OSHA workers exposure News
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OSHA warns that worker exposure standards are out-of-date
Last month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a news release that stated, “While many chemicals are suspected of being harmful, OSHA's exposure standards are out-of-date and inadequately protective for the small number of chemicals that are regulated in the workplace.” In response, OSHA has created a toolkit to identify safer chemicals that can be ...
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Occupational Health & Safety Professional Helps Prevent Worker Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium
Many workers are exposed to hexavalent chromium in the work environment. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium VI, is a toxic form of the element chromium. These compounds are man-made and widely used in many different industries. Hexavalent chromium compounds are used as chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics. They may be added as anticorrosive agents to paints, ...
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Asbestos Find Halts Demolition Project in California Town
Last month, an article in the Oakdale Leader discussed how demolition activities at an old city water tank had to be halted and eventually changed due to the discovery of asbestos on the inside of the tank. According to the article, the water tank was built in 1912 and initial tests on the outside of the tank did not indicate the presence of asbestos. Once demolition began, workers found a ...
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EPA Takes Action on Two Potentially Harmful Chemicals
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced actions on two chemicals to reduce harm to people. Under the Toxic Substance Act the EPA, “has released action plans to address the potential health risks of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and related compounds. Americans may be exposed to these chemicals when they are used in certain ...
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Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting Workers and Building Occupants in Puerto Rico from Exposure Risks
The 17th annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week takes place from April 1st through the 7th. It is meant to raise public awareness of asbestos hazards and diseases that continue to impact so many people around the globe. Asbestos is a generic name given to six fibrous minerals that have been used in commercial products. Asbestos is still used in some countries, but even in places like the United ...
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California Air Pollution Control District Reminds Residents about Asbestos Testing Requirements
Recently, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District issued an advisory regarding cleanup efforts in Capitola Village. The concerns resulted from remediation efforts following floods this spring that damaged a number of structures. As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, “We are aware of contractors working in your area that are either unlicensed or simply failing to ...
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General Industry and Maritime Operations Prepare for OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Standard Enforcement
On June 23rd, companies and institutions categorized as maritime or general industry will be subject to enforcement of a new final rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica. These enforcement actions follow the implementation of a similar final rule for construction companies that went into effect last year. The ...
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California’s Prop 65 and Public Health Concerns over Hexavalent Compounds
In 1986, California voters approved an initiative to address increasing concerns over exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is better known by its original name of Proposition 65.� Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or ...
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