Industry News

Industry-related news of relevance to industrial hygienists and occupational and environmental health professionals appears in the NewsWatch section of The Synergist. The latest news appears below.

For AIHA news, see the Community page.

The complete current issue of The Synergist is available to AIHA members through the AIHA.org Member Center and includes articles on:

arts and crafts: an industrial hygiene challenge
experience the future of OEHS
delving into mining research
risk assessment’s new era, part 2

Latest Industry News

EPA Identifies Alternatives to Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs)

EPA has identified eight safer alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in its final report on alternatives to NPEs.

Chicago Tribune series on flame retardants

Chicago Tribune Investigation of Flame Retardants Prompts Senator's Call for TSCA Reform

Following a Chicago Tribune investigation into the health risks of toxic flame retardants in consumer products, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is calling for passage of the Safe Chemicals Act.

NIOSH Publishes Health Hazard Evaluation on Tuberculosis Exposure

NIOSH released a new health hazard evaluation (HHE) report last week titled "Evaluation of Exposure to Tuberculosis Among Employees at a Medical Center — Arizona."

NIOSH Field Effort: Health Hazards of Fracking

NIOSH Field Effort: Health Hazards of Hydraulic Fracturing

The NIOSH Field Effort to Characterize Chemical Exposures in Oil and Gas Extraction Workers aims to identify, characterize and control workplace chemical exposures through partnerships within the oil and gas extraction industry.

OSHA Launches Summer Campaign for Heat Illness Prevention

On Monday, OSHA announced a new national outreach initiative to raise awareness about hot weather hazards facing outdoor workers.

NIOSH Publishes Health Hazard Evaluation on Campylobacter Infection and Exposure

NIOSH released a new health hazard evaluation (HHE) report last week titled "Campylobacter Infection and Exposures Among Employees at a Poultry Processing Plant — Virginia."

EU's Substitution Support Portal Launches This Month

The “SUBSPORT” portal is being developed as a substitution tool to help companies fulfill substitution requirements under EU legislation, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

OSHA, NIOSH Launch Fall Prevention Awareness Campaign

A new fall prevention awareness campaign led by OSHA will provide employers and workers with information and educational materials about preventing fatal falls in the construction industry.

OSHA alert about self-rescuer respirators

OSHA Issues Alert about Defective Self-rescuer Respirators

OSHA issued an alert on April 26 to employers and workers using CSE Corporation's SR-100 Self-Contained Self-Rescuer (SCSR) respirators.

April 28: Workers' Memorial Day 2012

On April 28, organizations and governments worldwide are commemorating workers who have died from occupational injuries and illnesses.

Researchers Develop New Personal Exposure Monitoring Technology

A team of researchers has developed new personal exposure monitoring technology that allows scientists to calculate how much pollution enters the respiratory system in real time.

CSB Report, Video Highlight Dangers of Hot Work

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on the cause of the welding explosion that killed one worker and injured another on Nov. 9, 2010, at the DuPont facility near Buffalo, N.Y.

GAO Finds "Multiple Challenges" Lengthen OSHA Standard Setting

Several factors that add time to OSHA’s lengthy standard-setting process, according to a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

NIOSH Publishes Health Hazard Evaluation on Exposures to Chemotherapy Drugs

NIOSH released a new health hazard evaluation (HHE) report on Monday titled "Chemotherapy Drug Evaluation at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital – Michigan."

EPA Proposes Requiring Electronic Reporting of Chemical Information

A new rule proposed by EPA would require electronic reporting rather than paper-based reporting for various actions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Survey Says: Emphasis on OHS Needed in New Sustainability Guidelines

The results of a survey issued by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) last autumn indicate significant support for the addition of occupational health and safety metrics to the upcoming revision of GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

OSHA Offers Training Grants

OSHA is now accepting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program for grants that will fund training in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.

OSHA NEP for nursing and residential care facilities

OSHA Launches National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

OSHA has announced a new national emphasis program (NEP) for nursing and residential care facilities, which the agency hopes will reduce occupational injury and illness associated with hazards in the medical industry.

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation: Indium-Tin Oxide Production Facility

The evaluation was requested by an indium-tin oxide production facility due to concerns about the potential lung toxicity of indium compounds found within the facility.

OSHA Seeks Information on Injuries from Reinforcing Concrete, Vehicle Backovers

According to OSHA, 30 workers died while reinforcing concrete from 2000 to 2009, and 360 workers died between 2005 and 2010 from backover incidents.

Federal Agencies Team Up to Reduce Noise in Dams, Hydroelectric Plants

The Office of Naval Research, Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will address noise-induced hearing loss at hydroelectric plants and dams across the U.S.

NIOSH Seeks Help with Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation Research

NIOSH is asking for help with agency research on spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation, a product that has grown popular due to its ability to improve buildings’ energy efficiency.

EPA Proposes Rules to Limit New Uses of Potentially Harmful Chemicals, Calls for Additional Testing on PBDEs

EPA recently proposed that companies be required to report all new uses of five groups of potentially harmful chemicals, including those in domestic or imported products.

NIOSH to MSHA: Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion May Have Been Preventable

The Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 workers on April 5, 2010, might have been prevented if MSHA had conducted “timely enforcement” of the Mine Act, according to a NIOSH report released on March 22.

American Occupational Health Conference Offers Special Sessions on GHS, Ergonomics

AOHC is offering multidisciplinary sessions in which OHS professionals will share knowledge and skills in biosafety, ergonomics and compliance with GHS.