Original Articles

  • CalHHS Secretary Extends Mask Mandate to Mid-February

    January 7, 2022

    Mark Ghaly, M.D., MPH, California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) secretary, has extended California’s indoor mask mandate by another full month. The masking requirement intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic now runs through February 15. While citing a recent surge in the state’s positivity rate to over 21 percent, Ghaly also noted data on […]

  • Fed-OSHA seeks suggestions for strengthening VPP

    June 27, 2017

    Fed-OSHA is holding a stakeholder meeting July 17, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future direction of its Voluntary Protection Programs. The agency’s aim is to “reshape VPP so that it continues to represent safety and health excellence, leverages partner resources, further recognizes the successes of long-term participants, and supports smart program growth.” Fed-OSHA is […]

Curated Content Articles of Interest from Around the Web

    EPA Postpones Risk Rule on TCE Use

     

    EPA Postpones Risk Rule on Trichloroethylene Use

    • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week said it is postponing until Aug. 19, 2025, certain requirements of its risk management rule for trichloroethylene (TCE).
    • According to EPA, “[t]his will ensure that the timing of EPA’s administrative stay aligns with the court’s time frame for this action.” As reported in our April 15, 2025, blog item, the final rule is being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
    • According to a Federal Register notice scheduled to be published today, on May 27, 2025, EPA moved to hold the case in abeyance because it intends to reconsider the final rule, including provisions subject to EPA’s Initial Notice, through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
    • TCE is primarily used as a metal degreaser and solvent in various industrial applications. It has also been used in some consumer products, as a cleaning agent, and previously in dry cleaning.
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    North Carolina DoL Launches Heat Safety Campaign

    • The North Carolina Department of Labor is launching its “Beat the Heat” campaign to promote heat safety.
    • Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said the agency is hoping to remind employers and workers to take simple, effective steps to prevent heat-related illnesses on the job.
    • “Heat illness is preventable,” Farley said. “Whether you’re in the field, on a construction site, or working outdoors in any capacity, the keys to staying safe are simple: rest, water, and shade.”
    • NCDoL has posted recommended resources on its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention, along with a printable wallet-sized card that includes a QR code for quick mobile access to heat safety resources.
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    Influential Lancet Calls for Research on Climate Change and Occupational Health

    • The influential UK medical journal The Lancet last week published a call for research on occupational health in the era of climate change and the green transition.
    • “Climate change poses an urgent and growing threat to workers’ health, through both direct exposure to environmental hazards and indirect exacerbation of social and health inequalities,” the journal said.
    • They said there are knowledge gaps and research needs among specific sectors, including emergency work in firefighting, renewable energy and wind turbine manufacturing, and, waste management and recycling.
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