Business & Industry

Los Angeles – Safety laws need strengthening, more regulations need to be issued, and workers should be better educated on job hazards and rights, a new resolution from the AFL-CIO declares.

Oakland, CA – California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has a new acting chief in the wake of Ellen Widess’ resignation.

Bluefield, WV – Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) met with miners, stakeholders, and miner safety and health advocates on Sept. 5 to discuss ending “black lung” – a deadly but preventable lung disease also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis.

Washington – The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service failed to thoroughly evaluate pilot programs used as the basis for a proposed rule to increase line speeds in poultry-processing facilities, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Washington – A new publication from NIOSH explains how health care workers can verify that a respirator has received the agency’s approval.

Kyoto, Japan – Working long hours in a high-demand job increases the risk of developing depression, a new study from the Kyoto University School of Public Health concludes.

Washington – A chemical advisory issued Aug. 30 by OSHA; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offers steps fertilizer facilities and others can take to help reduce ammonium nitrate hazards.

Auckland, New Zealand – Many New Zealand workers lack adequate literacy skills to fully understand their employer’s safety and health policies and correctly complete hazard reports, according to a new study from Workbase, an organization focused on literacy development.

Atlanta – Older workers die in highway transportation incidents more often than younger workers, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Charlottesville, VA – Needlestick injuries in the health care industry decreased significantly after passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000, according to a study from the University of Virginia.