietyofsafetyengineers.blogspot.com/2012/09/transferring-flammablecombustible.html Read more [...]
BP Products North America to Improve Spill Response Preparedness at Oil Terminals Nationwide / Compa
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that BP Products North America, Inc. will pay a $210,000 penalty and implement an enhanced oil spill response program at its oil terminals nationwide, as well as a comprehensive compliance audit to resolve alleged violations of oil spill response regulations at its Curtis Bay Terminal in MdPlease continue reading at:http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/F718E086E414E5E085257A860067BE4B Read more [...]
Survey Shows Workers Avoiding Eye Protection
Chemical burns, blindness and scrapes are just a few the hazards workers face while not
using PPE on the job. Despite these grave risks, 85% of industrial workers in a
recent Kimberly-Clark Professional survey said they had observed others failing
to wear eye protection when they should have been. "The results are very
disconcerting when you consider that 90% of eye injuries can be
prevented
Alarming that 13 people a day are dying from work related injuries… where is the concern?
With the recent release of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary results of the national census of fatal occupational injuries report showing 4,609 people died from on-the-job injuries in the U.S. in 2011, American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Richard A. Pollock, CSP, said people should be concerned. “It is alarming that 13 people a day are dying from work related injuries. This is a serious problem that we find unacceptable,” Pollock said following the September Read more [...]
Susan Harwood grant to fund training in Hazard Communication Standard 2012
OSHA Training Institute Southwest Education Center has received a $120,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to provide training about changes to the Hazard Communication Standard 2012. The funding will allow TEEX to offer a 4-hour training course for workers in high-hazards industries with high-fatality rates. The training will help employers comply with the revised standard, which adopts the GHS (Global Harmonized System of Classification Read more [...]
EPA Challenge to Increase Recycling of Used Electronics
EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge aims to change the way people think about protective electronics refurbishing and recycling practices and make them the industry standard. As the amount of used electronics increases, the importance of managing and recycling those electronics increases, as well.
Through the challenge, EPA reports, industry leaders are committing
Transferring Flammable/Combustible Materials Safely
Newson Gale has published a white paper that provides detailed,
practical guidelines to ensure safe transfer of flammable or combustible products
to or from tanker trucks or similar mobile equipment. Titled “Achieving Safe Tanker Truck Loading / Unloading,” this
free paper informs readers on how high-voltage electric charges can be generated
when some liquids or powders come into contact with
Organizations Recognized for Their Efforts in Green Power
EPA has honored several organizations for their achievements in using renewable electricity or green power. The agency reports that electricity is the single-largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions and green power can immensely help reduce those emissions and improve community health. EPA defines green power as "electricity generated from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal,
Scholarships and Grants From the ASSE Foundation
The ASSE Foundation proudly announces its “2013
Scholarship & Professional Education Grant Program. ” Thanks to our generous donors, we are providing over $180,000 in scholarships and grants to students pursuing EHS degrees and to ASSE members and professionals working to advance their credentials. To apply visit: http://www.asse.org/foundation/application/. Applications are due Dec.1, 2012
