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Selasa, 17 Januari 2012

OSHA Urges An Injury & Illness Prevention Programs

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a white paper urging that States implement injury and illness prevention programs. Citing statistics of the consequences of industrial accidents and injuries, as well as the benefits of the implementation of a program, OSHA recommends the implementation of a programs.

Click here to read the OSHA White Paper on Injury & Illness Prevention Programs

Conclusions

Despite the combined efforts of employers, workers, unions, safety professionals and regulators, more than 4,500 workers lose their lives and more than four million are seriously injured each year. Tens of thousands more die or are incapacitated because of occupational illnesses including many types of cancer and lung disease. The human toll from this loss is incalculable and the economic toll is enormous.
Many employers in the U.S. have been slow to adopt a workplace "safety culture" that emphasizes planning and carrying out work in the safest way possible.
Injury and illness prevention programs are based on proven managerial concepts that have been widely used in industry to bring about improvements in quality, environment and safety, and health performance. Effective injury and illness prevention programs emphasize top-level ownership of the program, participation by employees, and a "find and fix" approach to workplace hazards.
Injury and illness prevention programs need not be resource-intensive and can be adapted to meet the needs of any size organization.

OSHA believes that adoption of injury and illness prevention programs based on simple, sound, proven principles will help millions of U.S. businesses improve their compliance with existing laws and regulations, decrease the incidence of workplace injuries and illnesses, reduce costs (including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums) and enhance their overall business operations.

Rabu, 16 November 2011

Great American Smokeout --- November 17, 2011

The Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, is an annual event that encourages smokers to quit for at least 1 day in the hope they will be encouraged to stop permanently (1). The 36th annual event will be held on November 17, 2011.

Approximately two out of three smokers want to quit, and 52.4% of current adult smokers tried to quit within the past year (2). Health-care providers should routinely identify smokers and other tobacco users, advise them to quit, and assist those trying to quit (3). Getting help (e.g., through counseling or medication) can double or triple the chances for quitting (3).

Since 2002, the number of former smokers in the United States has exceeded the number of current smokers (3). But 19.3% of U.S. adults (about 45.3 million) still smoke. Additional information and free support for quitting is available online (http://www.smokefree.gov) or by telephone (800-QUIT-NOW [800-784-8669]; TTY: 800-332-8615).

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Million Hearts initiative, aimed at preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. An estimated 26% of heart attacks and 12%--19% of strokes are attributable to smoking. Additional information is available at http://millionhearts.hhs.gov.

References

American Cancer Society. Great American Smokeout. Available at http://www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/greatamericansmokeout. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2011. Accessed November 3, 2011.
CDC. Quitting smoking among adults---United States, 2001--2010. MMWR 2011;60:1513--19.
Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Clinical practice guideline. Treating tobacco use and dependence: 2008 update. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; 2008. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/treating_tobacco_use08.pdf . Accessed November 3, 2011.

Kamis, 06 Oktober 2011

WHO Urges Worldwide Asbestos Ban: Mesothelioma Rates Surge

The World Health Organization urges a worldwide ban on asbestos productions, as deaths from mesothelioma continue to escalate:

"In conclusion, malignant mesothelioma remains a rare form of cancer but the disease is on the rise, probably due to the spread of asbestos use over past decades. Our analysis shows that the disease burden is still predominantly borne by the developed world. However, since asbestos use has recently increased in developing countries, a corresponding shift in disease occurrence is anticipated. Our analysis of the global mortality pattern suggests that there are early indications of this shift and lends support to the call by international organizations to eliminate asbestos-related diseases and discontinue the use of asbestos throughout the world."

Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2011;89:716-724C. doi: 10.2471/BLT.11.086678

Selasa, 13 September 2011

Acetone Explosion Results in $917,000 OSHA Fine for Bostik Inc.

US Labor Department’s OSHA cites 50 safety violations, proposes $917,000 in fines against Bostik Inc. following Middleton, Mass., explosion

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Bostik Inc. for 50 alleged violations of workplace safety standards following a March 13 explosion at the company's Middleton plant in which four workers were injured. The adhesives manufacturer faces a total of $917,000 in proposed fines.

OSHA's inspection identified several serious deficiencies in the company's process safety management program, a detailed set of requirements and procedures employers must follow to proactively address hazards associated with processes and equipment that involve large amounts of hazardous chemicals. In this case, the chemical was acetone, used in a PSM-covered process known as direct solvation. On the day of the explosion, a valve on a transfer line inadvertently was left open, resulting in the release of flammable acetone vapors. The vapors exploded after being ignited by an undetermined source.

"The requirements of OSHA's PSM standard are stringent and comprehensive because the stakes are so high," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "Failure to evaluate, anticipate, address and prevent hazardous conditions associated with a process can result in a catastrophic incident such as an explosion."

"In this case, Bostik knew from prior third party and internal compliance audits conducted at the plant that aspects of its PSM program were incomplete or inadequate, and misclassified electrical equipment was in use. The company did not take adequate steps to address those conditions," said Jeffrey A. Erskine, OSHA's area director for northeastern Massachusetts. "Luckily, the explosion happened when there were few workers in the plant. Otherwise, this incident could have resulted in a catastrophic loss of life."

Specifically, OSHA found that the process safety information for the solvation process was incomplete. The employer's analysis of hazards related to the process did not address previous incidents with a potential for catastrophic results, such as forklifts that struck process equipment, and did not address human factors such as operator error, communication between shift changes and employee fatigue from excessive overtime. In addition, the company did not ensure that a forklift and electrical equipment, such as a light fixture, switches and a motor, were approved for use in Class 1 hazardous locations where flammable gases or vapors are present.

As a result, OSHA has issued Bostik nine willful citations, with $630,000 in proposed fines, for these conditions. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

Bostik Inc. also has been issued 41 serious citations, with $287,000 in fines, for a range of other conditions, including an incomplete and deficient emergency response plan, inadequate training for employees required to fight fires, obstructed exit access and electrical hazards, and additional PSM deficiencies. 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 Bostik Inc. citations are available at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Bostik_Inc_315298281.pdf andhttp://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Bostik_Inc_315298307.pdf.

Detailed information on process safety management is available athttp://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html and http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=166.

Bostik Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Andover Area Office; telephone 978-837-4460.

To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Kamis, 08 September 2011

OSHA Cites Manufacturers and Distributors of Formaldehyde Hair Products

Companies failed to protect workers, warn product users of hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited two Florida manufacturers and two Florida-based distributors of hair products containing formaldehyde for 16 health violations involving alleged failures to protect their employees from possible formaldehyde exposure and to communicate with the products' users, such as salons and stylists, about the hazards of formaldehyde exposure. Proposed penalties for the companies total $49,200.

"Employers are responsible for identifying the risks associated with producing and using these hair products, as well as for taking appropriate measures to ensure that they protect their own employees and other workers who may be using their products, such as stylists, from any potential hazards," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator in Atlanta.

OSHA's inspections were initiated based on a referral by Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Division, which tested more than 100 product samples at 50 salons using hair smoothing or straightening products. Some products causing formaldehyde exposure were traced back to the Florida manufacturers and distributors. Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and nose, and cause coughing and wheezing. It is a sensitizer, which means that it can cause allergic reactions of the lungs, skin and eyes, such as asthma, rashes and itching. It also has been linked to cancer.

Both M&M International Inc. in Delray Beach, a distributor of the straightening hair product "Marcia Teixeira," and Copomon Enterprises in Boca Raton, a distributor of the keratin-based hair product "Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy," have been cited for three serious violations and fined $12,600 each for failing to ensure that material safety data sheets reflected the content of formaldehyde in the products or the hazards associated with formaldehyde exposure, as well as for failing to develop a written hazard communication program for their own employees. 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.

Pro Skin Solutions Inc. in Orlando, a manufacturer of keratin-based products used for hair straightening, has been cited for five serious violations with penalties of $15,000. Violations include failing to establish a written respiratory protection plan, provide an emergency eyewash station, develop appropriate procedures to protect employees in the event of an emergency and develop or implement a written hazard communication program. The company also failed to address formaldehyde exposure and inhalation hazards, including possible cancer-causing effects, on material safety data sheets for the formaldehyde-containing products.

Additionally, Pro Skin Solutions has been cited for two other-than-serious violations with no monetary penalties for failing to maintain air sampling records and provide written procedures for evaluating chemical hazards. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Keratronics Inc. in Coral Springs, a manufacturer of keratin-based products used for hair straightening, has been cited for three serious violations with penalties of $9,000 for failing to provide an eyewash station for employees using corrosive products, evaluate the hazards of keratin-based products for development of the material safety data sheets, and develop or maintain a written hazard communication program on handling chemicals such as timonacic acid, formalin, acetic acid and hydrolyzed keratin.

All manufacturers, importers and distributers are required by OSHA standards to identify formaldehyde on any product that contains more than 0.1 percent formaldehyde, either as a gas or in a solution that can release formaldehyde at concentrations greater than 0.1 part per million. The material safety data sheet that comes with the product also must include this information, as well as explain why the chemical is hazardous, what harm it can cause, what protective measures should be taken and what to do in an emergency. The sheets are used by employers to determine products' potential health hazards and methods to prevent worker exposure.

Federal OSHA issued a hazard alert earlier this year to hair salon owners and employees about potential formaldehyde exposure resulting from working with some hair smoothing and straightening products. It can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/hazard_alert.html.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning letter to GIB LLC in North Hollywood, Calif., doing business as Brazilian Blowout, concerning misbranding relating to formaldehyde. That letter is available at http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm270809.htm.

Keratronics, M&M International and Copomon Enterprises were inspected by OSHA's Fort Lauderdale Area Office, 1000 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33324; telephone 954-424-0242. Pro Skin Solutions was inspected by OSHA's Tampa Area Office, located at 5807 Breckenridge Parkway, Suite A, Tampa, Fla. 33610; telephone 813-626-1177. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Kamis, 18 Agustus 2011

NIOSH to Propose New Criteria for Diacetyl Exposure

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) invites public comment on a draft document, "Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione.”

For public review and comment, the draft document summarizes current scientific knowledge about the occupational safety and health implications of the food flavorings diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, and recommends occupational exposure limits and measures for controlling work related exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, based on the current state of knowledge.

The draft document is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/review/docket245/default.html for written public comment until Oct. 14, 2011. NIOSH will also hold a public meeting to discuss and obtain comments on Aug. 26, 2011, in Washington D.C.

"Occupational exposure to diacetyl has been associated with severe obstructive lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans, and decrease in lung function," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "NIOSH has provided over a decade of research and leadership in this important scientific area. In addition to the recommended exposure limits (RELs), this draft document provides for public comment a comprehensive review of scientific literature, a quantitative risk assessment, and valuable guidance to reduce occupational exposures to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione. We invite public comment on the draft Criteria Document to help us develop final recommendations."

The draft document includes, for comment:
For Diacetyl, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 5 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. To further protect against effects of short-term exposures, NIOSH recommends in the draft document a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for diacetyl of 25 ppb for a 15-minute time period.

For 2,3-pentanedione, a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 9.3 parts per billion (ppb) as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, (TWA) during a 40-hour work week. The REL for 2,3-pentanedione in the draft document is based upon the lowest level at which the substance reliably can be detected using the existing analytical method, and should not be misconstrued to imply that 2,3-pentanedione is of lower toxicity than diacetyl. Further, NIOSH recommends a STEL of 31 ppb to limit peak exposures for 2,3-pentanedione on the same basis of analytic method limitation.

Rabu, 06 Juli 2011

OSHA To Focus on Infections in the Workplace

OSHA schedules meetings to
discuss occupational exposure to infectious diseases

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled two informal stakeholder meetings to solicit comments on exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace. OSHA will use information gathered during these meetings to explore the possible development of a proposed rule to protect workers from occupational exposure to infectious agents in healthcare settings where direct patient care is provided and other settings where workers perform tasks with occupational exposure. Both meetings are scheduled for July 29 in Washington, D.C.

On May 6, 2010, OSHA published a Request for Information on Infectious Diseases. OSHA wanted to gather comments on strategies that are currently used to reduce the risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents, and to more accurately distinguish the nature and extent of occupationally-acquired infectious diseases. Based on responses received and an ongoing review of literature on this subject, OSHA is considering development of a proposed program standard to control worker exposures to infectious agents.

"We know that workers in healthcare and related facilities may be exposed to infectious agents, and they deserve to be protected," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Information gained from these meetings will help us determine the best approach to assure that workers don’t put themselves at risk while caring for patients and doing their job. After all, a good job is a healthy and safe job."

The two meetings will be held July 29, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N-4437, Washington, DC 20210. To participate in one of the stakeholder meetings, or be a nonparticipating observer, individuals must submit a notice of intent electronically, by facsimile or by hard copy no later than July 22. See the Federal Register notice for details.

Meeting discussions will focus on issues including the advantages and disadvantages of using a program standard to limit occupational exposure to infectious diseases; whether and to what extent an OSHA standard should require employers to develop a written worker infection control plan that documents how employers will implement infection control measures to protect workers; and whether and to what extent OSHA should take alternative approaches to rulemaking to improve compliance with current infection control guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other authoritative agencies.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

Jumat, 27 Mei 2011

Top 10 Surgery Center Violations

A recent report reveals that 1 out of 2 surgical centers have serious health safety violations. Workmens comp insurance carriers, as well as others, rely heavily upon these centers for surgery since they are less costly to operate than hospitals.

The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, (NJDHQI) reviewed state violations in a program funded by a Federal grant. NJDHQI published a report noting that more than 25% of the surgery centers were cited for "Immediate Jeopardy," which is a violation defined as noncompliance with established rules that has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury, impairment or death to a patient.

The top violations were:

Staff members walked through the sterile operating room in street clothes
The surgery center did not have mandated emergency equipment and medicines on site
The surgery centers had no system to track controlled and regulated medications on site
Physicians and staff did not have current licenses and credentials
The patient beds and floors were not sanitized correctly
Surgical instruments were not cleaned or sanitized correctly
The staff filled out patient charts in advance for convenience
Single use items were used more then once on a patient
The facility did not maintain an ongoing infection control program
The surgery center failed to obtain consent from patients prior to permitting physician residents in an educational program participate in their surgeries.

Click here to read the report.

Occupational Safety Recognized as One of the Top Ten Great Health Achievements

During the 20th century, life expectancy at birth among U.S. residents increased by 62%, from 47.3 years in 1900 to 76.8 in 2000, and unprecedented improvements in population health status were observed at every stage of life (1). In 1999, MMWR published a series of reports highlighting 10 public health achievements that contributed to those improvements. This report assesses advances in public health during the first 10 years of the 21st century. Public health scientists at CDC were asked to nominate noteworthy public health achievements that occurred in the United States during 2001--2010.

Occupational Safety

Significant progress was made in improving working conditions and reducing the risk for workplace-associated injuries. For example, patient lifting has been a substantial cause of low back injuries among the 1.8 million U.S. health-care workers in nursing care and residential facilities. In the late 1990s, an evaluation of a best practices patient-handling program that included the use of mechanical patient-lifting equipment demonstrated reductions of 66% in the rates of workers' compensation injury claims and lost workdays and documented that the investment in lifting equipment can be recovered in less than 3 years (45). Following widespread dissemination and adoption of these best practices by the nursing home industry, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed a 35% decline in low back injuries in residential and nursing care employees between 2003 and 2009.

The annual cost of farm-associated injuries among youth has been estimated at $1 billion annually (46). A comprehensive childhood agricultural injury prevention initiative was established to address this problem. Among its interventions was the development by the National Children's Center for Rural Agricultural Health and Safety of guidelines for parents to match chores with their child's development and physical capabilities. Follow-up data have demonstrated a 56% decline in youth farm injury rates from 1998 to 2009 (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, unpublished data, 2011).

In the mid-1990s, crab fishing in the Bering Sea was associated with a rate of 770 deaths per 100,000 full-time fishers. Most fatalities occurred when vessels overturned because of heavy loads. In 1999, the U.S. Coast Guard implemented Dockside Stability and Safety Checks to correct stability hazards. Since then, one vessel has been lost and the fatality rate among crab fishermen has declined to 260 deaths per 100,000 full-time fishers.

Reported by: Domestic Public Health Achievements Team, CDC. Corresponding contributor: Ram Koppaka, MD, PhD, Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, CDC; rkoppaka@cdc.gov, 347-396-2847.

Rabu, 11 Mei 2011

Recommendations Released for Use of Spirometry in the Occupational Setting

The Occupational and Environmental Lung Disorders Committee of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has published a report making recommendations equipment performance (Specifications,Validation, Accuracy and Error Avoidance); how to conduct tests; comparing results with reference vales; and evaluating results over time.

Click here for the Complete Report: http://tinyurl.com/6h8pqkk

Selasa, 26 April 2011

Workers Memorial Day - April 28th

Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or diseased because of their jobs. The unions of the AFL-CIO remember these workers on April 28, Workers Memorial Day.

The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at worksites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning.

Selasa, 29 Maret 2011

Symposium on Prevention of Occupationally-Related Distracted Driving

Distracted driving (including texting while driving and cell phone use) is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes. Many workers may be distracted while performing work-related driving or during vehicle operations. Reducing distracted work-related driving and increasing awareness of the risk to employees that result from distracted driving is an important mission for safety and health professionals, employers and employees. This Symposium is designed to bring together a variety of stakeholder groups who are interested in reducing work-related driving distractions and generate recommendations for action, including new directions for research. This Symposium will include didactic presentations, interactive discussions and opportunities for networking, and demonstrations of training materials.

Monday, April 18, 2011

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Kossiakoff Conference Center

11100 Johns Hopkins Road

Laurel, Maryland 20723

1-800-548-3647

8:30 - 9:00 am:
Registration and continental breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 am:
Welcome and Review of the Agenda
Mary Doyle, MPH,RN, COHN-S/CM
Director, ERC Continuing Education Program
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Meeting Moderator

9:15 - 9:30 am:
Mission of the Symposium and Call to Action
Christine Branche, PhD
Principal Associate Director
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

9:30 - 9:50 am:
U.S. DOT Perspective on Distracted Driving
Peter Appel
Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Department of Transportation

9:50 - 10:10 am:
OSHA’s Perspective on Distracted Driving
David Michaels, PhD, MPH
Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA
Department of Labor

10:10 - 10:40 am:
What Does the Research Tell Us?
Jeffrey S. Hickman, PhD
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Center for Truck and Bus Safety
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

10:40 - 11:00 am:
Audience Q & A/Feedback for morning sessions

11:00 – 11:15 am
Break and Networking

11:15 - 12:00 pm:
Panel Discussion: Elements of Model Programs: Implementation Challenges
Moderator: Jack Hanley
Executive Director
Network of Employers for Traffic Safety

Panelists:

Joseph Van Houten, PhD, CSP
Senior Director, Worldwide EHS
Johnson & Johnson

Tom Bennett
SH&E/OIMS Advisor, Fuels Marketing
Downstream & Chemical SSH&E

Amy Lokken, ARM
Group Director, North American Health & Safety
Coca-Cola Refreshments

David Hopps
Vice President, Risk Management Operations & Environment, Safety & Health
ServiceMaster

12:00 – 12:15 pm:
Audience Discussion and Feedback on Model Programs Panel

12:15 - 1:15 pm:
Lunch (provided on-site)

1:15 - 2:00 pm:
Panel Discussion: In-vehicle Technology to Address Distracted Driving
Moderator: Peter Appel
Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Department of Transportation

Panelists:

Eric Collins, JD
Chief Operations Officer
Mobile Posse

Michael Petricone, JD
Senior VP, Government Affairs
Consumer Electronics Association

2:00 - 2:15 pm
Audience Discussion and Feedback on In-Vehicle Technology Panel

2:15 - 3:00 pm:
Panel Discussion: Worker Perspectives
Moderator: James August, MPH
Health and Safety Consultant

Panelists:

LaMont Byrd
Director, Safety and Health Department
International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Rich Duffy
Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine
International Association of Fire Fighters – AFL/CIO

Ed Watt, MS
Director of Health and Safety
Transportation Workers Union of America

3:00 - 3:15 pm
Audience Discussion and Feedback on Workers’ Perspective Panel

3:15 - 3:45 pm:
Facilitated Discussion with Audience
Leslie Nickels, PhD, MEd
Senior Health Communications Fellow
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

3:45 - 4:00 pm:
Closing
Mary Doyle, Meeting Moderator

4:00 - 5:00 pm:

Reception (on site)

Registration: http://www.jhsph.edu/erc/distracted-driving.html

Jumat, 25 Maret 2011

Grizzly Bear Attack Does Not Deter Benefits Even Though Employee Was Using Marjuana

The Montana Supreme Court ordered the Uninsured Fund to pay workers' compensation benefits to an employee who was mauled by an grizzly bear even, though the worker was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident.

The Court held that the marjuana was not a major contributing cause of the employee's injuries.

"Non-prescription drug consumption will preclude an injured employee’s benefits if consumption was the leading cause contributing to the result, when compared to all othersSection 39-71-407(4), and -407(13), MCA. No evidence was presented regarding Hopkins’ level of impairment. The WCC [Workers' Compensation Court] aptly noted, “Hopkins’ use of marijuana to kick off a day of working around grizzly bears was ill-advised to say the least and mind-bogglingly stupid to say the most.” However, the WCC further noted that grizzlies are “equal opportunity maulers,” without regard to marijuana consumption. Without evidence of Hopkins’ level of impairment, the WCC correctly concluded that marijuana was not the major contributing cause of Hopkins’ injuries."

The majority of states permit the payment of workers' compensation benefits where the use was not the sole cause of the accident. Usually Uninsured Funds are able to obtain reimbursement directly for the employer who failed to carry workers' compensation benefits.

Hopkins v. Uninsured Employers Fund, et al., Docket 2011 MT 49 (MT 2011) Decided March 22, 2011

Jumat, 18 Maret 2011

Breast Cancer Presumed Occupational Illness

Fire fighters in Canada are supporting legislation that would establish a legal presumption that breast cancer is an occupationally related illness. The legislation also creates a presumption that 3 other cancers (skin, prostate and multiple melanoma) are causally related to their employment in claims for workers' compensation benefits.

Click here for pending legislation: Bill#6 http://tinyurl.com/4ns622b

Kamis, 17 Maret 2011

US Lacks a Census of Occupational Illness and Disease

In a series of articles, Celeste Monforton discusses the absence in the U.S. of a comprehensive system for surveillance of occupational illnesses sand disease. Citing the the U.S. Surgeon General in 1965 that..."it is almost inconceivable that this nation, with its vast resources and technical skills, has never developed a comprehensive picture of the work environment to determine the relationship with the health status of its productive work force," she argues for the a census.

Read the complete article: http://tinyurl.com/4tgpd8d

Kamis, 10 Maret 2011

NIOSH Seeks Information About World Trade Center Cancer Claims

September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City: V...

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The Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serves as the World Trade Center (WTC) Program Administrator for certain functions related to the WTC Health Program established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (Pub. L. 111-347).

In accordance with Section 3312(a)(5)(A) of that Act, the WTC Program Administrator is conducting a review of all available scientific and medical evidence to determine if, based on the scientific evidence, cancer or a certain type of cancer should be added to the applicable list of health conditions covered by the World Trade Center Health Program.

The WTC Program Administrator is requesting information on the following:

(1) Relevant reports, publications, and case information of scientific and medical findings where exposure to airborne toxins, any other hazard, or any other adverse condition resulting from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is substantially likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing cancer or a type of cancer;

(2) clinical findings from the Clinical Centers of Excellence providing monitoring and treatment services to WTC responders (i.e., those persons who performed rescue, recovery, clean- up and remediation work on the WTC disaster sites) and community members directly exposed to the dust cloud on 9/11/01; and

(3) input on the scientific criteria to be used by experts to evaluate the weight of the medical and scientific evidence regarding such potential health conditions.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 31, 2011. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number NIOSH- 227, by any of the following methods:

Mail: NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, MS-C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
Facsimile: (513) 533-8285. E-mail: nioshdocket@cdc.gov. All information received in response to this notice will be available for public examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket Office, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. The comment period for NIOSH-227 will close on March 31, 2011.

All comments received will be available on the NIOSH Docket Web page at http:// www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket by April 30, and comments will be available in writing by request. NIOSH includes all comments received without change in the docket and the electronic docket, including any personal information provided.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related disease. Please contact our office if you require assistance in filing a claim under the newly enacted James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Selasa, 17 Januari 2012

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For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

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