News

Short staffing ‘continues to be the biggest risk’ to Chemical Safety Board
01
Dec
By Annemieke Tapp
News & Updates, Safety

Short staffing ‘continues to be the biggest risk’ to Chemical Safety Board

The Chemical Safety Board has only filled one of its five board seats this year and this continues to be detrimental to the agency's operations, as stated by the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General in a new report .  It has appointed three board seats but is awaiting senate confirmation and no date has been set for those hearings. During a Sept. 29 hearing before the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, CSB Chair and CEO Katherine Lemos testified that CSB is “on an upward trend” despite its long-standing and well-documented operational and staffing challenges. To read the article in…
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Better office ventilation may boost worker brain power
01
Dec
By Annemieke Tapp
News & Updates

Better office ventilation may boost worker brain power

Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health claim improved air quality in offices can boost worker focus, response times and overall cognitive ability.   An international team of researchers examined more than 300 office workers in North America, Asia, and Europe.  The age groups were between 18 and 65, and each of these workers had permanent workstations in their office and came into the office at least three days a week. For details and results of the study, please click here to read the full article.
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YouTube Video Advertising our Health and Safety
03
Nov
By TNEC
Safety

YouTube Video Advertising our Health and Safety

Our COSH partner in New Hampshire, NH COSH, produced a YouTube video advertising our Health and Safety Series in October. It also discusses New Hampshire's Worker's Memorial on April 28th. Presented by Brian Mitchell NH COSH and Tom Estabrook Ph.D. The New England Consortium (TNEC).
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Methane emissions are high in eastern MA
02
Nov
By TNEC
TNEC Training

Methane emissions are high in eastern MA

TNEC recognizes the importance of this new study: Methane emissions in eastern Mass. are 6 times higher than state estimates.  A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has determined that methane emissions from natural gas pipelines and other infrastructure are six times higher in eastern Massachusetts than the state has estimated.  WBUR reports that "the study also reports that methane emissions have not decreased over the past eight years, despite state efforts to fix leaks."   Read full article here
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OSHA tells 3 states to protect workers from COVID or forfeit authority
02
Nov
By TNEC
News & Updates, TNEC Training

OSHA tells 3 states to protect workers from COVID or forfeit authority

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has threatened to take over three states’ workplace safety programs because they failed to adopt emergency COVID-19 rules to protect healthcare workers, as reported by the Pew Charitable Trusts.  According to labor advocates, OSHA's admonition serves as a warning that resisting the forthcoming federal vaccine mandate for most healthcare workers and employees at large companies likewise could cost states their regulatory power over workplace safety.  Jordan Barab, former OSHA deputy assistant secretary during the Obama administration state, “This is definitely an effort to send a message that OSHA is going to take any…
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EPA Enhances Scientific Integrity and Strengthens Chemical Safety Reviews
02
Nov
By TNEC
News & Updates, TNEC Training

EPA Enhances Scientific Integrity and Strengthens Chemical Safety Reviews

The EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) on October 14, 2021, announced several actions to enhance scientific integrity and strengthen chemical safety reviews. These actions include the establishment of two new internal science policy advisory councils, the creation of a senior-level science policy advisor to the assistant administrator, and improvements to existing policies and procedures.  Michal Freedhoff, EPA Assistant Administrator for the OCSPP, stated, “Scientific integrity is the backbone of the work we do to ensure the safety of chemicals used in our everyday lives.  Strong, sound science underpins confidence in our decision-making among the public that…
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U.S. Department of Labor starts process to create rules to protect workers from heat hazards
02
Nov
By TNEC
News & Updates, TNEC Training

U.S. Department of Labor starts process to create rules to protect workers from heat hazards

TNEC training addresses the impact of exposure to indoor and outdoor heat to worker health and safety.  OHSonline reports that on October 27, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.  There is currently no specific OSHA standard to protect workers from hazardous heat conditions at work.  This initiative starts the process to create a workplace rule regarding heat hazards.  A press release on October 26 from the U.S. Department of Labor states, “Workers in outdoor and indoor work settings without adequate climate-controlled…
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AIHA Voices Concerns About COVID-19 ETS
05
Aug
By TNEC
COVID-19

AIHA Voices Concerns About COVID-19 ETS

AIHA (formerly the American Industrial Hygiene Association) revealed concerns about the federal COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) in a letter OSHA. AIHA urged the agency to closely examine and immediately revise the emergency rule’s provisions dealing with ventilation, physical barriers, and transmission by inhalation of COVID-19, as well as OSHA’s use of the hierarchy of controls.
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