Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from August 2002

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from August 2002

What's hot with respiratory protection? Is it time to breathe new life into your program? 10 factors to consider.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Your respiratory program is in place, your equipment works well and employees are using it. Now come the pressures to change -- changes driven by: OSHA regulations, new and improved technology, modifications in your work environment tighter...

Is everyone a free agent? No, it just seems that way in safety & health. (Editorial Comments).(environmental health and safety consultants)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 1, 2002... Ever have one of those "How did I get here?" moments? One hit me a couple of months ago on a flight, mercifully short, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. After surviving back-to-back trade shows, I found myself dazed, glazed and sitting next to...

Questions & Answers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... restricted work activity Q: What can I do to make sure injured employees on restricted duty do not get re-injured? A: Some organizations are moving toward monitored supervision of employees on restricted duty; some have them involved...

Construction industry vet joins OSHA. (Rules & Regs).(Stewart Burkhammer, Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Stewart Burkhammer has been selected to head OSHA's Office of Construction Services. Burkhammer recently retired as principal vice president & manager for Corporate Environmental, Safety and Health Services at Bechtel Group of Companies. A...

Senate committee OKs ergo bill: Enzi threatens filibuster. (Rules & Regs).(ergonomics regulations; Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Here we go again... The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved in late June the ergonomics bill (S. 2184) sponsored by Senators John Breaux (D-La.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that would force OSHA to set a new ergo...

Next to get ergo guidelines: grocery stores & poultry processors. (Rules & Regs).(ergonomics)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... OSHA chief John Henshaw has announced that following nursing homes, the next industries to receive voluntary guidelines to improve ergonomics are grocery stores and poultry processing operations. Both have workers at high risk of...

Finally, a new NIOSH chief. (Rules & Regs).(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health hires Dr. John Howard)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Dr. John Howard has been appointed by the White House as the new director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH's top position had been vacant since the departure of Dr. Linda Rosenstock in November 2000....

EPA updates risk assessments of 33 pollutants. (Rules & Regs).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... EPA has issued updated health-risk assessments for 32 regulated air toxics and diesel particulate matter, which are known or suspected causes of cancer and other serious health problems. The new assessments are based on 1996 emissions data and...

PELs update effort creeps forward. (Rules & Regs).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... OSHA chief John Henshaw has said very little about standards since taking over at OSHA, but during his speech at the national meeting of the American Society of Safety Engineers he declared that "we must do something about updating the...

Bush warming to global warming? (Rules & Regs).(Environmental Protection Agency report)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Not really. It's a matter of mixed signals coming from the administration. As you might have heard, the Bush administration has subtly shifted its position on global warming. A new EPA report admits that global warming is taking an...

What's the buzz? Meeting highlights safety's issues & trends. (News Scan).
August 1, 2002... Notes from Nashville, where the annual meeting of the American Society of Safety Engineers was held June 9-12 in the sprawling Opryland Hotel. ASSE officials pegged attendance at 2,833 professional registrants. Based on the proceedings, here...

'Regulator of the year' resurfaces. (News Scan).(Charles N. Jeffress named Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Ever wonder what happens to old OSHA chiefs? Well, here's one for you: The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has selected former Assistant Secretary of Labor Charles N. Jeffress as Chief Operating Officer, the agency's...

Comp costs continue to decline. (News Scan).(workers' compensation benefit payments and costs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Workers' compensation benefit payments and cost declined in 2000, marking the eighth straight year of declining benefits relative to covered wages and the seventh consecutive year that employer costs declined relative to wages, according to a...

Are local communities prepared? (News Scan).(facts about Local Emergency Planning Committees )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Some basic facts about Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC): * All LEPCs lack authority for hazard reduction. The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986, which authorized the LEPCs, does not include any authority...

Lightening the load of training docs. (New Standard).(new standards for residents)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... New standards have been issued limiting residents' work hours for all medical specialties. Many residents, especially surgeons, regularly work 36 straight hours or more with little or no sleep, and are often on duty for more than 100 hours...

Common sense is nonsense: managing safety requires solid research. (Psychology of Safety).(Advertising)
August 1, 2002... Last month my ISHN article addressed the concept of "root cause." I wanted to convince you that safety professionals look for the root cause of an incident when there is not one to be found. Plus, they do this with techniques that couldn't...

EHS resumes get a closer look: trust is being replaced by verification. (Managing Best Practices).(background checks)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Since 9/11 a growing number of employers are using background checks for job applicants, current employees and contract services. In addition to spotting potential terrorists, these checks help answer one of employers' most urgent questions,...

Is your company equipped for new workplace threats?(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Not long ago, "respiratory protection" simply meant protecting workers whose jobs put them in environments that were threatened by one or more hazards. These hazards were typically "byproducts" of the industrial manufacturing process, such as...

Respiratory protection. (Product Update).(Advertising)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2002... 1 HALF-FACEPIECE RESPIRATOR CIRCLE 203 The new 7500 Series Ultimate Reusable half-facepiece respirators from 3M feature the 3M[TM] Cool Flow[TM] Exhalation Valve for easier breathing and reduced moisture buildup. Along with a dual-mode head...

Getting the most from safety incentives.
August 1, 2002... It's easy to see that there's been a long-standing debate about the use of safety-related incentives. Many of us have had good, bad and mixed experiences with incentives and related rewards. And since many organizational situations are very...

Incentives. (Product Update).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... 1 PARTNERS FOR SAFETY CIRCLE 214 The "Partners for Safety" program from Drone & Mueller emphasizes a partnering approach to safety awareness by incorporating customized communication tactics. Professionals review your company's loss...

Wash it out: working with chemicals? Have eye fountains and deluge showers ready.
August 1, 2002... When working with chemicals, is there a more basic -- and urgent -- concern than protecting the eyes? OSHA frequently issues citations relating to the lack of emergency eye fountains (or their equivalent). Much less frequently, the lack of a...

Taking proper precautions against healthcare hazards.(Advertising)
August 1, 2002... More than 11 million healthcare workers are employed in the United States, constituting about eight percent of the entire workforce. These workers represent many different occupations that expose them to a variety of hazards. For example,...

Fall protection. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The PRO line of fall protection products by Protecta are designed for use in industrial and construction applications, providing durability for everyday use. Products in the PRO line include: full body harnesses, self-retracting lifelines,...

T-Slotted extrusions. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... 80/20, Inc. offers demonstration vans equipped with product samples and sales gurneys that allow a hands-on approach to learning the benefits of utilizing T-Slotted extrusions for modular framing systems. The van and gurney feature more than...

Hydrocarbon gas detector. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2002... A new gas detector from Sensor Electronics can spot even minute traces of more than 70 hydrocarbon gases. The compact unit is FM and CSA performance-tested approved and is well suited for pipelines, offshore platforms, pumping stations and...

Fire-rated cabinets. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Fire-rated cabinets from DENIOS provide safe storage of flammables or other hazardous chemicals. Specific models are FM approved. Spill sump volumes exceed mandatory federal regulations. Systems are available in a variety of sizes and styles to...

Air sampling pumps. (Product News).(A.P. Buck Inc.)(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The LinEair [TM] 40 ultra quiet sampling pump from A.P. Buck provides 5 - 40 LPM flow rate for particulates, gases, vapors, bioaerosols and more. The easy-to-operate, lightweight pump features AC or DC operation and handles backpressures up to...

Rewards program. (Product News).(C.A. Short)(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The nationally recognized Safety Stamp program from C.A. Short provides an opportunity to raise safety awareness and reduce incidents by earning rewards. The stamp program is a preferable alternative to game-type programs simply because all...

Traffic control system. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The Remote Controlled Flagman is a portable traffic control system for short-term lane closures. Ideal for work-zone safety, the solar-powered system includes a "Stop Here on Red Signal" sign, a radio remote control with batteries, on-site...

All-purpose glasses. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2002... Arbill's new Riptide R2 all-purpose safety glasses offer protection with a one-piece impact-resistant polycarbonate lens with side shield and ratchet frame. Available with antifog capabilities, the premium line of glasses feature a lightweight...

Personal noise dosimeter. (Product News).(Occupational Health Dynamics)(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The doseBadge from OHD is a personal noise dosimeter that uses no cables or controls while providing the parameters needed for occupational noise exposure assessments. Operation and download of the lightweight, easy-to-use doseBadge is...

Floor maintenance system. (Product News).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Floor Savers[TM] from Devcon enable your own personnel to patch and rebuild concrete floors and other surfaces while applying tough, chemical-resistant epoxy coatings that look great and meet VOC regulations. This durable, easy-to-use floor...

Toxic gas monitor. (Product News).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A new toxic gas monitor from Gray Wolf employs pocket and handheld PC computers to allow for mixing and matching up to five gas sensors (plus temperature) from a wide selection of gases. WolfSense[TM] application software gives clear real-time...

Custom fume hoods. (Product News).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Airfiltronix provides customized solutions to address specific fume/particle problems. Modular designed custom fume hoods are made with extruded aluminum channel framing and 1/4-in, clear acrylic panels for sides, top and rear. Dimensions range...

RAE Systems, Inc. (Businesses).(patent no. 6,333,632)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... RAE Systems, Inc. has received the final print of patent US 6,333,632, titled "Alternating Current Discharge Ionization Detector." This is the company's seventh gas detection patent. The CDRAE, the first RAE Systems product to utilize this...

Quantum Compliance Systems, Inc. (Businesses).(contract; includes other news)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Quantum Compliance Systems, Inc., a provider of EH&S Management Information Systems (EMIS), has announced that its FacTS[TM] software has been selected by Seagate Technology LLC to provide a worldwide Web-based Incident Reporting and Tracking...

Miller-Nelson Research, Inc. (Businesses).(Advertising)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Miller-Nelson Research, Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the protective clothing, glove and respirator cartridge testing business. The firm serves industry and government in the fields of air-purifying respirator research, protective...

Cole-Parmer Instrument Co. (Businesses).(InnoCal Metrology Laboratory accredited)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The InnoCal[TM] Metrology Laboratory, a division of the Cole-Parmer Instrument Co., has earned accreditation to ISO/IEC Guide 25 by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a national organization for testing. Certification...

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (References).(Bioterrorism: Biological and Chemical)(Agents Emergency Response Guide)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., in a joint effort with Maximum Compliance Technologies, Inc., recently published "Bioterrorism: Biological and Chemical Agents Emergency Response Guide." Created for use by medical personnel, emergency response...

Industrial Scientific Corp. (References).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Industrial Scientific Corp.'s new 84-page color catalog, "Gas Detecting and Monitoring Products, Vol. 3," is available free of charge and features the company's full line of portable and fixed gas monitors. It also highlights service offerings...

International Labor Organization. (Education).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Practical experience in the use of generic control strategies for reducing exposure to chemicals gained in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries will be the focus of an international workshop in London, England, November 4-5. Updates on...

American Society of Safety Engineers. (Education).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will hold certification preparation workshops and safety management seminars for EH&S professionals from August through September in five different states. Associate Safety Professional (ASP) and...

International Safety Equipment Association. (Associations).(James H. Beardsley; Robert L. Harms;)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... James H. Beardsley, Robert L. Harms and William M. Lambert have been elected to the International Safety Equipment Association's (ISEA) Board of Trustees. Beardsley is president and CEO of Capital Safety, Inc., Bloomington, Minn., Harms is vice...

Jim McCarty. (Moves).(appointed)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Jim McCarty has been appointed vice president of sales for Smith & Wesson Safety Products and Olympic Optical in Memphis, Tenn. With more than 20 years experience in sales and management, Jim is responsible for domestic and international sales...

American College of Occupational and Environmental Health. (Awards).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The American College of Occupational and Environmental Health (ACOEM) has selected the following organizations as recipients of the 2002 Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA): Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York; Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis;...