Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing

West Lafayette, IN – Five agricultural dust explosions were recorded in 2016 – the lowest overall number in 10 years – but three workers lost their lives, according to a recently released annual report from Purdue University.

Washington – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has denied OSHA’s petitions for a rehearing and rehearing en banc of the court’s ruling that the agency failed to follow federal rulemaking requirements when it used a memorandum to announce a revised definition of retail facilities exempt from the Process Safety Management Standard.

Washington – Certified workers who apply “restricted use” pesticides must be at least 18 years old and have their certification renewed every five years, according to updated standards finalized Dec. 12 by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has released requirements intended to prevent poisonings involving the herbicide paraquat, which can result in death or injuries through ingestion or skin or eye exposure.

Olympia, WA – The Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention Program at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has released six industry-specific checklists and summary reports aimed at helping employers identify risk factors that may contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Lansing, MI – Amid a tree-trimmer fatality rate more than 14 times the state average this year, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a hazard alert cautioning against unsafe work practices.

Washington – United Farm Workers and several community health groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately suspend widespread use of chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic pesticide already acknowledged to pose poisoning risks to workers.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency and the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative have released a guide intended to help agricultural pesticide handlers, workers and managers comply with 2015 revisions to the federal Worker Protection Standard.

Washington – OSHA failed to follow federal rulemaking requirements when it used a memorandum to announce a revised definition of retail facilities exempt from the Process Safety Management Standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled.

Washington – A new resource from OSHA highlights the dangers of skyline-skidding operations in the logging industry.