Utilities

Washington — Ototoxicants – chemicals that can cause hearing loss and balance issues when inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin – are found in certain pesticides, solvents and medications, and the risk of their adverse effects increases when workers are exposed to elevated noise levels, OSHA cautions in a Safety and Health Information Bulletin published March 8.

The National Fire Protection Agency’s standard for electrical workplace safety, NFPA 70E, is revised every three years. Safety+Health presents an overview of some key elements of the 2018 edition.

Watertown, SD — A new video from the National Association of Tower Erectors highlights the proper operation of snow-tracked vehicles when accessing remote tower locations.

Denver – On the heels of a recent Purdue University study suggesting that a popular method for repairing water pipes can release hazardous chemicals into the air, the National Environmental Health Association will host a one-hour webinar on Oct. 5 to discuss potential risks to workers and the public.

Watertown, SD – A new video from the National Association of Tower Erectors highlights how to perform proper anchor corrosion inspections on guyed towers.

West Lafayette, IN – A common procedure used to repair water pipes can release hazardous chemicals into the air and should be re-evaluated for its risks to workers, the public and the environment, according to researchers from Purdue University.

Safety+Health looks at some of the common hazards that workers from different types of utilities face on the job.

Washington – OSHA and the Federal Communications Commission have published a best practices guide intended to reduce injuries among communication tower workers.

Utrecht, The Netherlands – On-the-job exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields may double men’s risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, according to a new study from researchers in The Netherlands.

Watertown, SD – The National Association of Tower Erectors has updated its guidance on the safe operation of small drones near cellular, broadcast and electrical distribution towers, in addition to wireless infrastructure.