Tag: health

Oregon state flag facemask

Oregon Prepares to Establish Emergency COVID-19 Rule

This week, Oregon may become the third state to establish an emergency workplace health standard for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Safety professional or OSHA inspector looking at a report on a clipboard

NIOSH Reports on Performance of Six of Its Programs

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released reports on the performance of six of its programs: chronic disease prevention; health hazard evaluations; occupational safety and health surveillance; safe, skilled, ready workforce; services workers; and wholesale and retail trade.

Safety training

OEHS Career Opportunities the Focus of New AIHA Site

AIHA, a group of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals, has launched a new website (https://oehscareers.org/) for students, teachers, and counselors promoting career options in the field. The group, previously known as the American Industrial Hygiene Association, pointed out in its website announcement that the average starting salary for young OEHS professionals, including […]

COVID-19 safety inspection

COVID-19 Enforcement: A Guide for EHS Professionals

Will workplace safety and health inspectors show up at your facility if workers contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and one of them files a complaint? Yes; in fact, it’s already happened.

COVID-19 safety inspection

Cal/OSHA Has Cited 11 Employers for COVID-19 Violations

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced it had cited 11 employers for not protecting employees from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure during the agency’s inspections of industries where workers have an elevated risk of exposure. The industries included agriculture, food processing, health care, meatpacking, and retail.

First responders, ambulance corps

AIHA Launches Site for First Responder Health Resources

AIHA (formerly the American Industrial Hygiene Association) launched a new website—https://www.workerhealthsafety.org/first-responders—with occupational health resources about the long-term health risks faced by emergency responders. The website includes a case study of training to prepare first responders for rail emergencies and a directory of industrial hygienists and occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals.

Beryllium on periodic table

Final Beryllium Rules Issued by OSHA

On August 31, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rulemaking amending the construction and shipyard standards for beryllium exposures (85 FR 53910). The amendments take effect on September 30.

Oregon state flag facemask

Oregon Latest State to Propose Emergency COVID-19 Standard

Oregon has proposed an emergency temporary standard for workplace coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. While there is no federal workplace safety and health standard for coronavirus exposures, California has an airborne transmissible disease standard for certain workplaces, and Virginia approved an emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 in July.

Digitization of EHS, data and statistics

Now’s the Time to Take EHS Programs Digital

COVID-19 has disrupted the business world on a scale many of us have never before seen. It’s important to look for opportunity amid crisis, however, and for environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals, our current moment may be a great chance to focus on the efficient digitization of organizational EHS programs.

California and COVID-19

Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Follow Its COVID-19 Guidance

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) urged the state’s employers to carefully review and follow the agency’s guidelines on protecting employees from COVID-19 infections. An expanded statewide order on indoor closures was issued July 13 by California’s Statewide Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The […]