Workplace Exposures

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board on Feb. 26 issued an open letter expressing disappointment with Tesoro Corp. for allegedly hindering the agency’s investigation of a Feb. 12 sulfuric acid release at a Tesoro refinery in Martinez, CA.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency on Feb. 20 proposed new safety measures intended to protect farmworkers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure.

Washington – OSHA administrator David Michaels has written a letter to employers regarding legal requirements and best practice recommendations for the safe storage and handling of ammonium nitrate.

Washington – OSHA has updated its guidance document on the enforcement of shipyard safety and health standards.

Los Angeles – Pesticide exposure may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and individual risk varies based on a person’s genetic makeup, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Washington – Many industry stakeholders used a public comment period, which closed Feb. 11, to voice opposition to OSHA’s proposed rule on reducing the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica.

Montreal – Most construction workers exposed to crystalline silica dust are at risk of developing occupational diseases over the long term, a new report from scientific research organization IRSST suggests.

Bloemfontein, South Africa – Anatomy and mortuary workers may be in danger of contracting tuberculosis because a certain type of bacteria can remain in dead bodies for up to 36 days, according to a new study from the University of the Free State.

Ottawa – Repeated exposure to heat stress on the job may cause experienced firefighters to become more tolerant to its effects, suggests a new study http://oeh.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15459624.2013.821574 from the University of Ottawa.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has addressed all of the 100 corrective actions recommended in its 2012 internal review following the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in April 2010, the agency announced Jan. 13.