Workplace Exposures

Watertown, SD — Workers who encounter droppings from birds or pests such rodents and insects should stop work immediately, leave the area and wash any exposed skin with soap and water, a new safety resource states.

National Harbor, MD — A new policy adopted by the American Medical Association is aimed at bolstering protections for health care workers who are exposed to ionizing radiation.

Washington — In response to a string of preventable carbon monoxide poisonings, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service has begun equipping inspection workers with wearable CO detectors.

Storrs, CT — The University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute recently opened a research center dedicated to studying how extreme heat affects workers.

What are the proper procedures and safety protocols for cleaning combustible dust, flammable liquids and reactive powders in industrial facilities?

Washington — Citing pending litigation, the Environmental Protection Agency has again delayed the effective date of certain provisions of a final rule that bans the use of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency says compliance dates for its ban on uses of methylene chloride have been extended for nonfederal laboratories involved in “the industrial or commercial use” of the carcinogenic chemical “in a laboratory process or in specialized laboratory equipment.”

Seoul, South Korea — Worker exposure to air pollution “may significantly increase the risk of safety liability accidents” in multiple industries, according to the results of a recent study.

Montreal — A recent study of apprentice welders revealed a “significant increase” in metal levels in urine, nail and hair samples taken over the duration of their three-module training program.

Oak Ridge, TN — Contract workers are testing new remote equipment designed to help them avoid “some of the most challenging, contaminated environments” involving radioactive material during deactivation and demolition projects at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy says.