Arizona under scrutiny for workers safety
- Arizona recently avoided revocation of its OSHA state-plan final approval, but serious deficiencies in the program remain, safety and labor advocates contend.
- The state Industrial Commission and Division of Occupational Safety and Health are falling short, an investigative report shows, according to the advocates. State government has been indifferent to worker fatalities, they add.
- In response to Fed-OSHA’s move to revoke final approval, the state updated its regulations.
- But more must be done, the opinion piece argues. New Gov. Katie Hobbs must step in.
Questions arise about spreading of respiratory viruses
- It’s uncertain whether wearing masks or respirators helps to slow the spread of respiratory viruses, according to medical research firm Cochrane.
- Respiratory viruses are viruses that infect the cells in your airways: nose, throat, and lungs.
- These infections can cause serious problems and affect normal breathing and can cause influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and COVID-19.
- Physical measures to try to prevent respiratory viruses from spreading include washing hands often, not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and sneezing or coughing into your elbow.
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Florida wants better oversight of rides after teen dies
- Florida Sen. Geraldine Thompson submitted a bill aimed at bolstering the safety of amusement rides after a 14-year-old boy was killed last year in Orlando.
- The measure would revise inspection standards.
- The bill also would allow the department to conduct unannounced inspections by OSHA.
- Tyre Sampson died in March when he fell from a ride.
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City settles with dead firefighter’s family
- The city of Bellingham, Washington, has settled an occupational disease lawsuit with the wife of a former firefighter.
- City Council members agreed to pay Sheila Hanlon, wife of the late Neil Carlberg, a total of $750,000 in her claim against the city to receive his pension.
- John Swobody died in 2018 of lung cancer, and his line of duty death designation meant that his treatment costs were covered and he was awarded posthumous honors.
- Firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths compared to the general U.S. population, according to OSHA.
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