Cirilo Banuelos Reyes, 50, fell four stories to his death at a demolition site. His boss called it a “freak accident.” OSHA will likely find it could have been prevented.
Scientific Integrity & Ethics
Scientific Integrity Act: Protecting the government science that protects all of us
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), joined by 26 of his colleagues, has introduced the Scientific Integrity Act (S 338), which would require agencies that conduct or fund scientific research to develop and enforce scientific integrity policies.
Environmental Health
Study: Fast food packaging contains chemicals harmful to human health, environment
Earlier this month, news broke of a study that found potentially health-harming chemicals in a variety of fast food packaging. Upon hearing such news, the natural inclination is to worry that you’re ingesting those chemicals along with your burger and fries. Study researcher Graham Peaslee says that’s certainly a risk. But perhaps the greater risk, he says, happens after that hamburger wrapper ends up in landfill and the chemicals seep into our environment and water.
Case and Deaton’s analysis of increasing mortality rates among white middle-age Americans made a connection to economic phenomena, but their analysis didn’t discuss specific pathways that might lead from one to the other. A group of doctoral students at UMass Lowell’s Work Environment Program set out to explore those causal pathways.
Navy shipbuilders get lucrative contracts despite worker safety violations; Baltimore airport executive cited in worker retaliation case; thousands of California workers have potentially harmful blood lead levels; and immigrant workers lose their jobs after joining national protests.
Environmental Health
Andrew Schneider: “I rarely ignore whistle blowers, no matter how crazy they sound.”
From gaps in airline safety and railcars filled with toxics, to the respiratory hazard of food flavorings and an asbestos disaster in Libby, Montana, Andrew Schneider made his mark on public health. The investigative journalist and two time Pulitzer Prize winner died on February 17 at age 74.
The anti-vaxxers were out again this week, spreading misinformation and debunked science about an intervention that’s saved millions of lives and prevented immeasurable human suffering. It’s unconscionable.
Recent pieces address why public-health issues get polarized, how New Orleans schools are tackling trauma, home-health workers defending the ACA, and more.
At the end of President Trump’s fourth week in office, Scott Pruitt was narrowly confirmed as EPA administrator, a fast-food mogul withdrew as Labor Secretary nominee, and a labor and civil rights lawyer was named as Trump’s second choice for the Labor Department position.
Government
Study: Disparities in occupational injury highlight need for greater focus on hiring practices
Fewer economic opportunities may be exposing black and Hispanic workers to an increased risk of workplace injury, according to a new study.