Injury Control & Violence | The Pump Handle

Education Study: Despite health risks tied to industrial food animal production, health departments have little involvement

February 8, 2013 The Pump Handle 2Comment

A couple years ago, two public health researchers attended a hearing about the possible expansion of an industrial food animal production facility. During the hearing, a community member stood up to say that if the expansion posed any hazards, the health department would surely be there to protect the people. The two researchers knew that probably wasn’t the case.

Injury Control & Violence It’s not rocket science to prevent coal miner’s deaths

February 6, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

Greg Byers, 43, worked underground at Arch Coal/ICG’s Pocahontas Coal Mine in Beckley, WV. He suffered a serious injury in July 2012 that led to his death. An investigation report explains how common sense–not rocket science–could have prevented his work-related death.

Injury Control & Violence New report confirms Texas’ abysmal record on construction worker safety

February 1, 2013 The Pump Handle 5Comment

Texas may boast a booming construction sector, but a deeper look reveals an industry filled with wage theft, payroll fraud, frighteningly lax safety standards, and preventable injury and death. In reality, worker advocates say such conditions are far from the exception — instead, they’ve become the norm.

Injury Control & Violence This takes the cake: Kentucky company sues coal miner who complained about safety problems

January 29, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

HuffPo’s Dave Jamieson writes this week about a Kentucky worker who raised concerns about safety problems at Armstrong Coal, was fired for doing so and complained about it to the Labor Department, and is now being sued by his former employer for making his claim.

Infectious Diseases & Vaccines Report: Americans dying earlier, getting sicker than those in other high-income nations

January 25, 2013 The Pump Handle 6Comment

When it comes to good health, America is far from top dog. A new report finds that although the nation has experienced improvements in life expectancy and survival in the last century, we’re falling behind our counterparts in other high-income countries.

Injury Control & Violence Repeat violators of mine safety rules targeted in new Labor Dept regulation

January 23, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

The Labor Department’s MSHA issued a new regulation this week targeting employers that have an egregious pattern of violating mine safety and health standards.

Environmental Health Demands for safer working conditions, fair wages drew Martin Luther King to Memphis

January 21, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

Today we commemorate the life of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated in Memphis, TN in April 1968. The civil rights leader was visiting Memphis to support hundreds of city sanitation workers in their demands for safer working conditions and dignity on the job.

Education Austin’s Construction Career Center providing a path toward safer, better-paying jobs

January 18, 2013 The Pump Handle

In Austin, Texas, a growing movement to transform working conditions for construction workers is underway and the new Construction Career Center is playing a pivotal role.

Cancer New, first-of-its-kind Canadian study to chronicle the impact of occupational cancers

January 14, 2013 The Pump Handle

Dr. Paul Demers says he frequently finds himself having to make the case for why studying workplace exposures to carcinogens is important. Oftentimes, he says, people believe such occupational dangers are a thing of the past. But a new four-year study he’s leading could change all that.

Injury Control & Violence Concealed handguns study takes a different approach to measuring risk

January 11, 2013 The Pump Handle 2Comment

Amidst discussions of new gun control measures, a study finds that adding new settings where people can bring concealed weapons could increase the risk of some crimes.

Liz Borkowski, MPH	Celeste Monforton, DrPH,
Kim Krisberg	Garrett Brown