Fall and cooler temperatures seem like they should be around the corner, but much of the U.S. is hot right now, and heat illness prevention remains important. High temperatures and high humidity, hard physical activity, and non-breathable clothing are some of the factors that lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, the two main heat […]
A recent study in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health examined the effectiveness of OSHA’s engineering controls for silica dust. What is Silica? Silica is a common mineral found in concrete, glass, mortar, brick, stone, and sand. Manufacturing, cutting, sanding, or drilling these materials can produce respirable crystalline silica, which is 100 times smaller […]
The question that comes up frequently in asbestos training classes is whether a glovebag fulfills the critical barrier requirements of OSHA or not. Glovebag means not more than a 60 × 60 inch impervious plastic bag-like enclosure affixed around an asbestos-containing material, with glove-like appendages through which material and tools may be handled. The definition […]
The CDC recently put up on their website two new videos designed to educate the public about the dangers of childhood lead exposure. The first video, “Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention,” is written for a general audience. The second video, “Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention Education,” is for high schoolers. Lead and Lead Poisoning A naturally occurring […]
In March, an explosion at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania killed seven people and wounded at least 10 others. Some workers said they smelled natural gas prior to the explosion at R.M. Palmer Co. Survivor landed in chocolate tank One of the survivors, an employee named Patricia Borges, fell through into a vat of chocolate […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has organized a Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge. The goal of this crowdsourcing competition is to find new ways to improve respirator fit testing. There is $350,000 in total prize money. Concept Paper To participate in the first phase of the competition, individuals or companies must submit […]
