Hazards

Helsinki, Finland – Airborne exposure to metalworking fluid mist and other gaseous pollutants puts both machinists and other machine shop workers at risk for respiratory and skin problems, according to a recent study from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

From workers at microwave popcorn plants to coffee roasters, people who work with the flavoring chemicals diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione may be at risk for bronchiolitis obliterans, an irreversible disease also known as “popcorn lung.”

Washington – At least one advocacy group and two truck safety advocates are calling for the federal government to maintain current hours-of-service regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers as a way to combat fatigued driving.

Washington – OSHA has released a compliance guide meant to help small businesses in the construction industry adhere to a final rule regarding exposure to crystalline silica in the workplace.

Boulder, CO – Inadequate amounts of sleep and work environment factors are “major drivers” of occupational fatigue, which can hamper job performance and result in errors and injuries, according to a study from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Washington – NIOSH has released recommended limits for controlling occupational exposure to flavoring chemicals diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, both of which have been linked to reduced lung function in food flavoring and production industry workers.

Anaheim, CA – OSHA’s final rule on walking/working surfaces to address slips, trips and falls in the workplace soon could be a reality, agency administrator David Michaels said Tuesday during a roundtable discussion at the 2016 NSC Congress & Expo.

Anaheim, CA – The status of OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program was in the spotlight during the “OSHA Current Activities” Technical Session on Monday at the 2016 NSC Congress & Expo.

Sheffield, England – Do you sometimes feel like falling asleep at work? Traffic pollution and nighttime traffic noise may be to blame.