Environmental Health | The Pump Handle

Department of Labor Congressional budget proposals slash OSHA funding, push back on silica exposure standard: ‘These cuts and these riders are unconscionable’

August 18, 2015 Kim Krisberg

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is no stranger to budget cuts — the agency is already so underfunded that it would take its inspectors nearly a century, on average, to visit every U.S. workplace at least once. In some states, it would take two centuries. Unfortunately, appropriations bills now making their way through Congress don’t bode much better for OSHA.

California Occupational Health News Roundup

August 13, 2015 Kim Krisberg

Republican proposal to ban unions at the IRS could mean trouble for other federal employees; ExxonMobil refinery in California cited for violations in February explosion; OSHA fines poultry company for “outrageously dangerous” conditions; and a strip club dancer calls for the same protections and respect afforded to other workers.

Environmental Health Years after Superstorm Sandy, residents still struggle with stress, recovery efforts

July 31, 2015 Kim Krisberg 3Comment

Superstorm Sandy came ashore nearly three years ago, pummeling the New England and Mid-Atlantic coast and becoming one of the deadliest and costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. This week, the Sandy Child and Family Health Study released two new reports finding that the health impacts of Sandy continue to linger, illustrating the deep mental footprint left by catastrophic disasters and the challenges of long-term recovery.

Environmental Health Company and consultants go out of their way to obstruct OSHA inspection

July 15, 2015 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 2Comment

OSHA inspectors attempted to investigate the circumstances of a foundry worker with lead poisoning. The employer and its consulting firm threw obstacles in the inspectors’ way, but two judges saw through their obstruction.

Environmental Health Occupational Health News Roundup

July 14, 2015 Kim Krisberg

Leaders in the domestic workers movement write about continuing challenges and forward progress; Wisconsin workers lose right to a living wage; OSHA designates DuPont a severe violator; and Michigan advocates organize for paid sick leave.

Environmental Health Report explores the dangerous work of recycling: ‘Recycling is the right thing to do, but we have to do it the right way’

July 7, 2015 Kim Krisberg

Recycling our garbage is good for the planet, but a new report finds that the workers who process our recyclable materials often face dangerous and unnecessary conditions that put their health and safety at serious risk.

Environmental Health No OSHA citations for fatal work injury that killed Ernesto Rodriguez at Oklahoma fracking site

July 3, 2015 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

The OSHA inspection following the work-related death in Oklahoma of Ernesto Rodriguez did not result in any citations. A FOIA request of records from the inspection shed little light on why it happened.

Cancer Occupational Health News Roundup

June 30, 2015 Kim Krisberg

New investigative series examines the toll of occupational illness and the lack of federal protections; OSHA steps up its efforts to protect nurses; women janitors face sexual assault and rape risks on the night shift; and IKEA reports that raising wages worked so well, the company is set to raise them again.

Environmental Health Workers at auto parts manufacturers demand health and safety rights from Hyundai and Lear

June 29, 2015 The Pump Handle

Workers and safety advocates delivered petitions with 25,000 signatures to Hyundai’s headquarters demanding better working conditions at companies in the automaker’s supply chain. Exposure to isocyanates in the manufacturing of automobile seats is a particular concern.

Addiction & Substance Abuse Study: Poor work safety climates put youth farmworkers at risk of injury, illness

June 19, 2015 Kim Krisberg 1Comment

Even though farmworkers face serious hazards on the job and work in one of the most dangerous industries in the country, most young farmworkers in a recent study rated their work safety climate as “poor.” In fact, more than a third of those surveyed said their managers were only interested in getting the job done as quickly as possible.